Duke University's Center for Cognitive Neuroscience invites applications for SSNAP 2026\, a fully-funded intensive summer program exploring the intersection of neuroscience\, philosophy\, and artificial intelligence.
\nThis year's theme\, "Neuroscience and AI\," brings together graduate students and early-career researchers from neuroscience\, philosophy\, cognitive science\, computer science\, and related fields for collaborative seminars\, workshops\, and research projects. Participants will engage with leading faculty to examine fundamental questions about cognition\, consciousness\, learning\, and the computational principles underlying biological and artificial intelligence.
\nProgram highlights:
\nEligibility: Graduate students and early-career researchers in neuroscience\, philosophy\, AI/ML\, cognitive science\, and related disciplines.
ORGANIZER;CN=Felipe De Brigard;CN=Walter Sinnott-Armstrong: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260517T235559Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Berlin:20260528T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Berlin:20260528T170000 SUMMARY:Licht an im Gehirn. Neuronale Optogenetik als interdizsiplinäre Debatte zwischen Ethik\, Recht und Kunst / Light on in the brain. Neuronal optogenetics as an interdisciplinary debate between ethics\, law and art UID:20260529T225930Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-6b96c54f56-bljdq TZID:Europe/Berlin LOCATION:Universitätsring 2\, Halle\, Germany\, 06108 DESCRIPTION:The conference is aimed at people from all areas of society. On the one hand\, relevant specialist lectures on the scientific\, ethical and legal aspects of neuronal optogenetics will be offered. On the other hand\, participants will be presented with the two artistic contributions created as part of the project\, which address the ethical and legal issues of the project. In this way\, scientific communication will be further developed and the issues addressed in the project will be made accessible to a wider public.
\nDie Tagung richtet sich an Personen aus allen gesellschaftlichen Kreisen. Auf der einen Seite werden einschlä\;gige Fachvorträ\;ge zu den naturwissenschaftlichen\, ethischen und rechtlichen Aspekten der neuronalen Optogenetik angeboten. Auf der anderen Seite werden den Teilnehmenden die zwei im Rahmen des Projekts entstanden kü\;nstlerischen Beiträ\;ge prä\;sentiert\, welche die ethischen und rechtlichen Fragenstellungen des Projekts aufgreifen. Auf diese Weise soll die Wissenschaftskommunikation weiterentwickelt und die im Rahmen des Projekts bearbeiteten Fragestellungen einer breiteren Ö\;ffentlichkeit zugä\;nglich gemacht werden
ORGANIZER;CN=Hans Zillmann: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260517T235559Z DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20260529T150000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20260601T170000 SUMMARY:International Conference on Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence: Noosphere and Humanity UID:20260529T225931Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-6b96c54f56-bljdq TZID:Asia/Shanghai LOCATION:163 XIANLIN RD.\,QIXIA DISTRICT\, Nanjing\, China DESCRIPTION:International Conference on Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence: Noosphere and Humanity
\nWith the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI)\, people have found that the noosphere theory proposed by Teilhard de Chardin\, Vladimir Vernadsky\, and others has profound academic significance and practical relevance. The noosphere is the collective thinking layer of humanity\, shaped by human thinking and its products-- technology\, yet its own evolution has gradually shown strong autonomy. Under the backdrop\, a series of pivotal questions have emerged: What are the inherent laws governing the evolution of the noosphere? What fate awaits humanity in the age of the AI-augmented noosphere? And what responsibilities and actions should humanity undertake to navigate this new era?
\nTo explore these critical issues and promote interdisciplinary dialogue between philosophy\, AI studies\, and the theory of the noosphere\, we are pleased to announce the International Conference on Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence: Noosphere and Humanity. The conference will serve as a platform for scholars worldwide to exchange cutting-edge research findings and insights. The themes of the conference include\, but are not limited to\, the following:
\nAfter the conference\, options to publish manuscripts as articles in the journal Ethics and Society (formerly NanoEthics: Studies of New and Emerging Technologies) will be explored.
\n\nConference Information
\n\;
\nRegistration &\; Logistics
\nOrganizing Bodies
\nWe sincerely invite scholars and practitioners from around the world to contribute their work and participate in this conference\, jointly exploring the philosophical implications of the noosphere and humanity in the age of artificial intelligence.
