History and Philosophy of Science: Past\, Present\, and Future
\n24 - 26 June 2026
\nAcademic Building\, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
\nKeynote Speakers
\nTheodore Arabatzis (University of Athens\, Greece)
\nUljana Feest (University of Hannover\, Germany)
\nDon Howard (University of British Columbia\, Canada)
\nGreg Radick (University of Leeds\, UK)
Organising Committee
Keith Chan
\nFons Dewulf
\nYafeng Shan (chair)
\nQinyi Wang
\nQiyue Zhang
Funders
Centre for Philosophy of Science\, HKUST
The Asian Philosophy of Science Association
Conference Description
History and Philosophy of Science (aka HPS) emerged in the 1950s and greatly promoted the historical approach to the philosophy of science. Despite its rapid institutionalisation in the 1960s\, HPS did not become a full-fledged academic discipline eventually. There have been axiological\, institutional\, methodological\, and practical challenges. That said\, some historically minded philosophers of science and philosophically minded historians of science never stop making efforts to promote the dialogue across the boundaries and develop HPS approaches (e.g. integrated HPS\, HOPOS\, and PHS). This conference aims to reflect on the nature\, methodology\, development\, and prospect of HPS.
Selected papers will be included in an edited volume to be published by Springer (part of the Asian Studies in the Philosophy of Science).
\nFor more information\, please visit the webpage: \;https://www.shanyafeng.com/hps26
\nRegistration (Deadline: 24 May 2026)
\nhttps://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1979375495390
\n
Contact
If you have any questions\, please contact Qiyue Zhang (qiyue.zhang@connect.ust.hk).
The Prognostic Possibilities of a Philosophical Approach to History: Currents of the Contemporary World
\nInternational School of Philosophy Felix Romuliana\, Zaječar\, RS
\nFaculty of Philosophy - University of Belgrade\, RS
\nZaječar (RS) &ndash\; 4-6 September 2026
\nThe contemporary world appears more complex than ever. The paths of understanding\, and especially of explaining how history itself can be defined\, seem almost inaccessible. If we understand history\, at its core\, as a sequence of events in which human beings either act or participate\, we may ask whether reflecting on these processes is at the same time a way of giving meaning to the human world. If\, however\, we assume that thinking about history cannot be equated with any form of meaning\, an additional philosophical question arises concerning the very meaning of thinking history as such.
\nIf we are\, therefore\, unable to influence in any way the events we call history\, this is connected to an even deeper question concerning the meaning of human existence in general. On the other hand\, what philosophy can do is to attempt to grasp the currents of these events and\, on the basis of certain insights\, possibly anticipate their outcomes. In this sense\, we propose to reconsider classical philosophical and historical insights and to connect them with contemporary developments. Is the progressive endangerment of environment linked to progressive interpretations of the course of history\, interpretations marked by the idea of human domination over nature? Does this also imply the erosion of human self-understanding as a natural being\, given that many positions claim that the human being is\, within this historical process\, self-produced?
\nAt the same time\, we may ask whether there are reasons to interpret these processes as possessing a certain cyclicality\, according to which the very human being who produces everything\, including itself\, brings these processes to extreme points that mark\, through forms of self-destruction\, the possibility of a new beginning.
\nFrom a cultural and political perspective\, thinkers who point to contemporary global developments are also highly relevant\, especially those who analyze the rivalry between powerful Eastern states and the well-known Atlantic powers of the West. Do these processes indicate a historical pattern familiar from earlier periods\, most famously articulated in Oswald Spengler&rsquo\;s The Decline of the West? In other words\, are the diagnoses formulated at the turn of the nineteenth to the twentieth century once again becoming visible\, diagnoses according to which there are regularities known since antiquity\, such as the idea of akme\, the attainment of a peak or culmination in the growth of civilizations\, after which an inevitable decline follows\, potentially leading to disappearance. Accordingly\, the highly actual question arises whether the Euro Atlantic sphere\, commonly referred to as Western civilization\, is undergoing an internal process of self-destruction\, and what this would mean for the trajectories of the contemporary world.
\nWill the economic competitiveness of Far Eastern countries be sufficient to compensate for the political level of articulation of human society? China\, nominally a communist state and the most influential country of the East\, officially presents itself as a supporter of the preservation of the global liberal system. From this tension emerge contemporary formulations concerning competition between an old globalism led by the United States and a new globalism led by China. This challenges theoretical conceptions of historical processes commonly referred to as the Westernization of the world. In other words\, are historical dynamics shifting sufficiently to take forms different from those previously anticipated?
\nOne of the well-known prognostic dilemmas concerning historical developments\, and thus the contemporary paths of the world\, concerns the initially emphasized connection between the meaning of human existence\, human life\, and the context of historical events. These questions are also addressed within the field commonly defined as futurism\, in which predictive possibilities are linked to serious analyses of trends and dominant factors shaping processes. Philosophically\, the most interesting aspect of this dilemma revolves around whether such predictions can be considered relevant not only for the moment in which they are made\, but also for what is known as the formation of a worldview. Do our projections take the form of what can be called a utopia\, or rather its opposite\, a dystopia?
\nUtopian reflections on contemporary global developments are often connected with a standard trust in progress and with expectations of historical outcomes leading toward fully ordered societies. Yet this immediately raises the question of whether such total order corresponds to the interests of human beings or whether it becomes an end in itself. Furthermore\, does such a utopian conception of society lead to ever new forms of totalitarian arrangements\, such as digital totalitarianism or even more direct forms of governance mediated by artificial intelligence?
\nAlternatively\, there are scenarios that predict the collapse of social orders and their transformation into arbitrary relations of power based on fractured relations between technology\, democracy\, and power. Such societies\, or remnants of societies\, are described in predominantly dark tones\, dominated by immediate survival interests\, without any perspective that could confer meaning on human existence or life as such. These visions of the world are therefore termed dystopian.
\nAs has already become clear\, interpretations of historical developments are always matters of both meaning making and prediction. A particular challenge\, however\, is posed by those forms of thinking about history that misuse these initial needs to reflect on history. In such cases\, the need for prediction is subordinated to specific doctrinal projects\, according to which supposedly predicted processes are then expected to unfold. This does not constitute a philosophical mode of reflecting either on the future or on the essence of the analyzed processes\, but rather an activation of both the processes themselves and the forms in which they are allegedly predicted.
