The Austrian Society for Phenomenology launches its fouth international summer school. Our objective is to promote the research of young scholars (bachelor\, master\, and doctoral students) that sheds new phenomenological light on current debates in epistemology\, metaethics\, and metaphysics. The descriptive analysis of lived experience\, the eidetic study of the various modes of intentionality\, and the epistemic role and normative dimensions ascribed to experience constitute the cornerstones of phenomenological research. In particular\, Husserl&rsquo\;s conceptions of originary givenness\, evaluative experience\, and eidetic intuition are among the various seminal contributions we find in the phenomenological tradition. Currently\, promising research is done that utilizes such conceptions in order to develop phenomenological perspectives on experiential justification\, the debate between epistemic internalism and externalism\, the theory of value\, (moral) emotions\, moral epistemology\, issues surrounding metaphysical realism and anti-realism\, as well as the epistemology and metaphysics of essence\, modality\, and metaphysical dependence relations. We would like to encourage students to develop phenomenological insights and teachings systematically and in view of contemporary debates in philosophy. Our ambition is to promote such phenomenological research by providing a platform to connect with\, discuss with\, and receive feedback from peers and experts. Each conference day is devoted to one of the subtopics of the event.
\nThe conference will be an \;online event. \;If you wish to participate in the summer school but not to give a talk\, please provide a short statement of motivation (not more than 150 words) and specify your name\, affiliation\, and research interests.
\nCall for Papers
\nIf you wish to participate in the summer school and give a talk\, please apply with an (extended) abstract of the paper you wish to present. Submissions should not exceed 500 words\, must be written in English (conference language)\, and should be prepared for blind review.
\nThe submission deadline is July 15\, 2026.
\nPlease send your applications/submissions and general inquiries to: laurentia[dot]adam[at]uni-graz[dot]at
\nWomen and members of other traditionally underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply.
\nPreliminary schedule
\nSeptember 1
\nPhenomenological Approaches to Metaethics
\nNicolas de Warren (Penn State University): TBA
\n3 student presentations commented on by Sonja Rinofner-Kreidl (University of Graz)
\nSeptember 2
\nPhenomenological Approaches to Epistemology
\nMirja Hartimo (University of Helsinki): TBA
\n3 student presentations commented on by Philipp Berghofer (University of Graz)
\nSeptember 3
\nPhenomenological Approaches to Metaphysics
\nKit Fine (New York University): TBA
\n3 student presentations commented on by Michael Wallner (University of Graz)
ORGANIZER;CN=Philipp Berghofer;CN=Sonja Rinofner-Kreidl;CN=Michael Wallner: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260816T075126Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Vienna:20261031T234500 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Vienna:20261031T234500 SUMMARY:Rethinking Agency under Non-Ideal Conditions UID:20260816T075127Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@fe80:0:0:0:3cca:14ff:fe3c:a4c3%3 TZID:Europe/Vienna LOCATION:Graz\, Austria\, 8010 DESCRIPTION:CfP: \;Rethinking Agency under Non-Ideal Conditions
\nConfirmed \;speakers: Maria Alvarez\, Havi Carel\, Hanne Jacobs\, Quill Kukla\, Kristina Musholt and \;Caleb Ward.
\n\nThe notion of agency plays a central role across many areas of philosophy\, including philosophy of action\, ethics\, political philosophy\, epistemology\, feminist philosophy\, and phenomenology. \;While traditionally conceptualized in terms of intentional action\, rational control\, and autonomy\, our understanding of agency has recently come under intense scrutiny and is now being increasingly transformed. \;Feminist and phenomenological approaches\, in particular\, have emphasized the need for a richer and more fine-grained conception of agency&mdash\;one that takes seriously the social\, historical\, and relational contexts in which agents are situated. From this perspective\, agency cannot be adequately understood without acknowledging that agents are not only rational decision-makers\, but also emotional\, embodied\, desiring\, creative\, and affective beings.
\nThis conference invites new investigations into agency as it is lived and exercised under non-ideal conditions\, such as vulnerability\, dependency\, uncertainty\, coercion\, structural injustice\, affective ambivalence\, or crisis. Rather than presupposing idealized models of action and rational control\, the conference aims to analyze how agency isreconfigured \;under such conditions. We also particularly welcome contributions that examine how rational and virtuous agency should be rethought under non-ideal conditions and in times of crisis.
\nPossible questions include (but are not limited to):
\nIn addition to contemporary approaches\, we explicitly welcome historical-philosophical work\, including contributions engaging with the phenomenological tradition\, as well as those that critically engage with accounts of agency from marginalized figures and traditions in the history of philosophy.
\nContributions from early-career researchers are especially encouraged.
\nThe conference is planned as an in-person event only.
\n\;
\nWe invite you to submit an anonymized abstract of up to 500 words \;by \;October 31\, 2026 \;to \;laurentia.adam@uni-graz.at
\nPlease include a separate file with your name\, email address\, the title of your talk\, and your affiliation (if any) and put &lsquo\;Rethinking Agency Graz 2027&rsquo\; in the subject line.
\n\;
\nOrganizing Team: Emanuela Carta\, Denis Dzanic\, and Daniel Neumann.
ORGANIZER;CN="Denis Džanić";CN=Emanuela Carta;CN=Daniel Neumann: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260816T075126Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Vienna:20270303T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Vienna:20270305T170000 SUMMARY:Rethinking Agency under Non-Ideal Conditions UID:20260816T075128Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@fe80:0:0:0:3cca:14ff:fe3c:a4c3%3 TZID:Europe/Vienna LOCATION:Graz\, Austria\, 8010 ORGANIZER;CN="Denis Džanić";CN=Emanuela Carta;CN=Daniel Neumann: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR