Free and Inclusive Speech in Times of Polarisation
\nUniversity of Ottawa\, June 1\, 2026 \;
\nOrganized by Nils Holtug (University of Copenhagen) and Patti Tamara Lenard (University of Ottawa) \;
\nIt is already well-repeated that democratic states are increasingly polarized. One manifestation of this polarization is in the nature of public discourse\, which is increasingly aggressive\, disrespectful and ugly &ndash\; more and more interlocutors call each other names\, wish ill on each other\, and call for their respective &ldquo\;cancellations.&rdquo\; Our workshop focuses on how we can have genuine political and moral conversations in these times of heightened sensitivity\, frustration and conflict over basic values and norms. Our starting point is the suggestion that earlier political theorization of the conditions for respectful deliberation\, and the strategies to protect speech/expression therein\, require updating for the present moment. In light of that\, we are seeking contributions that consider questions such as:
\nWe have travel support available for (some of) those who need it. The deadline for submitting abstracts (300 words) for consideration is December 15\, 2025\, to \;patti.lenard@uottawa.ca \;and \;nhol@hum.ku.dk. \; Would-be contributors should note that the Canadian Political Science Association&rsquo\;s annual meeting will be at University of Ottawa\, from June 2-4 (https://cpsa-acsp.ca/ \;- deadline for proposals to CPSA is November 10\, 2025).
ORGANIZER;CN=Patti Tamara Lenard;CN=Nils Holtug: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T182650Z DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260601T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260601T130000 SUMMARY:Voir-Dire: "World-Building" UID:20260406T022418Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-f5d4878dd-4s97k TZID:America/Toronto LOCATION:75 Laurier Ave E\, Ottawa\, Canada\, K1N 6N5 DESCRIPTION:Call for Proposals:
\n&ldquo\;World-Building&rdquo\;
\nOctober 9th &\; 10th\, 2026 at University of Ottawa
\nSubmission Deadline: June 1st\, 2026
\n[La version franç\;aise se trouve ci-dessous]
\nToday&rsquo\;s global community is at a critical juncture in the wake of increasing environmental\, political\, social\, cultural\, and economic crises. Worlds\, as we know them\, are becoming destabilized and fractured and the futures of individual nations as well as their geopolitical relations are uncertain. However\, from this uncertainty and rupture\, opportunity arises to build a better world. The theme\, &ldquo\;World-Building&rdquo\;\, invites graduate students and scholars to share their ideas and research on questions of transformative\, collaborative\, and cooperative processes and practices that envision worlds in their possible futures and the conditions for their realization.
\nVoir Dire: Conference &\; Journal is a joint initiative between graduate students from the philosophy departments at the University of Ottawa\, Saint-Paul University\, and Carleton University. Since an interdisciplinary approach is crucial for identifying\, discussing\, and resolving complex social and political issues\, we welcome proposals from other disciplines and from all areas of philosophy. \;
\nAbstracts and presentations may be in either French or English. Each speaker has 20 minutes to present\, followed by an open discussion period. We invite submissions that engage in research on topics including but not limited to:
\n● Transformation\, solidarity\, and community.
\n● Rights\, dignity\, and freedom: Relationships between human\, animals\, and nature.
\n● Positive and negative roles of dystopian/utopian thinking\, of hope/hopelessness\, of \;
\nnihilism/fatalism\, and of future studies.
\n● Alienation\, reconciliation\, and reparation.
\n● Relation between theory and practice\; justice\; moral and institutional responsibility.
\n● Policy\, commensurability\, feasibility\, and sustainability.
\nFully anonymized abstracts (250-500 words) can be submitted online using the following link:
\nConference Submission Form: \; \;https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcTF0UimzdbFl8jg29tl07BJnenolGdf-rJ1d4xagMFNBWXg/viewform?usp=send_form
\nYou can find the formatting guidelines for abstracts at the beginning of the form and you will be asked to provide a brief bio describing your research interests. Following the conference\, papers may be considered for publication in the Voir Dire journal.