\nThis is characteristic of contemporary forms of ideological thinking which\, unlike classical ideologies\, are far more concealed in nature and attempt to present themselves as parts of inevitable processes. Well known theoretical theses concerning hybrid or hybridized ideologies combine elements of classical ideological forms. Within the framework of our theme\, we point to the possibility of examining new forms of hybridization through which old goals are achieved or are meant to be achieved. Within broader conceptions of the outcomes of historical processes and the transformation of human societies\, increasing attention is devoted to posthumanist ideas that in themselves imply the necessity of a radically different understanding of the human world.
\nClassical ideologies advocated the thesis of the inevitable creation of a new human being\, while posthumanist ideas speak of the obsolescence of the human being in structuring the world. These two theses can be reconciled in various ways through the idea of so called transhumanism\, which supports the meaning of the dominance of artificial intelligence and technological governance of human life by envisaging a being reminiscent of the idea of a new human\, yet stripped of the weaknesses of the human as a natural being. Within this conception\, one can identify elements associated with classical ideological doctrines: liberalism\, which emphasizes the enhancement of all forms of organized life in society\; communism\, understood as the establishment of entirely new social relations mediated by digital equality and egalitarianism\; and Nazism\, through the establishment of a form\, however artificial\, of a superior being that overcomes human weaknesses\, a superiority that would enable a form of justice based on the distribution of power from the perfect\, transhumanised being to posthuman beings understood merely as elements of a perfect system.
\nThus\, the theme &ldquo\;The Prognostic Possibilities of a Philosophical Approach to History: Currents of the Contemporary World&rdquo\; enables the articulation of both philosophical and interdisciplinary contributions to understanding the possibilities for human orientation in contemporary global events. At the same time\, it leaves open space for all interested participants to contribute from many other perspectives not explicitly mentioned here\, thereby enriching the discussion of this important topic.
\nOrganiser: Prof. Milenko Bodin (University of Belgrade)
\nSubmissions of a long abstract (of no more than 1000 words) and a CV are due by 30 June 2026.
\nAll applicants must indicate the following details: Name\, presentation title\, institutional affiliation\, and contact information.
\nPlease\, send your abstract and CV to filcentar@gmail.com
\nApplicants will be notified by 15 July 2026.
ORGANIZER;CN=Milenko Prof. Bodin (Felix Romuliana School Director): METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260624T115527Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Berlin:20260701T234500 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Berlin:20260701T234500 SUMMARY:1st Critical AI Safety Workshop UID:20260626T093300Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-bd7db559-gt5qm TZID:Europe/Berlin LOCATION:Copenhagen\, Denmark DESCRIPTION:The discourse around the existential risks of artificial intelligence (AI) has reached a point where organisations\, private individuals\, and groups are spending millions on speculative research\, safety centres are investing large sums in lobbying governments in the name of saving humanity\, and the AI safety discourse is frequently popping up in mainstream media and academic venues. In short\, AI safety has acquired considerable institutional and financial power and is backed by some of the largest donors and technology companies in the world. Meanwhile\, basic disciplinary standards that established research fields take for granted remain far from settled. The definitions of AGI vary significantly\, the differences in expert-given likelihoods of an existential catastrophe are so vast as to be meaningless\, the formal methods to think about cognition\, agency\, and deception stem from a very narrow set of philosophical assumptions that don&rsquo\;t necessarily hold in real-world contexts\, and publishing in non-peer-reviewed venues and forums remains a best practice.
\nBut there is more. With early proponents like Elon Musk\, Peter Thiel\, and Jaan Tallinn\, as well as billion-dollar companies that allegedly promote the future of humanity\, the field is situated within an Ivy League-educated\, white\, male\, Western culture at the heart of Silicon Valley. It has been accused of promoting eugenics\, classist thinking\, and hypercapitalism. This raises serious questions about the alleged altruism: if predominantly privileged individuals operate at the center of the movement\, which future do they envision\, and whose problems are they focusing on?
\nA few scholars have started researching this complex network of theories\, actors\, world views\, and assumptions that arise at the intersection of transhumanism\, rationalism\, and\, again\, Silicon Valley capital. However\, these critiques are scattered across political thought\, philosophy\, media studies\, anthropology\, sociology\, theology\, and many more disciplines. This workshop is among the first to bring these threads together in a dedicated forum. We aim to investigate attempts to understand\, map\, and critique AI safety and AI existential risk as a research field\, community\, and ecosystem. Some of the core questions are the following.
\nWhat is the landscape of AI safety and existential risk communities and research\, and what are the tensions within those?
\nCan AI safety or AI existential risk be described as an ideology?
\nWhat assumptions about cognitive science\, economics\, sociology\, society\, or power\, amongst others\, underlie and confound AI Safety? \;
\nWhat are the formal methods of the field\, and how can they be improved?
\nWhat are the funding flows in the field? How easy is it for individuals to receive funding\, and what factors are considered in funding decisions?
\nWhat policy proposals does the AI safety community lobby for\, and through what channels?
\nHow is the community established\, what are their recruiting strategies\, and what makes them so successful?
\nHow tightly interlinked is the research philosophy with other non-scientific fields\, like science fiction\, hype\, speculation\, and imagination?
\nIf you&rsquo\;re interested in submitting\, please send an abstract (ca. 300-500 words) and a short bio (max. 150 words) of all presenters to niol@hum.ku.dk with the subject line "SUBMISSION CAIS [NAME]". Submission deadline is the 1st of July\, notifications of acceptance are sent out on July 21st.
