Envisioning Plurality: Feminist Perspectives on Pluralism in Ethics, Politics, and Social Theory

One meaning of pluralism within philosophy is that it seeks to bring underrepresented theoretical perspectives and underrepresented groups into the philosophical mainstream, transforming philosophy as a result. Yet what is meant by "pluralism" and how to assess whether or not pluralism has been achieved remains hotly contested.

While philosophy is often depicted as the academic field most in need of pluralistic correctives, other disciplines, too, struggle with the marginalization of those whom, due to their theoretical approaches or their bodies, have been pushed to the edges of their disciplines.

Keynote speakers:

Linda Martín Alcoff, Professor of Philosophy at Hunter College and the CUNY Graduate Center. Author of Visible Identities: Race, Gender and the Self,  Alcoff has initiated public discussions of pluralism, through both her Pluralist’s Guide to Philosophy and her 2012 NYT op-ed piece addressing Arizona’s censorship of the teaching of critical race theory in public schools.

Jennifer Lisa Vest is a mixedblood (Black/Florida Seminole/German) poet and philosopher who holds the position of Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Central Florida.  Co-author of Philanthropy in Communities of Color, her book manuscript Sovereign Wisdom: Generating Academic Native American Philosophy is under review.

Invited Sessions:

• Viewing and discussion of film, “Precious Knowledge”
• Invited Panel on Pluralism

Location: Fiesta Resort and Conference Center, Tempe, AZ: http://www.fiestainnresort.com/ 

Questions on this conference or the submission process may be directed to the Program Chair, Jean Keller, at [email protected].

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