Graduate students and early career researchers are invited to submit expressions of interest for &ldquo\;Reading philosophies of nature and beauty: close reading as method in the history of philosophy&rdquo\;\, a workshop taking place at the University of Sydney on Tuesday 24 November 2026.
The event is the product of a collaboration between "Extending New Narratives" SSHRC (Canada) major award and &ldquo\;Women Philosophers on the Natural and the Human" ARC Future Fellowship (Dalia Nassar)
Overview
\nAs historians of philosophy\, we are directly acquainted with the method of &lsquo\;close reading&rsquo\;\, but are rarely challenged to articulate what\, exactly\, this methodology entails\, and how it can be better practiced. This one-day event brings together senior scholars with early career researchers within the history of philosophy to discuss the role of close reading in our own work and its implications for our discipline. The day will begin with a masterclass conducted by an experienced historian of philosophy\, and will conclude with a workshop of presentations from graduate students and ECRs showcasing their research and the role of close reading within it. \;
\nThe masterclass and workshop is complementary to the conference &ldquo\;The Natural and the Beautiful: Women Philosophers on Nature\, Beauty\, and Art&rdquo\; hosted at the University of Sydney over 25-27 November\, and will take place the day before the conference begins: Tuesday 24 November 2026.
\nIt is open to early career historians of philosophy working on theories of nature\, organic life\, beauty\, and environmental aesthetics (and adjacent fields)\, with a particular interest in the philosophical contributions of women and other underrepresented figures. This workshop aims to provide an opportunity for scholars to showcase their own textual practices and to work collaboratively to articulate how strategies of close reading serve as a specific method of philosophical analysis. \; \;
\nAs such\, key questions include:
\nLocation:
\nThe event will take place in-person only at the University of Sydney.
\nEligibility:
\nThe workshop is open to ECRs and graduate students working on any or all of the following topics:
\nParticipants are invited to submit a 150-200 word abstract for a talk showcasing their work and reflecting on the textual practices that inform their historical and philosophical research. Speakers are encouraged to conduct a guided close reading of a short passage as part of their presentation. \;
\n(ECR is defined as up to five years post-PhD\, and up to seven years with career interruptions. Career interruptions include childcare\, working out of academia\, prolonged uncertain and casual work within academia.)
\nExpressions of Interest:
\nIf you wish to present at the workshop\, please submit an abstract with your EOI at the link below. Please also fill out the EOI if you wish to simply attend. DEADLINE EXTENDED: Abstracts are due 1st of September 2026. \;
ORGANIZER;CN=Campbell R: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260915T151138Z DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20261125T100000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20261127T170000 SUMMARY:The Natural and the Beautiful: Women Philosophers on Nature\, Beauty\, and Art UID:20260915T151139Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@fe80:0:0:0:cc4b:43ff:fe63:b1f2%3 TZID:Australia/Sydney LOCATION:Paramatta Rd\, Camperdown NSW\, Sydney\, Australia DESCRIPTION:The Natural and the Beautiful: Women Philosophers on Nature\, Beauty\, and Art
\nAn International Conference at the University of Sydney
\nA collaboration between "Extending New Narratives" SSHRC (Canada) major award and &ldquo\;Women Philosophers on the Natural and the Human" ARC Future Fellowship (Dalia Nassar)
\nOrganisers: Dalia Nassar and Campbell Rider
\n25th&ndash\;27th of November\, 2026
\n10:00 &ndash\; 5:00 pm
\nIn-person only at the University of Sydney
\nVere Gordon Childe Centre\, Room 495\, Madsen Building F09
\nOverview:
\nThis conference proposes that women philosophers made important and distinctive contributions to thinking about both the natural and the beautiful &ndash\; and their relation &ndash\; and aims to uncover these contributions and their continuing significance.
\nWomen were often identified with &lsquo\;nature&rsquo\; and the &rsquo\;natural&rsquo\;\, and they had to negotiate their status as both natural and human. How did they do this? And in what ways and to what extent did their status as both &rsquo\;natural&rsquo\; and &lsquo\;human&rsquo\; influence their thinking about nature and the place of the human within it?
\nIn turn\, when women turned to writing philosophy\, they often berated their male colleagues for failing to grapple with and locate philosophical questions in lived experience. In contrast\, they sought to give philosophy a more concrete\, more &lsquo\;lived&rsquo\; character. They often did this through aesthetics\, understood both in the general sense\, as the study of perception\, and in a more limited sense\, as the study of the experiences of beauty. How did their interest in aesthetics support their aims of grounding philosophy in lived experience? And in what ways were their philosophies of art and beauty connected to their philosophies of the natural and the human? This conference invites speakers to consider some or any of these questions.
Call for papers:
The conference is open for abstract submissions from anyone working on the fields of history of women philosophers\; philosophy of nature\; environmental aesthetics or ethics\; or philosophy of art or beauty. \;Abstracts can be submitted at the registration link below by 1st of October 2026:
Early Career Researcher Workshop:
There is a separate workshop for early-career researchers to present their work\, taking place one day before the beginning of the conference. The event is entitled: "Reading Philosophies of Nature and Beauty: Close Reading as Method in the History of Philosophy".
\nThis event is also open for abstracts and papers. For more information and to apply\, email campbell.rider@sydney.edu.au. \;
\nRegistration:
\nSpace is limited\, so please register to attend at the link: \;"Women Philosophers on Beauty\, Nature\, and Art" &ndash\; Fill in form