\nLink to event: https://philevents.org/event/show/149733
\n \; ORGANIZER;CN=Ninell Oldenburg;CN=Nina Rajcic;CN="Anders Søgaard";CN=Bokar N'Diaye;CN=Filippos Stamatiou: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260624T115527Z DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260701T234500 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260701T234500 SUMMARY:North American Association for Philosophy and Education (NAAPE) 2026 UID:20260626T093301Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-bd7db559-gt5qm TZID:America/Chicago LOCATION:Mundelein\, United States DESCRIPTION:Dear Colleagues\, \;
\nWe are delighted to invite you to submit a paper or other proposal to the North American Association for Philosophy and Education (NAAPE) Annual Conference\, which will take place from Friday\, October 16th to Sunday\, October 18th\, 2025. NAAPE 2025 will be held at the beautiful University of St. Mary of the Lake\, just outside of Chicago. Submissions are due by July 1st\, 2026 at 11:59PM CT (UTC -5). \;
\nAs in previous years\, NAAPE accepts any length of paper\, but we prefer papers that are less than 14\,000 words. The papers may employ any well-established style guideline so long as it is used consistently throughout the paper. Additionally\, papers may be formatted in a standard article manner or as a book chapter. NAAPE accepts submissions in English\, Spanish\, or French\, but presentations are expected to be given in English. NAAPE is pleased to accept submissions that are simultaneously under review or in press at academic journals\, but we cannot accept papers that have been published prior to submission. In addition to full papers\, NAAPE also accepts panel proposals and author-meets-critics proposals. The following link will bring you to the submissions form: \;https://www.naape.org/en/submissions
\nIn hosting our annual conference\, we seek to provide a welcoming and humane environment where philosophers and educators from North America and around the world can engage with one another in meaningful dialogue. In addition to faculty in philosophy and education\, NAAPE invites practicing and retired teachers\, graduate students\, administrators\, policymakers\, and independent scholars to attend the conference. We are looking forward to receiving your submissions! \;
ORGANIZER;CN=Dennis Arjo;CN=Drew Chambers;CN=Madison Cosby;CN=Randall R. Curren;CN=Evan Dutmer;CN=Nicholas Smith;CN=Dario Vaccaro;CN=Darby Vickers;CN=Ilya Zrudlo: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260624T115527Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Berlin:20260707T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Berlin:20260709T170000 SUMMARY:Philosophy of Explainable AI: New Directions UID:20260626T093302Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-bd7db559-gt5qm TZID:Europe/Berlin LOCATION:Aarhus\, Denmark DESCRIPTION:We invite abstracts for our forthcoming workshop\, Philosophy of Explainable AI: New Directions\, to be held at Aarhus University on \;July 7 - 9\, 2026. The workshop aims to bring together scholars working on the philosophical dimensions of explainability/interpretability/transparency in machine learning\, to share recent work and discuss future directions for the field. We have invited a number of keynotes to be announced in due course.
\nThe conference is part of the TREAT project (https://projects.au.dk/treat). Towards Responsible Explainable AI Technologies (TREAT) examines the benefits and risks of so-called &ldquo\;Explainable AI&rdquo\; technologies for creating and using AI in an ethically responsible manner. One of the main ethical concerns regarding complex AI systems is that they risk becoming unintelligible black boxes. In response\, a subfield within AI research\, known as explainable AI (XAI)\, seeks to develop tools for generating explanations of AI systems. Such explanations are important in order to enable people to understand and think critically about AI systems. However\, explanations are not just an ethical good: they also risk creating a false sense of understanding\, which can be exploited to mislead or even manipulate. To resolve this dilemma\, TREAT seeks to philosophically grounded theories of representational adequacy\, explanatory honesty\, and legitimacy for XAI technologies.
\nWe welcome abstracts addressing any philosophically salient issue relating to explainability\, interpretability or transparency in machine learning. This includes (but is not limited to) papers drawing on ethics\, epistemology\, philosophy of science or political philosophy. We hope to have a diverse programme\, representing a broad range of exciting new philosophical work engaging with XAI technologies\, broadly construed.
\nWe especially encourage applications from junior scholars and those from underrepresented backgrounds. Travel and accommodation costs for successful applicants will be covered\, and there will be no registration fees for the event. To apply\, please send an abstract of 300-400 words (excluding references) to treat@au.dk no later than Wednesday 1st April.
\nIf you are have any questions\, feel free to contact us on treat@au.dk
\nWe look forward to hearing from you.
\nRune Nyrup\, Torben Agergaard\, and Molly Powell
ORGANIZER;CN=Molly Powell: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260624T115527Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Warsaw:20260721T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Warsaw:20260724T170000 SUMMARY:ISOS Social Ontology 2026 UID:20260626T093303Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-bd7db559-gt5qm TZID:Europe/Warsaw LOCATION:Krupnicza 33a\, Kraków\, Poland\, 31-123 DESCRIPTION:Conference dates: \;21-24.07 (i.e. we expect people to arrive on Monday 20.07 and leave Krakow on either 25.07 or 26.07)
Venue: \;Jagiellonian University\, Law and Administration Faculty new building\, ul. Krupnicza 33a [https://share.google/Fwsi8k2kndR1F5rxK]
Host: \;Jagiellonian Center for Law\, Language\, Philosophy (https://pjf.uj.edu.pl/) is the host\, in cooperation with Faculty of Law and Administration and Institute of Philosophy
Main organizers: \;Paweł Banaś and Adam Dyrda
Important deadlines:
- call for papers available/abstract submission opens: 5th of November 2025 \;
- deadline for abstract submission: 18th January 2026 [as usual\, 300-500 words]
- notification of acceptance: 15th February 2026
- registration [early]: 15th February - 31st March 2026
- registration [late]: 1st April - 30th June 2026
- the final conference program will be published no later than 7th July 2026.
Confirmed keynote speakers:
Session Logistics
All concurrent sessions are either 1 hour for 2 talks or 1.5 hours for 3 talks. Chairs should begin each session at the scheduled time and aim to have each talk within the session begin when scheduled. To facilitate conference-goer planning\, chairs and speakers are advised to order the talks as on the schedule. \;
For the speakers - You are assigned a 30 minute slot\, and the time is yours to use in whatever way you feel will be most productive for your project. It is recommended (and descriptively expected) that the talk will be around 20 minutes\, leaving 10 minutes for q&\;a. Slides or a handout are of course permitted (and encouraged). Closer to the conference\, it will be communicated how slides will be facilitated\, if you plan to use them. We will not have the facility to print handouts\, but there are print shops around city centre if necessary. (Though\, be advised\, they may be closed on Monday for the bank holiday.)
Call for Abstracts
The call for abstracts is now open for Social Ontology 2026. The conference will be held in-person in Krakow\, Poland.
We invite submissions of abstracts of papers/talks suitable for 20 minute presentations. Abstracts must have 300-500 words and be prepared for anonymous review.
