CFP: The Metaphysics of Social Powers: Individuals, Groups, and Artifacts

The Metaphysics of Social Powers: Individuals, Groups, and Artifacts

We invite submissions on the topic of the metaphysics of social powers for an issue of the open-access, peer-reviewed, online journal, Metaphysics, co-edited by Kathrin Koslicki and Michael Raven.

The guest editors for this issue are Francesco Franda (University of Neuchâtel) and Pauline Souman (University of Neuchâtel).

Submission Deadline: May 31, 2025

Description: The study of powers is well-established in general metaphysics, but it is relatively underexplored in social ontology. Is there a possible intersection between these two areas of research?

This special issue shall be dedicated to the question of whether and how the metaphysics of powers can be applied to social entities and artifacts. We invite contributions on questions engaging with this topic, including but not limited to:

• Can the metaphysics of powers be aptly applied to social ontology?

• Can we attribute powers to social groups as well as individuals?

• Are social powers extrinsic? Can social powers be intrinsic properties of social groups, systems or structures?

• Is there a distinctive way for social and artifactual powers to be mind-dependent?

• What constitutes a good taxonomy of social powers?

• Is there a distinction between deontic social powers and causal social powers?

• Is there such a thing as social causation, and if so, how does it differ from other kinds of causation?

• Do speech acts have the power to shape social reality? If so, is their contribution constitutive, causal or both?

• Which type(s) of social powers should we ascribe to artifacts?

• Can artifacts possess agency?

• Can we distinguish between natural and artifactual powers? And between artifactual and social powers?

• Can artifactual powers be discovered?

Instructions: Papers should be submitted through the journal’s online platform. Prior to submitting your paper, please consult the journal’s submission guidelines:

https://metaphysicsjournal.com/about/submissions/

For any query, please email:

ff.franda AT gmail.com

pauline.souman AT gmail.com