The Non-Conference (Non-Con)

The Non-Conference (Non-Con)

Recent years have seen heated discussions about the ways in which academic philosophy is presented. Scholars have investigated questions about its style, the functioning of academic journals, the formal requirements of analytic philosophy, or the relationship between philosophy, science, and art. However, most of these discussions have focused on written philosophy only. The way philosophy is presented at conferences, workshops, or symposiums tends to follow the same format: a talk (usually with a powerpoint presentation) followed by Q&A, followed by lunch or conference dinner. As a social activity, it now forms part of the “unwritten curriculum” with its set of expected behaviours, participates in various different forms of philosophical gatekeeping and might also have unwelcome exclusionary effects (e.g., on philosophers suffering from social anxiety, loss of speech or hearing, or graduate students who can’t afford lavish dinners (see https://philarchive.org/rec/KIDKWT)).

We believe this is a contingent feature of the current philosophical landscape and differs from many ways that philosophy has been verbally presented in the past (and indeed could be presented in the present and future). The Non-Con aims to scrutinise the rigid talk + Q&A format that has become customary and investigate new ways of presenting philosophy in person. These possible formats include (but are by no means limited to):

• Philosophical “interview” based on pre-circulated materials
• Q&A preceding the talk
• Talks not connected to a future published paper
• Talks involving music or visual art
• Talks spanning several days or done in sections
• Talks at non-conventional times or locations
• Talks done while performing other activities (e.g., walking)

The organisers wish to emphasise that the list above is purely indicative. The whole point of the Non-Con is to explore these new formats without a top-down prescriptive approach. Presentations in all areas of philosophy are welcome. The requirement for submission to the Non-Con is that your paper does not do any of the following:

• Is a reading out of a previously written paper in front of an audience
• Uses presentation slides
• Is structured into talk + Q&A format
• Breaks UK law or is wholly inappropriate for an academic context

Please send the following documents to [email protected] by 31 December 2025:

• A brief CV (2 pages max)
• A “proposal” of what your philosophical “presentation” is about in terms of content and a description of how you are intending to present it, including, if applicable, any technical requirements (1 page max)

The Non-Con will take place at Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland, on 18 May 2026, and will be co-organised with Northeastern University London. There may be some partial funding available for travel or costs associated with particularly innovative presentation forms, but attendees should not rely on that being the case.