Use this submission link from Microsoft CMT service to submit your abstract:
https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/ISOS2026/ \;
The Microsoft CMT service was used for managing the peer-reviewing process for this conference. This service was provided for free by Microsoft and they bore all expenses\, including costs for Azure cloud services as well as for software development and support.
This edition aims to focus on interdisciplinary research\, including application of ideas from social ontology in solving problems of legal and political philosophy in the following areas:
We invite\, however\, submissions of abstracts covering all topics relevant for contemporary research in social ontology\, including:
Organized by NTU's Foundations of Thermodynamics Group\, and co-organized with Miguel Ohnesorge (Boston University)\, the aim of the second Foundations of Thermodynamics Workshop is to seek and provide a conceptual history of equilibrium and static reasoning. Bringing together historians and philosophers of science\, we hope to have a clearer picture of the genealogy of equilibrium and static reasoning\, and its role in scientific theorizing. By tracing the idea from Archimedean mechanics\, to Newton and the post-Newtonians\, classical thermodynamics\, quantum mechanics\, general relativity\, contemporary quantum and gravitational physics\, biology\, and economics\, we hope to provide a deeper understanding of this distinctive mode of reasoning and explanation as it changes shape and texture throughout the history of science. \;
\nThose interested are invited to register for the workshop early\, as there are limited seats and catering available. \;The workshop follows a week of events to do with philosophy of science\, notably the Asian Philosophy of Science Association's inaugural meeting. For more information on registration\, the APSA conference\, and other satellite events\, please visit: \;https://www.ntu.edu.sg/soh/news-events/conferences/apsa-2026. \;
ORGANIZER;CN=Eugene Y. S. Chua;CN=Miguel Ohnesorge: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260624T115527Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260804T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260806T170000 SUMMARY:Energy Ethics 2026: Infrastructures of Energy UID:20260626T093305Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-bd7db559-gt5qm TZID:Europe/London LOCATION:Younger Hall\, Saint Andrews\, United Kingdom DESCRIPTION:Confronted with the climate crisis coupled with ambitions for first-mover positions in new Net Zero markets\, many countries have embarked on energy transitions that move away from a reliance on fossil fuels towards more decarbonised energy systems. At the same time\, we are seeing policy u-turns on climate policies and targets\, societal challenges to energy transitions\, and investors&rsquo\; return to fossil fuel prospects.
\nEnergy transitions have now become intense and urgent topics for debate.
\nWhile fossil fuels and nuclear have long been associated with the deepening of structural inequalities and injustices\, there is also a growing critical engagement with renewables\, due to their continued reliance on resources\, capitalist circuits of investment\, and links to mining via the critical minerals they require. Some scholars emphasise how the language of &lsquo\;transition&rsquo\; unhelpfully communicate a fallacious idea of a break\, moving from one kind of energy source to another. Other scholars highlight how our infrastructures of energy embed choices and decisions\, value and values.
\nAt the same time\, the political positionings of anthropologists have become stronger\, perhaps related to heightening political polarisation\, the vulnerabilities laid bare by Covid-19\, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza\, the enrolment of social scientists into large energy infrastructure projects\, popularist politics\, and much more. Recognising infrastructures of energy&rsquo\;s extensive and multi-dimensional entanglements in contemporary life\, it is ever-more urgent that we reflect on our interlocutors&rsquo\; and our own ethical imaginations and politics of energy.
\nEE2026 asks: What is at stake in our infrastructures of energy? How can change come about? What visions of human and other flourishing are favoured in our infrastructures of energy?
ORGANIZER: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260624T115527Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260818T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260818T120000 SUMMARY:17th Annual McGinley-Rice Symposium on Justice for Vulnerable Populations UID:20260626T093306Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-bd7db559-gt5qm TZID:America/New_York LOCATION:1015 Forbes Avenue\, Pittsburgh\, United States\, 15219 DESCRIPTION:You're invited to submit an abstract for the upcoming 17th Annual McGinley-Rice Symposium. This event will explore "The Face of the Person Who Has Experienced Disaster". \;
\nThe symposium provides a scholarly forum for nurses\, social workers\, psychologists\, educators\, advocates\, and other healthcare professionals. It invites abstracts that discuss the social justice tradition and its application to the health and well-being of individuals who have experienced disaster.
\nPlease share this opportunity with colleagues and networks committed to disaster response\, recovery\, and advocacy. Together\, let's advance the conversation and care.
\nThe last day to submit an abstract is Monday\, August 18\, 2026.
\n\nhttps://duquesne.jotform.com/form/213344875510959
ORGANIZER: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260624T115527Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260823T170000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260828T170000 SUMMARY:From Disciples to Followers: Questioning the Digital Experience of Religions Online UID:20260626T093307Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-bd7db559-gt5qm TZID:Europe/Brussels LOCATION:Koningstraat 2\, Antwerpen\, Belgium\, 2000 DESCRIPTION:The 2026 edition of the UCSIA Summer School is titled &ldquo\;From Disciples to Followers: Questioning the Digital Experience of Religions Online&rdquo\;\, and marks the final year of UCSIA&rsquo\;s three-year cycle on &ldquo\;Religion &\; Politics: (Dis)Entanglements in Communities and Societies&rdquo\;.
\nThis summer school invites early-career scholars to critically examine how digital technologies\, online platforms\, and political economies are reshaping religious practices\, publics\, authorities\, and forms of belonging.
\nThe Faculty
\nTwo experts have already confirmed their attendance:
\nYasmin Moll (University of Michigan) is a socio-cultural anthropologist whose work explores the intersections of religion\, media\, politics\, and ethics in the Middle East and North Africa.
\nAlessandra Vitullo (Sapienza University of Rome) is a sociologist specializing in digital religion\, online mediation of belief\, and the transformation of religious authority and belonging in digital cultures.
ORGANIZER;CN=University Centre Saint-Ignatius Antwerp Ucsia: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260624T115527Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260826T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260828T170000 SUMMARY:15TH CONFERENCE OFTHE EUROPEAN NETWORKFOR THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES UID:20260626T093308Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-bd7db559-gt5qm TZID:Europe/Helsinki LOCATION:Helsinki\, Finland ORGANIZER;CN=Petri Ylikoski;CN=Jaakko Kuorikoski;CN=N. Emrah Aydinonat: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260624T115527Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260901T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261220T170000 SUMMARY:Foundations and Frontiers of Analytical Sociology (5 ECTS) UID:20260626T093309Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-bd7db559-gt5qm TZID:Europe/London DESCRIPTION:Applications are open for Foundations and Frontiers of Analytical Sociology\, a doctoral-level course hosted by Institute for Analytical Sociology\, Linkö\;ping University. The course is organized around an international lecture series featuring many of the scholars who have shaped analytical sociology and continue to define its contemporary development.
