CFP: CFCP Summer Conference: Emerging Technologies as Social Goods

CFCP Summer Conference: Emerging Technologies as Social Goods

Modern technologies like social media and LLMs are a major philosophical concern, but most conversations have taken a cautionary tone. Services like Twitter or ChatGPT, such discussions have it, must be safeguarded against by philosophical considerations. Yet especially in the current political climate, one might hope that emerging technologies—in particular, technologies of communication—might have something uniquely positive to contribute to goals such as interpersonal connection, self-reflection, and coalition-building. This conference aims to bring together philosophers exploring the good technology can do by helping us to overcome the conflicts that threaten to fracture communities and isolate individuals. Our keynote speaker is C. Thi Nguyen (University of Utah). 

The Conceptual Foundations of Conflict Project (CFCP) at the University of Southern California (USC) will host a conference on these themes. The conference will take place on May 19th and May 20th at USC’s campus, located in Los Angeles, CA. We are accepting applications for speakers to present original research addressing conference themes. Philosophers at all career stages are invited to apply. Priority will be placed on submissions from philosophers not associated with either USC or the CFCP, and who have not previously presented in a CFCP event. To apply, please upload an abstract of 400-500 words at the following link by March 15th: https://forms.gle/zheFDa1gHFMibbxB7

Applicants should expect to receive a decision by April 11th. Abstracts must be prepared for anonymous review. Any abstracts containing identifying information will be rejected.

Accepted speakers are expected to submit a paper of 4,000-5,000 words, suitable for a 30-minute presentation, by April 25th. Each session will be 90 minutes long, in order to ensure lengthy discussion for each accepted paper. Furthermore, each paper will receive comments from a CFCP fellow. Papers will be made available to CFCP fellows and to registered conference participants. Presentations should not presuppose that all audience members have read submitted papers beforehand.

We hope to secure funding to help defray travel costs for accepted speakers. However, we cannot guarantee any funding at this time, as it is subject to final budgetary approval.

If you have any questions, please contact any or all of the conference organizers:

Nurit Matuk, [email protected]

Anthony Nguyen, [email protected]

Aaron Suduiko, [email protected]