CFP: Russell and Wittgenstein at the Crossroads 1911-1921

The Bertrand Russell Research Centre is pleased to announce a conference to be held on 9-11 November 2013 at McMaster University. The topic of the conference is the philosophical interaction between Russell and Wittgenstein from 1911, when Wittgenstein first went to Cambridge to study with Russell, to 1921, which saw the English publication of Wittgenstein’s Tractatus and Russell’s Analysis of Mind. This was a formative period for Wittgenstein, who made his first contributions to philosophy under Russell’s influence, and a transformative one for Russell, who, in reaction to Wittgenstein’s criticisms, abandoned work on his Theory of Knowledge to adopt a program of logical construction in epistemology. Ten years later, Wittgenstein had published the definitive statement of his early philosophy, while Russell had turned towards the naturalism of mid-twentieth century analytic philosophy. Papers dealing with all aspects of this interaction are welcome. Submissions having to do with its logical and scientific aspects, as well as papers from graduate students, are encouraged.

Contributors are asked to submit an electronic copy of an essay suitable for 30-45 minute presentation and an abstract of 100-200 words. The subject line of the email should read 'Russell 2013' and should be sent no later than 15 February 2013 to: [email protected]. Submissions will be blind refereed. Announcements of acceptances for the program will be made at the latest at the beginning of April 2013. 

Conference Co-Organizers

Nicholas Griffin, The Bertrand Russell Research Centre, McMaster University ([email protected])

David Hyder, Department of Philosophy, University of Ottawa ([email protected])

Sandra Lapointe, Department of Philosophy, McMaster University ([email protected])

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