On Plurality and Relativism in Contemporary Philosophy

Philosophers are familiar with the problem of plurality. There are hardly any issues, questions or topics that enjoy unanimous agreement among philosophers. There is a plurality of opinions on this or that issue, a plurality of philosophical schools, a plurality of approaches. Relativism usually assumes that there are several alternative schemes, practices, epistemic norms, or moral criteria with no absolute criteria that would help us to choose the correct between them. Thus, plurality is usually viewed as one of the pillars of relativism.

            But how closely is plurality linked to relativism? Are there different types of plurality? Is there an innocent type or even a fruitful type of plurality? Or is every type of plurality vicious, perhaps even dangerous? Is it necessary that those who are pluralists are also committed to a version of relativism? Does plurality lead to or even imply relativism? These are some of the questions which may be addressed while examining issues of plurality and relativism.

            Participants of the conference are invited:

1. To explore and to define the key concepts of plurality and relativism in general and in specific manifestations (conceptual relativism, etc.).

2. To examine the connection between plurality and relativism, i.e., to consider arguments for and against the position that plurality leads to relativism.

3. To present case studies on the connection between plurality and relativism.

4. To explore these issues in a more specific context or within a concrete discipline, such as philosophy of science, philosophy of history, or moral philosophy.

Keynote speakers
Aviezer Tucker (University of Ostrava) and Jouni-Matti Kuukkanen (University of Oulu)

Submission guidelines

Interested participants are invited to submit an abstract of 300–500 words in .docx format to [email protected] by 19 January 2026 (notification of acceptance by 30 January 2026). Please name your file as follows: Surname_Title of the paper. Accepted papers will be allotted 20 minutes for presentation, followed by a 10-minute discussion. There is no conference fee.

Organizing committee

Eugen Zeleňák (Catholic University in Ružomberok)

Juraj Šuch (Catholic University in Ružomberok)

Georg Gangl (University of Ostrava)