\nConfirmed speakers include:
\nPeter Bearman\, Delia Baldassarri\, Elizabeth Bruch\, Damon Centola\, Diego Gambetta\, Peter Hedströ\;m\, Gianluca Manzo\, Michael Macy\, Arnout van de Rijt\, Duncan Watts\, and Petri Ylikoski.
\nThe course explores central questions concerning social mechanisms\, explanation\, social interaction\, networks\, diffusion\, collective action\, computational social science\, and the relationship between theory and empirical research. Particular attention is devoted to the role of mechanism-based explanations in the social sciences and to philosophical questions concerning explanation\, causation\, and social scientific inquiry.
\nThe lecture series is accompanied by readings and highly participatory seminars in which participants critically discuss the lectures\, the assigned literature\, and connections to their own research. The course culminates in an individual paper in which participants develop an independent analysis of a research question using the theories\, concepts\, and explanatory models discussed throughout the course. Participants are encouraged to connect this assignment directly to their doctoral projects.
\nThe course is open to doctoral students and researchers from sociology\, philosophy\, political science\, economics\, computational social science\, and related disciplines.
\nFor more information\, contact the course organizer and seminar leader \;Josef Ginnerskov at josef.ginnerskov(at)liu.se
\nSyllabus:
https://forskarstudier.liu.se/en/kurs/7FIEI26/2026V/1624499#syllabus
Registration:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/eFsbLUXnfk
&ldquo\;Theory and philosophy of history&rdquo\; is a contested label for a loosely connected set of research agendas about history (in the sense of our more or less systematic ways of studying the human past). It has been said that theorists tend to focus on history as a cultural product &ndash\; one among many other ways in which people in the present relate to the past\, both theirs and of others &ndash\;\, while philosophers tend to focus on the epistemology of what historians (actually or should) do\; or that theorists tend to be closer to &ldquo\;continental&rdquo\; philosophy\, social theory\, and literary theory\, while philosophers tend to be closer mainstream &ldquo\;analytic&rdquo\; philosophy. However\, these distinctions themselves are also quite contested. In fact\, there is little agreement on what &ldquo\;theory of history&rdquo\; and &ldquo\;philosophy of history&rdquo\; individually are\, how they differ\, and how they relate to one another.
\nDespite these problems with definitions\, researchers who share an interest in the theoretical problems that our relations to the human past entail have managed to gather around certain journals\, conferences\, and networks\, suggesting that some sort of connection may be found. Thus\, the argument appeared that &ldquo\;theory and philosophy of history&rdquo\; is more like an interdisciplinary space where scholars from different fields can discuss a common set of objects from their respective perspectives. However\, the details of what perspectives are those and what methodological or conceptual commitments they carry remain unknown. It is also not entirely clear what exactly the connecting thread is that makes such interdisciplinary dialogue possible.
\nThis virtual workshop aims to discuss the methodological challenges and metaphilosophical commitments of different approaches to the theory and philosophy of history as currently (and broadly) envisioned. As such\, we invite proposals for papers that clarify what these approaches consider to be the field&rsquo\;s proper objects\, aims\, and methods\, as well as the basic presuppositions that make such considerations possible. Accordingly\, proposals may deal with questions that include\, among others\, the following:
\nInvited speakers: Herman Paul (Leiden University)\; Marí\;a Iné\;s La Greca (National University of Tres de Febrero/CONICET)\; Jouni-Matti Kuukkanen (University of Oulu).
\nSubmission guidelines: Please submit an abstract (maximum 500 words) and a short biographical note by 11 September 2026. Acceptance letters will be sent by 25 September 2026.
\nSubmissions and inquiries should be sent to Joã\;o Ohara\, ohara@usp.br.
\nWorkshop format: 3 days (27-29 October 2026)\, with 2 sessions each (keynotes in the morning\, papers in the afternoon\, in Brasí\;lia Time\, UTC&minus\;03:00)
\nPresentations will be 15 minutes long\, followed by more time for discussion/Q&\;A.
\nThis workshop is supported by a grant from the Sã\;o Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) &ndash\; process 25/09351-8.
ORGANIZER;CN="João Ohara": METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260624T115527Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T090000 SUMMARY: La naissance de Michel Foucault | Frontier Ethics: A Journal of Critical Humanities UID:20260626T093312Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-bd7db559-gt5qm TZID:Europe/London DESCRIPTION:Frontier Ethics: A Journal of Critical Humanities \;is a new multilingual\, peer-reviewed\, open-access journal dedicated to critical inquiry at the intersections of philosophy\, history\, science and technology studies\, and the politics of life. We publish original research in English\, Japanese\, Chinese\, and Korean.
\nFE takes as its starting point the conviction that the most urgent questions of our time &mdash\; about bodies\, borders\, medicine\, reproduction\, race\, coloniality\, and the governance of life &mdash\; demand forms of thinking that move across disciplinary and linguistic boundaries. We welcome work that is theoretically ambitious\, historically grounded\, and politically engaged.
\nScope
\nWe invite submissions on topics including\, but not limited to:
\nInaugural Special Issue: \;La naissance de Michel Foucault \;&mdash\; Foucault at 100
\nTo mark the centenary of Michel Foucault's birth\, FE's inaugural issue will be a special themed collection exploring the afterlives\, receptions\, and continuing provocations of Foucault's thought across Asia and the world. We particularly welcome contributions that engage Foucault's work from non-European contexts\, address the late lectures and unpublished seminars\, or develop new genealogical approaches to contemporary problems.