\n\n ORGANIZER: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260517T235559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260601T050000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260601T050000 SUMMARY:Synthese Topical Collection on Neuroscience and Its Philosophy UID:20260529T225932Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-6b96c54f56-bljdq TZID:America/Toronto DESCRIPTION:New due date: June 1\, 2026
\nThe journal Synthese publishes a Topical Collection on Neuroscience and Its Philosophy. In recent years\, this has been perhaps the highest profile venue explicitly devoted to articles in the philosophy of neuroscience.
\nAnyone can submit their paper. Papers are processed\, accepted\, and published on an ongoing basis. There is no real deadline.
\nAnyone doing good work in the philosophy of neuroscience is invited to submit their papers to Synthese's Topical Collection on Neuroscience and Its Philosophy. An explicit option Neuroscience and Its Philosophy is available in Editorial Manager (Synthese's online submission system).
\nContact:
\nGualtiero Piccinini (piccininig@missouri.edu)
\nhttp://link.springer.com/journal/11229
ORGANIZER: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260517T235559Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260604T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260605T170000 SUMMARY:Beyond Neuro-computationalism: the philosophy and science of biological brains UID:20260529T225933Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-6b96c54f56-bljdq TZID:Europe/Brussels LOCATION:Antwerpen\, Belgium\, 2000 DESCRIPTION:https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/research-groups/philosophical-psychology/events/upcoming/beyond-neurocomputationalism/
ORGANIZER;CN=Marco Facchin;CN=Farid Zahnoun: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260517T235559Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Zurich:20260616T113000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Zurich:20260617T170000 SUMMARY:Entity Realism Beyond Manipulation UID:20260529T225934Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-6b96c54f56-bljdq TZID:Europe/Zurich LOCATION:Hochschulstrasse 4\, Bern\, Switzerland\, 3012 DESCRIPTION:We are pleased to share the program and registration details for the workshop Entity Realism Beyond Manipulation. Participation (including lunch and refreshments) is free of charge\, but we ask you to register \;by 7 June 2026 \;by sending your name and affiliation to \;mahdi.khalili@unibe.ch. The program is as follows:
\nTuesday\, June 16
11.30 &ndash\; 11.45 \;Welcome Address
11.45 &ndash\; 12.30 \;Katherine Morrow\, University of Oslo \;&mdash\; \;Against Selective Antirealism About Ecological Entities
\n12.30 &ndash\; 14.00 \; Lunch Break
\n14.00 &ndash\; 14.45 \;Kenneth Aizawa\, Rutgers University Newark \;&mdash\; \;Compositional Abduction and Entity Realism
\n14.45 &ndash\; 15.30 \;Mahdi Khalili\, University of Bern \;&mdash\; \;Entity Realism about Black Holes
\n15.30 &ndash\; 16.00 \; \; \; Coffee Break
\n16.00 &ndash\; 16.45 \;Gauvain Leconte-Chevillard\, University of Namur \;&mdash\; \;No Manipulation\, No Entities? The Ontological Commitment of Natural \;Experiments in Astrophysics and Cosmology
\n16.45 &ndash\; 18.00 \;Mauricio Suá\;rez\, Complutense University of Madrid \;&mdash\; \;Deflating Experimental Realism in Astrophysics
\n19.00 &ndash\; 22.00 \; Workshop Dinner \;
\nWednesday\, June 17
\n11.00 &ndash\; 11.45 \; \;Thijs Latten\, Delft University of Technology \;&mdash\; \;An Engineering Perspective on Quantum State Realism: A Case Study in \;Expanding Causal Realism
\n11.45 &ndash\; 12.30 \;Ruey-Lin Chen\, National Chung Cheng University &\; \;Jonathan Hricko\, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University \;&mdash\; \;Real Entities and Real Causal Relationships: The Cases of the Transgenic and \;Gene Knockout/Knock-In Methods
\n12.30 &ndash\; 14.00 \; \; \; Lunch Break
