8th International Conference on Philosophy and Meaning in Life

About

The philosophical exploration of life’s meaning—understood broadly as inquiry into the ultimate value, purpose, and intelligibility of human existence—has been a central concern throughout the history of thought. From classical reflections on the nature of eudaimonia, to medieval and early modern debates about the summum bonum, to contemporary discussions of absurdity, vocation, and existential orientation, the question of what makes life meaningful continues to draw deep and diverse philosophical engagement.

In recent years, this longstanding theme has witnessed a marked resurgence within professional philosophy, generating a rich body of new scholarship across traditions, methodologies, and subfields. The International Conference on Philosophy and Meaning in Life has emerged as the leading global forum for advancing this discourse—bringing together researchers to present original work, foster dialogue, and engage with the latest developments in the field.

Local Organizers

• Yujin Nagasawa and Jacob Waugh (University of Oklahoma)

Steering Committee

• Kiki Berk (Southern New Hampshire University)
• Nobuo Kurata (Hokkaido University)
• Iddo Landau (University of Haifa)
• David Matheson (Carleton University)
• Thaddeus Metz (University of Pretoria)
• Masahiro Morioka (Waseda University)
• Tatsuya Murayama (Tohoku University) Rivka Weinberg (Scripps College)

Call for Papers

We invite abstract submissions from scholars at all career stages. Contributions may address any dimension of life’s meaning, broadly construed.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):

• the interplay between love and meaning 
• reconciliation and existential integration 
• aesthetic value as a source of meaning 
• divine purpose, transcendence, and religious conceptions of meaning 
• moral frameworks and normative constraints on meaningful lives 
• suffering, resilience, and the human condition 
• meaning in the age of artificial intelligence 
• narrative identity, memory, and tradition 
• phenomenological approaches to meaning
• historical perspectives and philosophical genealogy 
• metaphysical or cosmic outlooks on human significance 
• global and cross-cultural conceptions of meaning 

We welcome diverse approaches—analytic, continental, historical, comparative, and interdisciplinary—that speak to the enduring and evolving nature of these existential questions. Please submit a single Word document containing (i) your name, (ii) institutional affiliation, (iii) the title of your paper, and (iv) a 300–500 word abstract to our graduate assistant, Samuel V. Jonathan ([email protected]), by October 26, 2025. You will be notified of the outcome by November 26, 2025.
Registration

• Registration Required
• Deadline: TBA How to Register: TBA