Fear of Social Indeterminacy

Kevin Richardson (Duke University)

The Collective Ethics Seminar: Online Presentation – 1 June 2026 – 15.15 – 16.45 CEST / 09.15 – 10.45 EST

Kevin Richardson - Fear of Social Indeterminacy

On Monday 1 June 2026, Kevin Richardson (Duke University) will give a presentation in the Collective Ethics Seminar entitled ‘Fear of Social Indeterminacy’.

Abstract: Social norms and policies are often built around determinate social category classifications. For example, the black/white, male/female, straight/gay binaries are often taken to be absolute classifications. When determinate classification schemes are violated, there is often widespread social fear and panic. This fear could be described as fear of social indeterminacy, but it is tricky to determine what such fear could amount to. A person can fear a determinate object or event, or they can experience uncertainty-induced fear, but it is unclear what it means for them to fear indeterminacy itself. In this presentation, I argue that fear of social indeterminacy is often best understood as the fear of metaphysical indeterminacy. If I am correct, metaphysical indeterminacy can play an explanatory role in the context of ordinary, object-directed emotions.

The online seminar is open for all to attend. The session starts at 15.15 CEST / 09.15 EST. You can join the session via the following link: https://univienna.zoom.us/j/62736288881?pwd=SndEdTNoNlZtSzJqcmpabm5NaWIyUT09

For more information about the seminar, please see https://social.univie.ac.at/events/collective-ethics-seminar/. We hope to see you at the seminar!

Kind regards,

Gunnar Björnsson (Stockholm University), Kenneth Silver (Trinity College Dublin), and Niels de Haan (University of Vienna)