ORGANIZER: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260624T115527Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Warsaw:20260922T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Warsaw:20260923T170000 SUMMARY:Workshop “Do experiments replicate? Philosophical Reflections on the Use and Misuse of Statistics and Econometrics” UID:20260626T093313Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-bd7db559-gt5qm TZID:Europe/Warsaw LOCATION:Grodzka 52\, Kraków\, Poland DESCRIPTION:Workshop &ldquo\;Do experiments replicate? Philosophical Reflections on the Use and Misuse of Statistics and Econometrics&rdquo\;\, 22nd-23rd \;of September 2026
\nInstitute of Philosophy\, Jagiellonian University\, \;
\nGrodzka 52\, Krakó\;w\, Poland
\nThe workshop &ldquo\;Do experiments replicate? Philosophical Reflections on the Use and Misuse of Statistics and Econometrics&rdquo\; aims to provide a forum for exchanging ideas on the replicability of randomized experiments\, such as randomized field experiments in economics\, randomized controlled trials and preclinical studies in medicine\, and psychological experiments. \;
\nThe workshop promotes philosophical and methodological discussions of conceptual and methodological issues in statistical analysis\, econometric modeling\, and the methodology of experimentation.
\nKeynote Speakers:
\nBarbara Osimani \;
\nSamuel Fletcher
\n\nExperimental results are considered reliable because\, under comparable conditions\, they are expected to yield similar outcomes. However\, this assumption has recently been challenged by numerous replication efforts that report results differing from those of the original studies in psychology\, medicine\, biology\, the social sciences\, and economics. A surprisingly large fraction of published findings have been found to be non-replicable. Replicability rates range from 11% for in vitro and in vivo preclinical research to 60-90% for clinical trials. Experimental economists fall within this range and\, like psychological experimenters\, achieve around 60% replicability.
\nThe replication crisis has called into question the credibility of published findings and undermined trust in science. However\, \;the replication crisis\, with few exceptions\, has received only limited attention from philosophy of science. Despite the efforts of several pioneers\, the philosophical and conceptual problems in randomized controlled trials\, randomized field experiments\, laboratory experiments\, econometric modeling\, and the statistical analysis of experimental data remain largely uncharted territory in the philosophy of science. The workshop aims to establish a forum for exchanging ideas among philosophers of medicine and economics\, philosophers of statistics\, and methodologically inclined researchers interested in the conceptual problems of the replication crisis. \;
\nThe Workshop &ldquo\;Do experiments replicate? Philosophical Reflections on the Use and Misuse of Statistics and Econometrics&rdquo\; invites contributions that focus on experimentation and statistical analysis in economics and medicine\, as well as problems that trouble statistical inference from experiments\, broadly construed. \;
\nSome exemplary topics of talks:
\n- \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \;The design of randomized experiments in medicine and economics.
\n- \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \;Statistical hypothesis testing.
\n- \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \;Non-frequentist approaches to comparing treatment and control group outcomes.
\n- \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \;Comparisons of design-based and model-based inference.
\n- \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \;Estimating statistical models.
\n- \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \;Measuring replication success and replicability rates.
\n- \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \;Assessing the quality of empirical evidence.
\n- \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \;Making inferences from the literature review with conflicting results.
\n- \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \;Other problems in philosophy of statistics related to the replication crisis.
\nAbstracts no longer than 500 words (including references) should be submitted in an attachment\, \;not \;including author details\, by email with the subject &lsquo\;replication workshop&rsquo\; sent to: \;mariusz.maziarz@uj.edu.pl. \;
\nDeadline for submission: June 1st\, 2026
\nDecisions will be announced by June 15th\, 2026.
\nThis activity was supported by a grant funded by the Strategic Program Excellence Initiative at the Jagiellonian University
ORGANIZER: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260624T115528Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Berlin:20261001T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Berlin:20261002T170000 SUMMARY:1st Critical AI Safety Workshop UID:20260626T093314Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-bd7db559-gt5qm TZID:Europe/Berlin LOCATION:Copenhagen\, Denmark DESCRIPTION:This workshop aims to bring together scholars from different disciplines who are working to characterize\, map\, and critique the field of AI Safety and AI Existential Risk research. \;
\nMain questions include\, but are not limited to:
- What is the landscape of AI safety and existential risk communities and research\, and what are the tensions within those?
- Can AI safety or AI existential risk be described as an ideology?
- What assumptions about cognitive science\, economics\, sociology\, society\, or power\, amongst others\, underlie and confound AI Safety?
- What are the formal methods of the field\, and how can they be improved?
- What are the funding flows in the field? How easy is it for individuals to receive funding\, and what factors are considered in funding decisions?
- What policy proposals does the AI safety community lobby for\, and through what channels?
- How is the community established\, what are their recruiting strategies\, and what makes them so successful?
- How tightly interlinked is the research philosophy with other non-scientific fields\, like science fiction\, hype\, speculation\, and imagination?
\; For more information\, please see the CfP: \;https://philevents.org/event/show/149737
ORGANIZER;CN=Ninell Oldenburg;CN=Nina Rajcic;CN="Anders Søgaard";CN=Bokar N'Diaye;CN=Filippos Stamatiou: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260624T115528Z DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T141500 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261018T170000 SUMMARY:North American Association for Philosophy and Education (NAAPE) 2026 UID:20260626T093315Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-bd7db559-gt5qm TZID:America/Chicago LOCATION:Mundelein\, United States DESCRIPTION:NAAPE welcomes submissions in any area related to philosophy and education and encourages submissions from all traditions of philosophy including work that is historical\, contemporary\, \;analytic\, continental\, theoretical\, and/or applied. Furthermore\, we encourage authors working within the interdisciplinary fields of educational ethics\, moral and civic education\, and ethics of educational policy to submit to the conference. However\, we only accept papers that are written in clear\, straightforward prose that is accessible to a wide range of philosophers and educators. We therefore discourage the use of technical language that is not otherwise clearly explained in the paper. Finally\, the paper must have some bearing on education. \;If that bearing is largely implicit throughout the paper\, \;the author must\, at the very least\, gesture towards its bearing in the introduction or conclusion of the paper. Submissions for NAAPE 2026 are due \;July 1st\, 2026 by 11:59 PM CDT (UTC -5\, Chicago time). \;
ORGANIZER;CN=Dennis Arjo;CN=Drew Chambers;CN=Madison Cosby;CN=Randall R. Curren;CN=Evan Dutmer;CN=Nicholas Smith;CN=Dario Vaccaro;CN=Darby Vickers;CN=Ilya Zrudlo: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260624T115528Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261022T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261022T170000 SUMMARY:17th Annual McGinley-Rice Symposium on Justice for Vulnerable Populations UID:20260626T093316Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-bd7db559-gt5qm TZID:America/New_York LOCATION:1015 Forbes Avenue\, Pittsburgh\, United States\, 15219 DESCRIPTION:The McGinley-Rice Symposium on Justice for Vulnerable Populations is a unique scholarly forum for nurses and other health care professionals to address issues of justice in health care. Organized annually by the holder of the Jacques Laval Endowed Chair in Justice for Vulnerable Populations at the Duquesne University School of Nursing\, the McGinley-Rice Symposium is an expression of the mission of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit\, the Catholic missionary order that founded Duquesne and assists needy and marginalized persons throughout the world.
ORGANIZER: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260624T115528Z DTSTART;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20261026T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Mexico_City:20261027T170000 SUMMARY:Innovation and tradition: intersections\, interactions and disputes in culture UID:20260626T093317Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-bd7db559-gt5qm TZID:America/Mexico_City LOCATION:Cuernavaca\, Mexico DESCRIPTION:This colloquium emerges from the need to think and propose new epistemological positions to the cultural frame. From an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspective\, our aim is to bring together researchers from fields like sociology\, communication science\, Cultural Studies\, anthropology\, history\, computational sciences\, political science\, and others\, to explore critical \;reflections on cultural tradition and cultural innovation. \;
ORGANIZER;CN=Omar Cerrillo: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260624T115528Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261027T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261029T170000 SUMMARY:Understanding Current Approaches to the Theory and Philosophy of History UID:20260626T093318Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-bd7db559-gt5qm TZID:Europe/London DESCRIPTION:&ldquo\;Theory and philosophy of history&rdquo\; is a contested label for a loosely connected set of research agendas about history (in the sense of our more or less systematic ways of studying the human past). It has been said that theorists tend to focus on history as a cultural product &ndash\; one among many other ways in which people in the present relate to the past\, both theirs and of others &ndash\;\, while philosophers tend to focus on the epistemology of what historians (actually or should) do\; or that theorists tend to be closer to &ldquo\;continental&rdquo\; philosophy\, social theory\, and literary theory\, while philosophers tend to be closer mainstream &ldquo\;analytic&rdquo\; philosophy. However\, these distinctions themselves are also quite contested. In fact\, there is little agreement on what &ldquo\;theory of history&rdquo\; and &ldquo\;philosophy of history&rdquo\; individually are\, how they differ\, and how they relate to one another.
\nDespite these problems with definitions\, researchers who share an interest in the theoretical problems that our relations to the human past entail have managed to gather around certain journals\, conferences\, and networks\, suggesting that some sort of connection may be found. Thus\, the argument appeared that &ldquo\;theory and philosophy of history&rdquo\; is more like an interdisciplinary space where scholars from different fields can discuss a common set of objects from their respective perspectives. However\, the details of what perspectives are those and what methodological or conceptual commitments they carry remain unknown. It is also not entirely clear what exactly the connecting thread is that makes such interdisciplinary dialogue possible.
\nThis virtual workshop aims to discuss the methodological challenges and metaphilosophical commitments of different approaches to the theory and philosophy of history as currently (and broadly) envisioned. As such\, we invite proposals for papers that clarify what these approaches consider to be the field&rsquo\;s proper objects\, aims\, and methods\, as well as the basic presuppositions that make such considerations possible. Accordingly\, proposals may deal with questions that include\, among others\, the following:
\nInvited speakers: Herman Paul (Leiden University)\; Marí\;a Iné\;s La Greca (National University of Tres de Febrero/CONICET)\; Jouni-Matti Kuukkanen (University of Oulu).
\nSubmission guidelines: Please submit an abstract (maximum 500 words) and a short biographical note by 11 September 2026. Acceptance letters will be sent by 25 September 2026.
\nSubmissions and inquiries should be sent to Joã\;o Ohara\, ohara@usp.br.
\nWorkshop format: 3 days (27-29 October 2026)\, with 2 sessions each (keynotes in the morning\, papers in the afternoon\, in Brasí\;lia Time\, UTC&minus\;03:00)
\nPresentations will be 15 minutes long\, followed by more time for discussion/Q&\;A.
\nThis workshop is supported by a grant from the Sã\;o Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) &ndash\; process 25/09351-8.
ORGANIZER;CN="João Ohara": METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260624T115528Z DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20261030T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20261031T170000 SUMMARY:Can social ontology change the world? UID:20260626T093319Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-bd7db559-gt5qm TZID:America/Vancouver LOCATION:Vancouver\, Canada DESCRIPTION:The International Social Ontology Society workshop "Can Social Ontology Change the World?" will take place October 30-31\, 2026 at the Harbour Centre Campus of Simon Fraser University in downtown Vancouver\, British Columbia. \;
\nIn recent years\, the sub-discipline of social ontology has undergone a decidedly political reorientation. In non-ideal\, emancipatory\, and critical social ontology\, theorists explicitly ask whether our theorizing should have political goals or be relevant for political ends. An uptick in investigations on the metaphysics of race and gender has centered anti-racist\, feminist\, and trans struggles. These projects (e.g.\, Haslanger 2000\; Dembroff 2016\; Jenkins 2023\; Richardson 2023) explicitly theorize with a political purpose\, and so presuppose that social ontology can play a role in the struggle for social justice. But\, taking a step back\, this workshop questions the precise relationship between social ontology and politics. Are social ontologists changing the world\, or merely interpreting it? Given the former\, are there social ontological theories or methods better suited for direct political intervention\, and\, if so\, what makes them better? Given the latter\, what is the relationship\, if any\, between description and political intervention? \; \; \;
\nWe invite the submission of abstracts of 500-700 words for 20-minute presentations of papers related to the theme of the conference. Please send anonymized abstracts to \;social.ontology.and.the.world@gmail.com. The deadline for submitting is \;June 15th\, with notice of acceptance by July 15th. \; \;
\nSome \;travel grants and support for accommodations \;will be available for graduate students and faculty members who do not have access to research funds\; please indicate in your submission email if you would like to be considered for support. \;
ORGANIZER;CN=Zara Anwarzai;CN=August Faller: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260624T115528Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Prague:20261127T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Prague:20261129T170000 SUMMARY:Learning from History: The Philosophies of Historiography and the Historical Sciences UID:20260626T093320Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-bd7db559-gt5qm TZID:Europe/Prague LOCATION:Čs. legií 150/9 \, Ostrava\, Czech Republic DESCRIPTION:Call for Papers:
\n\nLearning from History: The Philosophies of Historiography and the Historical Sciences
\nThe University of Ostrava\, Czech Republic\, 27-29 November 2026
\nConfirmed keynote speakers (alphabetically):
\nCarol Cleland
\nAdrian Currie
\nMichal Hubá\;lek
\nJouni-Matti Kuukkanen
\nJames McAllister
\nGregory Radick
\nAdam Timmins
\nAviezer Tucker
\nDerek Turner
\nThe philosophy of history\, the ontology of the past\, and the philosophy of historiography\, the epistemology of knowledge of history\, are rapidly expanding philosophical fields. \; This expansion is partly driven by the progress of the historical sciences in broadening the scope of our knowledge of history by discovering new evidence and new information theories that allow decoding it and inferring knowledge of the past. \; These developments call for new philosophies of the historical sciences and historiography that encompass the new ontologies and epistemologies of all the historical sciences that can make warranted inferences about history.
