CFP: PGSA@UTK: Meaning in Life

The Philosophy Graduate Student Association at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville invites abstracts from graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in philosophy and other relevant disciplines for its eighth annual conference, “Meaning In Life” to be held on April 12-13, 2025. We are excited to announce that our keynote speaker will be Dr. Travis Timmerman from Seton Hall University.  

The theme of the conference is meant to be broadly construed and, as such, papers might intersect with questions of value, free-will, philosophy of death, and other related topics. In addition, we welcome submissions from non-Western, non-traditional philosophical approaches. Philosophical questions to engage with might include (but are certainly not limited to):

• Is there a meaning to life? Is it objective? Subjective?  
• What kind of value is “meaning” in relation to a “meaningful life”?
• What is the relation between our mortality and meaning in life? 
• Would an immortal life be less meaningful? More meaningful?
• How have conceptions of the meaningful life changed historically?
• How does free-will relate to whether life is meaningful?
• Is there a difference between the good life and the meaningful life?

Abstracts of 500–750 words should be formatted for blind review and submitted via email to [email protected] by January 15, 2025. Please include your name, contact information, and disciplinary/institutional affiliation in the body of your email. This event will be held in person

Accepted presenters will be notified in early February. Full papers (approximately 3000 words) should be prepared for 25-minute presentations and will be followed by commentary and discussion. Please direct questions to [email protected].