2026 West Chester University Philosophy Graduate Student Conference: Living Philosophy

What happens when philosophy moves beyond the academy and enters public discourse, politics, art or activism? How does the examination of lived experience reshape philosophical theories? How do different traditions of philosophy (Western, American, Asian, Africana, Indigenous) each think about the relationship between theory and practice? How can philosophers collaborate with non-academics to create shared knowledge? What are the risks and benefits of making philosophy “practical” and how do we do this without losing its critical lens? Can teaching philosophy help the public thrive in a time of crisis? The conference theme includes considerations of philosophy in everyday life, cross-cultural exchange, embodied knowledge and community dialogue. General philosophy submissions are also welcomed.

We invite scholarly abstracts or articles on philosophical topics, or subjects of similar disciplinary relevance (e.g. Religious Studies, Women's Studies, Cultural Studies, Sociology, etc.). Preferred word count: 250 words for abstracts and 5,000-8,000 words for articles. Please include name, contact information, and institutional affiliation.

Deadline for Submission: Friday, February 20th, 2026

Submit abstracts or papers to: [email protected], Julia Zug

RSVP for Speakers Due: March 4th, 2026