\nThe philosophy of the historical sciences is distinct of other sub-fields of epistemology and the philosophy of science in studying the generation of knowledge of the past\, of history\, which depends on signals that cross the entropic barrier of time. \; This conference will consider the philosophical\, ontological and epistemic implications of the new historical sciences and historiography that form the foundation for learning from the past. This conference will attempt to found a new sub-field of the philosophy of science\, devoted to the philosophy of the historical sciences. \;
\nThe conference will take place at the Foundation for the Philosophy of Historical Sciences and Historiography at the University of Ostrava in the Czech Republic\, with support from the Visegrad Fund and the University of Ostrava\, and in cooperation with the University of Silesia in Katowice in Poland\, and the Catholic University in Ružomberok in Slovakia. \;
\nWe call for abstracts of 250-500 words in the philosophy of historiography and the historical sciences to be submitted by the 31st of August 2026. \; There will not be a conference fee\, but registration is required. \; Please send abstracts\, queries\, and correspondence to:
\nAviezer Tucker at avitucker@yahoo.com and David Černí\;n at david.cernin@osu.cz
\nThe Foundation for the Philosophy of Historical Sciences and Historiography is comprised of five researchers and has existed for three years with generous support from the European Union\, the Czech Grant Agency\, and the Visegrad Fund. It holds regular in person and remote seminars. \; Next year\, in August 2027\, it will co-convene a summer school in the philosophy of historiography and the historical sciences with emphasis on the philosophical foundations of applied history at the Catholic University of Ružomberok in Slovakia.
\nOstrava\, in the North-East corner of the Czech Republic\, is the second largest urban conglomeration in the country after Prague. It has an airport with regular flights from Warsaw\, Malaga\, and London-Stansted. \; It can also be reached by bus from the airports of Katowice and Krakow in Poland\, and by train from Vienna and Prague. By train\, Ostrava is about 2.5 hours from Krakow\, 3 hours from Vienna\, and 3.5 hours from Prague.
\nThe conference is part of the project &ldquo\;What Can be Learned from History: Philosophical Reflections from Central Europe&rdquo\; co-financed by the governments of Czechia\, Hungary\, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from \;the International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.
ORGANIZER;CN=Georg Gangl;CN="David Černín";CN=Aviezer Tucker: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260624T115528Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261231T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261231T090000 SUMMARY:Rethinking the Explanatory Foundations of Sociological Theory UID:20260626T093321Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-bd7db559-gt5qm TZID:Europe/London DESCRIPTION:Peter Hedströ\;m and Josef Ginnerskov would like to invite submissions to a special issue in Theory and Society on:
\nRethinking the Explanatory Foundations of Sociological Theory:
Mechanisms\, Emergence\, and Model-Based Reasoning
The issue is motivated by a gap between developments in philosophy of science and their uptake in sociological theory. While philosophical work has significantly advanced our understanding of mechanisms\, emergence\, model-based reasoning\, and explanation in complex systems\, these insights have only been partially incorporated into contemporary sociological theorizing.
\nAt the same time\, much sociological theory continues to rely on general causal categories&mdash\;such as norms\, institutions\, and power&mdash\;without specifying the processes through which outcomes are generated. This raises the question of what it would mean to develop more explicit\, formally articulated\, and mechanistically grounded explanations in the social sciences.
\nWe are particularly interested in contributions that:
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; examine standards of explanation in the social sciences\,
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; analyze the role of mechanisms and emergence in social explanation\,
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; explore model-based reasoning as a tool for theory construction\,
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; or bring philosophical perspectives on explanation into dialogue with sociological theory.
\nThe issue is intentionally interdisciplinary\, and we welcome contributions from philosophy of science\, as well as from researchers in other disciplines working on the modeling and explanation of social systems.
\nKey dates:
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; Abstracts (1&ndash\;2 pages): June 1\, 2026
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; Full papers: December 31\, 2026
\nAbstracts can be sent to:
josef.ginnerskov@liu.se
peter.hedstrom@liu.se
We would be very happy to discuss potential contributions.
\nBest regards\,
Josef Ginnerskov
Peter Hedströ\;m
*Please note that this event has officially been postponed. More information will be made available asap in the near future*
\nMany human cognitive capacities and processes may be deployed creatively\, from unique choices made for oneself up through novel cultural shifts. Similarly\, large swaths of our daily lives are taken up with performing spontaneous\, on-the-fly\, and unplanned activities that are\, in a word\, improvised. \; Charting out the nature of both creativity and improvisation\, taken individually or together\, remains an open and pressing issue. In this conference\, we will delve into various philosophical\, theoretical\, empirical\, and interdisciplinary issues that are related to creativity and improvisation. A non-exhaustive list of related questions and themes for this topic include:
\n- What is the relationship between improvisation and creativity?
\n- What is the relationship between creative activity and well-being?
\n- What is the best way to model individual and collective creativity?
\n- Is creativity in the arts the same thing as in other domains\, such as in science or business?
\n- What are the pros and cons of different scientific operationalizations of creativity and improvisation?
\n- Provide a conceptual analysis of creativity and/or improvisation.
ORGANIZER: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR