CFP: Social Categories: Aesthetics and Metaphysics. British Society of Aesthetics Connections Conference

This conference aims to bring into dialogue philosophers working on the metaphysics of social categories and philosophers working on or with such categories within aesthetics. See the conference page for a full description.

There are three places on the programme for submitted papers. We welcome submission of papers up to 3000 words long (references excluded) on any topic relevant to the conference theme. Examples might include the role of aesthetic qualities in the construction of social categories, the contribution of aesthetic practices to category constitution, the relations of explanatory priority between the aesthetic and material grounds of social construction, characterising the social nature of aesthetic practices, case studies which look at the role of the aesthetic in the construction of particular social categories.

Papers should be prepared for blind review. A separate cover sheet should include the paper title, the author’s name, institution, and career stage, and an indication of whether they specialise in aesthetics, metaphysics, both, or neither. Please submit papers and cover sheets to n[email protected] by January 31 2027. Decisions will follow no later than February 28.

Accommodation and food will be covered in full for all speakers. Travel will be covered in full for speakers from the UK and Europe. Travel will be substantially subsidised for speakers from elsewhere.

Arrangements can be made for anything that would facilitate conference participation for speakers, including (but not limited to) childcare, sign language interpretation, and physical access requirements. Please contact us if you have any questions about this.