Inheriting Ordinary Language Philosophy

Recent years have witnessed a renewed interest in so-called ordinary language philosophy – one of the main traditions in 20th century analytic philosophy. The conference will contribute to this renewed engagement by examining the legacy and contemporary significance of the tradition and its leading representatives. At the same time, the conference aims at critically examining the idea of an ordinary language philosophy tradition itself. The thinkers typically grouped under this label differ substantially in philosophical outlook and method. Assessing the depth and significance of these differences raises broader questions about how unified the tradition really is. Is the current resurgence best understood as the continuation of a shared philosophical approach, or does it instead consist of diverse and sometimes competing attempts to draw on different elements of this legacy? By addressing these questions, the conference will both clarify the historical significance of ordinary language philosophy and assess the prospects for its contemporary revival.

Keynote speakers

Avner Baz (Tufts University)

Benjamin De Mesel (KU Leuven)

Hans-Johann Glock (University of Zurich)

Martin Gustafsson (Åbo Akademi University)

Nicole Rathgeb (University of Bern)

Important dates

Abstract submission: July 6, 2026

Author notification: July 16, 2026

Conference: October 2-3, 2026

Registration fees

Students 50 €

Non-students 100 €

(Registration fee covers the conference dinner; waivers might be considered)

Conference Venue

Faculty of Philosophy, Vilnius University, Universiteto street 9, Vilnius, Lithuania.

Submitting an abstract for a presentation (30 minutes including discussion)

Abstracts at a maximum length of 400 words should be submitted as Word or PDF to [email protected]. Make sure to state your name and affiliation clearly in the abstract. The deadline for submission is July 6, 2026. The date of notification is July 16, 2026.

Organizers

Mindaugas Gilaitis (Vilnius University), Martin Gustafsson (Åbo Akademi University)

Please direct all inquiries by email to [email protected] or [email protected].

The event is free to attend. If you intend to come to the conference as a non-speaker, please register by sending an email to [email protected]. The deadline for registration is September 25, 2026.