CFP: Call for Chapter Proposals – The Palgrave Handbook on the Philosophy of Death

Call for Chapter Proposals – The Palgrave Handbook on the Philosophy of Death

Editors: Christopher Moreman (California State University, East Bay), Tommaso Soriani (University of Reading), Emanuele Tullio (Central European University)

We invite chapter proposals for contributions to The Palgrave Handbook on the Philosophy of Death, a comprehensive and cutting-edge volume that aims to reflect the breadth and depth of contemporary philosophical work on death, dying, and mortality.

The Handbook is intended to serve as a key reference work for scholars, students, and practitioners engaged with death-related questions across philosophy, the humanities, and adjacent disciplines.

Scope and Aim

Each chapter will combine an accessible survey of a specific topic within the philosophy of death, with original research contributions that challenge, expand, or reframe established debates. It will explore both analytic and continental traditions and will seek to incorporate a wide range of cultural and philosophical perspectives. We particularly welcome proposals from underrepresented voices and scholars working across global and interdisciplinary contexts.

Suggested Topics:

1. Defining Death

The timing of death: process vs. event; Death and personal identity (e.g., psychological continuity, animalism); The concept of death in non-Western traditions; Historical and ancient perspectives (e.g., Epicurus, Stoicism)

2. On the Afterlife

Immortality, resurrection, and reincarnation; Near-death experiences; Parapsychology and the possibility of survival; Eschatology across religious and secular worldviews

3. On Mortality

Death vs. non-existence; Mortality and the metaphysics of time; Cosmic death, planetary mortality, and climate change; Emotional and phenomenological responses to mortality

4. On the Dead

What we owe to the dead; The rights of the dead; Transgenerational obligations; The metaphysics and moral status of corpses; Ongoing relationships with the dead

5. Existentialism

Consciousness and mortality; Absurdism and nihilism; Death and authenticity; The phenomenology of dying

6. Ethics

Euthanasia, assisted dying, suicide; Abortion and capital punishment; War, risk, and collective death; Animals, artificial beings, transhumanism, and death

7. Specific Thinkers

Focused chapters on figures who have significantly shaped the philosophy of death

8. Other Topics

We are open to considering any proposals on any topic, not mentioned above, connected with the philosophy of death.

Submission Guidelines

We welcome chapter proposals of approximately 500 words, including:

• A working title
• A brief abstract of the proposed chapter, indicating an original contribution that moves the field forward
• A short bio (including current affiliation and any relevant publications)

 Deadline for Proposals: August 15, 2025

Notification of Acceptance: September 30, 2025
Full Chapter Deadline: March 1, 2026

Editorial Feedback Returned: May 30, 2026

Final Edited Chapter Deadline: August 30, 2026
Chapter Length: 7,000 words

Please submit proposals and inquiries to:

Christopher Moreman – [email protected]

Tommaso Soriani – [email protected]

Emanuele Tullio – [email protected]