Authority, Expertise, and Deference in Politics

Questions about authority, expertise, and deference are central to political life. When, if ever, should citizens defer to the judgment of experts, elected officials, or political institutions? This conference brings together scholars working on the intersections of epistemology, democratic theory, and political philosophy to examine the nature, grounds, and limits of authority, expertise and deference in politics.

Call for Abstracts
We welcome abstracts on any topic related to the conference theme. Potential topics include:

• Epistemic authority and expertise in democratic governance
• Deference, disagreement, and political testimony
• Citizens' epistemic obligations in democratic decision-making
• The limits of deference to political, legal, and scientific authority
• Testimony, trust, and deference in political discousrse

Please send an anonymized abstract (750–1000 words) to [email protected] by September 1, 2026.

Speakers will receive full funding to present at the event, including economy travel and accommodation.