CFP: Women at the Dawn of Analytic Philosophy

Call for Papers: Women at the Dawn of Analytic Philosophy  

Dates: May 28-29th 2026

Location: Northeastern University London (Devon House, 58 St Katherine’s Way, London) Organiser: Peter West
Contact: [email protected]   

This conference is generously funded by the British Academy/ Leverhulme Trust. 

Women at the Dawn of Analytic Philosophy  

This conference focuses on the contributions to and context of women to early analytic philosophy in the first half of the 20th century. We welcome papers focusing on the philosophical work of women in the analytic tradition or in connection to the analytic tradition (broadly construed).   

Papers might focus on the following figures/ topics (the following list is simply intended to be indicative):   

Example figures:   

• Susan Stebbing
• Margaret Macdonald
• Dorothy Emmet
• Alice Ambrose
• Helen Knight
• Margaret Masterman 
• Ruth Lydia Saw
• Elsie Whetnall 
• Beatrice Edgell 
• Ruth Barcan Marcus 
• Susanne Langer
• Dorothy Wrinch 
• Hilda Oakley 

  Example topics:   

• Connections between these figures.
• Connections between early analytic women and later women philosophers (e.g., the ‘Wartime Quartet’: Midgley, Murdoch, Foot, Anscombe). 
• Schools of thought or philosophical groups within early analytic philosophy (e.g., philosophers at Bedford College).
• Historiographical/ methodological reflections on women in the history of philosophy or the ‘canon’ and narratives in the history of philosophy. 

Again, these are indicative topics - the conference welcomes a variety of proposals. (The time-frame covered is also flexible; figures/ texts pre-1900 or post-1950 will also be considered.)  

Invited speakers: 

• Lawrence Blum (University of Massachusetts, Boston)
• Siobhan Chapman (University of Liverpool)
• Sophia Connell (University of Notre Dame)
• Cheryl Misak (University of Toronto)
• Oliver Spinney (University College London)

Proposals: 
Proposals should take the form of a maximum 300 word abstract, sent to [email protected].
Please also include your name, email, and institutional affiliation.  
The deadline for proposals is January 1st 2026.

There is also some funding available to support postgraduate attendees or attendees with (e.g.) childcare support needs.
Please mention this in your email along with the information requested above.  
Please email the organiser with any queries.