\nFor any questions\, please email us at voirdire.ottawa@gmail.com. \;
\n---------
\nAppel à\; communications :
\n«\; World-Building »\;
\nLe 9 &\; 10 octobre 2026 à\; l&rsquo\;Université\; d&rsquo\;Ottawa
\nDé\;lai de soumission : le 1er juin 2026
\nLa communauté\; mondiale actuelle\, face aux crises environnementales\, politiques\, sociales\, culturelles et é\;conomiques croissantes\, se trouve à\; un moment dé\;cisif. Les mondes\, tel que nous les connaissons\, se dé\;stabilisent et se fracturent\, et l&rsquo\;avenir des nations individuelles et leur relations gé\;opolitiques sont incertaines. Cependant\, de cette incertitude et de cette rupture\, é\;merge l&rsquo\;occasion de bâ\;tir un monde meilleur. Le thè\;me\, «\; World-Building »\;\, invite les é\;tudiant.e.s diplô\;mé\;.e.s et chercheurs.euses à\; partager leurs idé\;es et leurs recherches sur les enjeux relatifs aux processus et pratiques transformatives\, collaboratives et coopé\;ratives qui envisagent les mondes dans leurs futurs possibles et leurs conditions d&rsquo\;avè\;nement.
\nVoir Dire : confé\;rence et revue est une initiative conjointe des é\;tudiant.e.s diplô\;mé\;s des dé\;partements de philosophie de l&rsquo\;Université\; d&rsquo\;Ottawa\, de l&rsquo\;Université\; Saint-Paul et de l&rsquo\;Université\; Carleton. L&rsquo\;utilisation d&rsquo\;une approche interdisciplinaire é\;tant essentielle pour identifier\, discuter et ré\;soudre les problè\;mes sociaux et politiques complexes\, nous accueillons des propositions provenant d&rsquo\;autres disciplines ainsi que des propositions provenant de tous les domaines de philosophie. \;
\nLes ré\;sumé\;s et les pré\;sentations peuvent ê\;tre en franç\;ais ou en anglais. Chaque intervenant.e à\; 20 minutes pour faire sa pré\;sentation\, suivie d&rsquo\;une pé\;riode de discussion ouverte. Nous acceptons des propositions qui abordent\, sans s&rsquo\;y limiter\, les sujets de recherche suivant :
\n● La transformation\, solidarité\; et communauté\;.
\n● Droits\, dignité\; et liberté\; : les relations entre les humains\, animaux et la nature.
\n● Rô\;les positifs et né\;gatifs de la pensé\;e dystopique/utopique\, de l&rsquo\;espoir/dé\;sespoir\, du nihilisme/fatalisme et des é\;tudes de l&rsquo\;avenir.
\n● Alié\;nation\, ré\;conciliation et ré\;paration.
\n● Relation entre la thé\;orie et la pratique\; la justice\; la responsabilité\; morale et institutionnelle.
\n● Politique\, commensurabilité\;\, faisabilité\; et durabilité\;.
\nLes ré\;sumé\;s entiè\;rement anonymisé\;s (250-500 mots) peuvent ê\;tre soumis en ligne à\; travers le lien suivant: \;
\nFormulaire de soumission: \;https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcTF0UimzdbFl8jg29tl07BJnenolGdf-rJ1d4xagMFNBWXg/viewform?usp=send_form
\nVous trouverez les directives pour la mise en forme des ré\;sumé\;s au dé\;but du formulaire et vous devrez fournir une brè\;ve biographie dé\;crivant vos inté\;rê\;ts de recherche.
