CFP: 48th International Wittgenstein Symposium 2027: Knowledge in Crisis

Scientific Organisers: Tim Crane (CEU), Lisa Doerksen (CEU), Elek Lane (Vienna)

The International Wittgenstein Symposium is organized annually by the Austrian Ludwig Wittgenstein Society (ALWS). It is one of the largest annual conferences in philosophy in Central Europe. On average, 200 participants attend this event, and more than 100 talks are given. The conference is held in the scenic village of Kirchberg am Wechsel (approx. 100 km from Vienna), near where Wittgenstein taught. There will also be a cultural program at the conference.

Each year, the Symposium is dedicated to a different subject. In 2027, the ALWS will partner with the Knowledge in Crisis project, a five-year project supported by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). In accordance with this partnership, the general topic of the 2027 Symposium will be knowledge in crisis. The theme is intended to cover contemporary challenges to knowledge, truth and expertise, which are linked to social, political and technological developments worldwide. The Symposium will aim to make progress in understanding the current crisis by addressing theoretical questions about truth, ethics, language, science, technology, and politics and their relationship to knowledge.

Section 1 is dedicated to Wittgenstein, and submissions to this section needn’t address the theme. Sections 2-6 are dedicated to various aspects of the knowledge in crisis; submissions to these sections are not required to relate to Wittgenstein.

1. Wittgenstein

2. Knowledge and truth

3. Knowledge and ethics

4. Knowledge and language

5. Knowledge and science/technology

6. Knowledge and politics

Deadline for paper submissions: April 1, 2027

Instructions for submitting: https://www.alws.at/iws_organization/instructions-for-authors/

Final date for registration: June 30, 2027

Students and early career researchers are especially encouraged to submit a presentation.

Conference languages: English and German

Plenary speakers:

Cailin O’Connor (Irvine), Kevin Dorst (MIT), Branden Fitelsen (Northeastern), James Ladyman (Bristol), Marie McGinn (York), Oskari Kuusela (East Anglia), Michela Massimi (Edinburgh), Carlotta Pavese (Oxford), Miriam Schoenfield (Texas), Mark Textor (King’s College)