CFP: Truth, Morality, and Democracy: Themes from the work of Cheryl Misak

Philosophy is a discipline that is divided rather deeply between two areas of investigations: the moral and political on the one hand, and the logical and metaphysical on the other. Worse, researchers in these areas rarely talk with one another. One philosopher whose work cuts across this divide is Professor Cheryl Misak. Her book Truth, Politics and Morality provides an example of the ways in which serious research on both sides can benefit from engagement with the other. There, it is shown how an informed account of truth, which draws on research into formal theories of truth, combined with a pragmatist outlook, can be put to work in our moral and political deliberations. 

Taking Professor Misak's work as a model, we invite papers on any of the following areas, or areas related to these:

• Epistemic theories of democracy,

• Deliberation

• Pluralism in truth and in morality

• The aims of inquiry

• Truth: in morality, in inquiry, in democracy

• Pragmatist theories of truth

• Neutrality: in inquiry, in morality and in democracy

• Pragmatism and analytic philosophy

• Verificationism and pragmatism

• Pragmatism and British philosophy

• Inclusion: epistemic and political

Papers concerning the intersection of any of these are particularly welcome. We especially encourage submissions from Women and other under-represented groups in philosophy. We are aware of the concerns of the Gendered Conference Campaign, and so will strive to have an equal balance of male and female speakers. Details of the Campaign can be found here:http://feministphilosophers.wordpress.com/gendered-conference-campaign/. We will endeavor to provide free child care for any parents wishing to attend this conference, either as a speaker or attendee, subject to pending funding applications. Graduate students are also highly encouraged to apply.

All submissions should include the following:

1. The paper, prepared for blind review, in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format

2. A separate coversheet including the author's name, title of the paper, institutional affiliation, and whether they are a graduate student or not.

Submissions must be sent by email to Noah Friedman-Biglin at m[email protected].

The deadline is October 1st, 2012, and authors will be notified of the result of their submission by October 26th, 2012.

The registration fee for the conference, including dinner, will be £45, with a %50 subsidy available for graduate students and unwaged philosophers.