\nÀ\; la suite de la confé\;rence\, les articles pourront ê\;tre pris en considé\;ration pour publication dans la revue \;
\nVoir Dire. Pour toutes questions\, veuillez nous envoyer un courriel à\; voirdire.ottawa@gmail.com. \;
ORGANIZER: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T182650Z DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260601T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260601T130000 SUMMARY:Free and Inclusive Speech in Times of Polarisation UID:20260406T022419Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-f5d4878dd-4s97k TZID:America/Toronto LOCATION:Ottawa\, Canada DESCRIPTION:Free and Inclusive Speech in Times of Polarisation
\nUniversity of Ottawa\, June 1\, 2026 \;
\nOrganized by Nils Holtug (University of Copenhagen) and Patti Tamara Lenard (University of Ottawa) \;
\nIt is already well-repeated that democratic states are increasingly polarized. One manifestation of this polarization is in the nature of public discourse\, which is increasingly aggressive\, disrespectful and ugly &ndash\; more and more interlocutors call each other names\, wish ill on each other\, and call for their respective &ldquo\;cancellations.&rdquo\; Our workshop focuses on how we can have genuine political and moral conversations in these times of heightened sensitivity\, frustration and conflict over basic values and norms. Our starting point is the suggestion that earlier political theorization of the conditions for respectful deliberation\, and the strategies to protect speech/expression therein\, require updating for the present moment. In light of that\, we are seeking contributions that consider questions such as:
\nWe have travel support available for (some of) those who need it. The deadline for submitting abstracts (300 words) for consideration is December 15\, 2025\, to \;patti.lenard@uottawa.ca \;and \;nhol@hum.ku.dk. \; Would-be contributors should note that the Canadian Political Science Association&rsquo\;s annual meeting will be at University of Ottawa\, from June 2-4 (https://cpsa-acsp.ca/ \;- deadline for proposals to CPSA is November 10\, 2025).
ORGANIZER;CN=Patti Tamara Lenard;CN=Nils Holtug: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T182650Z DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20261009T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20261010T170000 SUMMARY:Voir-Dire: "World-Building" UID:20260406T022420Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-f5d4878dd-4s97k TZID:America/Toronto LOCATION:75 Laurier Ave E\, Ottawa\, Canada\, K1N 6N5 DESCRIPTION:Call for Proposals:
\n&ldquo\;World-Building&rdquo\;
\nOctober 9th &\; 10th\, 2026 at University of Ottawa
\nSubmission Deadline: June 1st\, 2026
\n[La version franç\;aise se trouve ci-dessous]
\nToday&rsquo\;s global community is at a critical juncture in the wake of increasing environmental\, political\, social\, cultural\, and economic crises. Worlds\, as we know them\, are becoming destabilized and fractured and the futures of individual nations as well as their geopolitical relations are uncertain. However\, from this uncertainty and rupture\, opportunity arises to build a better world. The theme\, &ldquo\;World-Building&rdquo\;\, invites graduate students and scholars to share their ideas and research on questions of transformative\, collaborative\, and cooperative processes and practices that envision worlds in their possible futures and the conditions for their realization.
\nVoir Dire: Conference &\; Journal is a joint initiative between graduate students from the philosophy departments at the University of Ottawa\, Saint-Paul University\, and Carleton University. Since an interdisciplinary approach is crucial for identifying\, discussing\, and resolving complex social and political issues\, we welcome proposals from other disciplines and from all areas of philosophy. \;
\nAbstracts and presentations may be in either French or English. Each speaker has 20 minutes to present\, followed by an open discussion period. We invite submissions that engage in research on topics including but not limited to:
\n● Transformation\, solidarity\, and community.
\n● Rights\, dignity\, and freedom: Relationships between human\, animals\, and nature.
\n● Positive and negative roles of dystopian/utopian thinking\, of hope/hopelessness\, of \;
\nnihilism/fatalism\, and of future studies.
\n● Alienation\, reconciliation\, and reparation.
\n● Relation between theory and practice\; justice\; moral and institutional responsibility.
\n● Policy\, commensurability\, feasibility\, and sustainability.
\nFully anonymized abstracts (250-500 words) can be submitted online using the following link:
\nConference Submission Form. You can find the formatting guidelines for abstracts at the beginning of the form and you will be asked to provide a brief bio describing your research interests. Following the conference\, papers may be considered for publication in the Voir Dire journal.
\nFor any questions\, please email us at voirdire.ottawa@gmail.com. \;
\n---------
\nAppel à\; communications :
\n«\; World-Building »\;
\nLe 9 &\; 10 octobre 2026 à\; l&rsquo\;Université\; d&rsquo\;Ottawa
\nDé\;lai de soumission : le 1er juin 2026
\nLa communauté\; mondiale actuelle\, face aux crises environnementales\, politiques\, sociales\, culturelles et é\;conomiques croissantes\, se trouve à\; un moment dé\;cisif. Les mondes\, tel que nous les connaissons\, se dé\;stabilisent et se fracturent\, et l&rsquo\;avenir des nations individuelles et leur relations gé\;opolitiques sont incertaines. Cependant\, de cette incertitude et de cette rupture\, é\;merge l&rsquo\;occasion de bâ\;tir un monde meilleur. Le thè\;me\, «\; World-Building »\;\, invite les é\;tudiant.e.s diplô\;mé\;.e.s et chercheurs.euses à\; partager leurs idé\;es et leurs recherches sur les enjeux relatifs aux processus et pratiques transformatives\, collaboratives et coopé\;ratives qui envisagent les mondes dans leurs futurs possibles et leurs conditions d&rsquo\;avè\;nement.
\nVoir Dire : confé\;rence et revue est une initiative conjointe des é\;tudiant.e.s diplô\;mé\;s des dé\;partements de philosophie de l&rsquo\;Université\; d&rsquo\;Ottawa\, de l&rsquo\;Université\; Saint-Paul et de l&rsquo\;Université\; Carleton. L&rsquo\;utilisation d&rsquo\;une approche interdisciplinaire é\;tant essentielle pour identifier\, discuter et ré\;soudre les problè\;mes sociaux et politiques complexes\, nous accueillons des propositions provenant d&rsquo\;autres disciplines ainsi que des propositions provenant de tous les domaines de philosophie. \;
\nLes ré\;sumé\;s et les pré\;sentations peuvent ê\;tre en franç\;ais ou en anglais. Chaque intervenant.e à\; 20 minutes pour faire sa pré\;sentation\, suivie d&rsquo\;une pé\;riode de discussion ouverte. Nous acceptons des propositions qui abordent\, sans s&rsquo\;y limiter\, les sujets de recherche suivant :
\n● La transformation\, solidarité\; et communauté\;.
\n● Droits\, dignité\; et liberté\; : les relations entre les humains\, animaux et la nature.
\n● Rô\;les positifs et né\;gatifs de la pensé\;e dystopique/utopique\, de l&rsquo\;espoir/dé\;sespoir\, du nihilisme/fatalisme et des é\;tudes de l&rsquo\;avenir.
\n● Alié\;nation\, ré\;conciliation et ré\;paration.
\n● Relation entre la thé\;orie et la pratique\; la justice\; la responsabilité\; morale et institutionnelle.
\n● Politique\, commensurabilité\;\, faisabilité\; et durabilité\;.
\nLes ré\;sumé\;s entiè\;rement anonymisé\;s (250-500 mots) peuvent ê\;tre soumis en ligne à\; travers le lien suivant : Formulaire de soumission. Vous trouverez les directives pour la mise en forme des ré\;sumé\;s au dé\;but du formulaire et vous devrez fournir une brè\;ve biographie dé\;crivant vos inté\;rê\;ts de recherche.
\nÀ\; la suite de la confé\;rence\, les articles pourront ê\;tre pris en considé\;ration pour publication dans la revue \;
\nVoir Dire. Pour toutes questions\, veuillez nous envoyer un courriel à\; voirdire.ottawa@gmail.com. \;
ORGANIZER: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR