CFP: Testimony

We owe a significant portion of our knowledge about the world—whether in history, science, or our understanding of divinity and one another—to the testimony of others. Some testimonies are readily accepted, while others are subjected to intense scrutiny. Drawing the line between a reliable testimony and a questionable one is among the many challenges we aim to address. This conference is a transdisciplinary endeavor that explores the act of testifying and examines how it is conceptualized across various fields. The aim of our gathering is to investigate, in a dynamic manner, different perspectives and approaches within the domains of history, law, philosophy, sociology, psychology, and beyond. We invite reflection upon questions such as: What is a testimony? To what extent are testimonies relevant to the humanities? What kind of knowledge does testimony provide? What does it mean to be a “reliable witness”? Is testimony an essential element in decision-making? How do we process testimonies in a given field? What are the moral implications of employing testimonies when dealing with vulnerable individuals? How can we establish the credibility of testimonies in historical reconstructions of events? What role does trauma play in the recollection of memories for the formation of testimony?

The conference will be held at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest on May 29–30 2025.

Areas of interest (not exhaustive) include:

• Theology

• History

• Law

• Sociology

• Psychology

• Philosophy

• Philological studies

We invite researchers, post-docs and doctoral students to contribute research abstracts related to the conference topics by April, 5th, 2025. The proposal of 150–300 words (excluding references), in pdf format, without any identifying information should be uploaded via the Google form following the instructions provided:https://forms.gle/7sFHnqsRsjyX2RSk7. The results of the proposal review will be communicated by April 15th, 2025, and the final program will be announced by May 5th, 2025.

Conference format: on-site/hybrid, 20-minute presentation followed by 10 minutes of Q&A.

Invited speakers (proposed):

• Constantin Stoenescu (University of Bucharest)

• TBA

Date: May 29–30, 2025.

Venue: Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independenței 204.

Conference format: in-person/hybrid (to be confirmed).

Language: Romanian, English

Participation fee: There is no participation fee.

Additional information:

The organizers do not provide accommodation or travel expenses for participants. Doctoral and Master’s students may request a certificate of participation, which will be issued only after the conference concludes.

Organizers:
The Department of Theoretical Philosophy, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest, in collaboration with the Research Center for Logic, Philosophy, and the History of Science (CELFIS).