\n14.00 &ndash\; 14.45 \;Matthias Egg\, University of Bern \;&mdash\; \;Effective Entity Realism
\n14.45 &ndash\; 16.00 \;Nora Boyd \;(online)\, Siena University \;&mdash\; \;How to Get in Touch With Distant Reality: The Causal Production of Empirical Data
\n16.00 &ndash\; 16.30 \; \; Coffee Break
\n16.30 &ndash\; 17.15 Panel Discussion
\n17.15 &ndash\; 17.30 \; \; \; Closing Remarks
\n\nThis conference is part of the project Extending the Scope of Causal Realism\, supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation. \;
ORGANIZER;CN=Mahdi Khalili;CN=Matthias Egg;CN=Frederick Britt: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260517T235559Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20260618T083000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20260619T170000 SUMMARY:XIV Philosophy of Biology and Cognitive Sciences Workshop UID:20260529T225935Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-6b96c54f56-bljdq TZID:Europe/Madrid LOCATION:Paseo de la Senda del Rey 7\, Madrid\, Spain DESCRIPTION:XIV PHILOSOPHY OF BIOLOGY AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES (PBCS) WORKSHOP
UNED (MADRID\, SPAIN)
18&ndash\;19 JUNE\, 2026
https://sites.google.com/view/xivpbcs/home
\nThis is a 2026 Off-Year ISHPSSB Workshop.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Enara Garcí\;a (Syddansk Universitet)
Alejandro Fá\;bregas-Tejeda (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)
José\; Antonio Pé\;rez-Escobar (Universidad Nacional de Educació\;n a Distancia)
SCHEDULE
\nDay 1 - 18 June 2026 - Sala B UNED Humanidades building
\n08:30-09:00
Registration &\; welcoming
09:00-09:30
CRISTIAN SABORIDO
Universidad Nacional de Educació\;n a Distancia (UNED)
09:30-10:05
DAVID SÁ\;NCHEZ
Universidad de Granada (UGR)
Teleology Without Representation: Meaning and Function in Ecological Psychology
10:05-10:40
ELIAS COHEN
É\;cole des hautes é\;tudes en sciences sociales / Institut Jean-Nicod (EHESS / Jean-Nicod Paris)
Situating mental representation: Perry&rsquo\;s &ldquo\;Thought without representation&rdquo\; in an enactivist context
10:40-11:15
ANDREAS T. POMMER
Kø\;benhavns Universitet (KU)
Population-Level Representations and Computations Afford Causal Explanations
11:15-11:30
Coffee Break
11:30-12:05
AINHOA RODRIGUEZ-MUGURUZA
Universidad del Paí\;s Vasco / Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU)
Menstrual Health as Rhythmic Plasticity
12:05-12:40
REBECCA R. CUCINIELLO
Università\; di Genova (UniGe)
Integrating plasticity and teleology: lessons from Ernst Mayr&rsquo\;s somatic programs
12:40-14:10
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: ENARA GARCÍ\;A
Syddansk Universitet (SDU)
The Path-Dependent Mind: Individuation\, Vulnerability\, and the Ontogenesis of Mental Disorder
14:10-16:00
Lunch
16:00-16:35
MAYO PINTO-CANDENAS
Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Ambivalencia Funcional de los Sí\;ntomas Psiquiá\;tricos: el caso de la anorexia nerviosa
16:35-17:10
ASTRID RENG
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitä\;t Mü\;nchen (LMU Munich)
Mental health and options for mental action
17:10-17:45
JAMES TURNER
Umeå\; universitet (Umeå\;)
Low Mood\, Proper Function\, and Dysfunction: The Case Against Depression as a Natural Kind
17:45-18:20
BENEDETTA COGO
University of Wollongong (UOW)
Keeping it rational in the philosophy of psychiatry
Day 2 - 19 June 2026 - Sala A UNED Humanidades building
FRIDAY 19 JUNE ~ Sala A
08:30-09:00
Registration &\; welcoming
09:00-10:30
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: ALEJANDRO FÁ\;BREGAS-TEJEDA
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven)
Ethospaces and the Comparative Study of Behavior
10:30-11:05
TOMMASO ZORZINI
Università\; degli Studi di Milano (UniMi)
Reciprocal causation in EES is still unidirectional and diachronic
11:05-11:40
CARLOS ESTEBAN-JIMÉ\;NEZ
Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
The cognitive dimension of experiential niche construction: an epistemological problem?
11:40-11:55
Coffee Break
11:55-12:30
LUCIA C. NECO
Universidad de Murcia (UMU)
The Prospect of Plant Sociality
12:30-13:05
ADEX IZQUIERDO
Universitat de Valè\;ncia (UV)
Offline information transmission: A teleofunctional hybrid account for mnemonic episodic reference
13:05-13:40
MEGAN H. TODD
Sveučili&scaron\;te u Rijeci (Rijeka)
Communicating Science Under Uncertainty: Hedging and Epistemic Function in Animal Cognition Research
13:40-14:15
MIGUEL GRAMAGE
Universitat de Valè\;ncia (UV)
Specification in Use: A Modal Account of Ecological Information
14:15-16:00
Lunch
16:00-17:30
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: JOSÉ\; ANTONIO PÉ\;REZ-ESCOBAR
Universidad Nacional de Educació\;n a Distancia (UNED)
Mathematical explanations in biology: A Neo-Aristotelian proposal
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
The Research Workshop on Philosophy of Biology and Cognitive Sciences (PBCS) invites submissions to its 14th edition\, hosted by the Universidad Nacional de Educació\;n a Distancia (UNED) in Madrid\, Spain.
Since its first edition in 2011\, the PBCS workshop encourages contributions from all areas in the philosophy of biology and in the philosophy of cognitive sciences. Submissions from both philosophers and researchers inthe biological and cognitive sciences are welcome.
SUBMISSIONS
Young researchers (Master&rsquo\;s and PhD students\, as well as scholars who defended their PhD dissertations within the last three years) are encouraged to submit their work\, present their ideas\, and participate in vibrant interdisciplinary discussions. Women and other underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply.
Possible topics include (but are not limited to):
- Enactive and 4E approaches to cognition\, perception\, and mental disorders
- Embodied intersubjectivity and affective dynamics in psychotherapy and social cognition
\n- Phenomenology and qualitative methods in cognitive science and mental health research
\n- Philosophical foundations of psychiatry and models of mental disorders
\n- Organism-environment relations in biological explanation and cognitive science
\n- Theoretical and conceptual perspectives on comparative biology and evolutionary theory
\n- Historical and philosophical analyses of the organism in contemporary biosciences
\n- Measurement\, modeling\, and data practices in the life and cognitive sciences
\n- Mathematical formalisation and normativity in biological and
\; \;psychological explanation
- Big data\, AI\, and methodological innovation in biology and cognitive science
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Submit an abstract of 500-700 words to xivpbcs@gmail.com \;including two separate PDF files:
1. Identified version: containing author name(s)\, affiliation(s)\, and email address.
2. Blind version: fully anonymised\, removing any information that could eveal authorship.
Abstracts may be written in English or Spanish. They must include a title\, clearly state the relevance of the topic to the workshop\, and provide a concise outline of the main arguments.
All submissions will undergo double-blind peer review by the scientific committee.
Selected presentations will be allocated 20 minutes for the talk\, followed by 10 minutes of discussion.
Deadline for submission: 1̶5̶t̶h̶ ̶J̶a̶n̶u̶a̶r̶y̶ \;1st February\, 2026 \;(deadline extended).
Notification of acceptance: 1̶s̶t̶ ̶M̶a̶r̶c̶h̶ \;16 March\, 2026 (deadline extended).
This international conference brings together leading philosophers to explore foundational questions in the epistemology of medicine. How do we generate\, evaluate\, and integrate knowledge in medical science and practice&mdash\;especially in an era shaped by big data\, advanced statistics\, and artificial intelligence? By examining the nature of evidence\, causal reasoning\, and explanatory models in health and healthcare\, the event aims to clarify how different sources of knowledge can be combined to guide effective medical decision-making and policy. Through interdisciplinary dialogue\, The Epistemology of Medicine seeks to advance philosophical understanding while contributing to the broader goals of improving patient care and promoting societal well-being.
ORGANIZER;CN="Jürgen Landes";CN=Stephan Hartmann: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260517T235559Z DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260630T090000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260703T170000 SUMMARY:HPS Winter School & Australia/New Zealand Philosophy of Biology Workshop UID:20260529T225937Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-6b96c54f56-bljdq TZID:Australia/Sydney LOCATION:Q-station\, Manly\, Sydney\, Australia DESCRIPTION:The University of Sydney&rsquo\;s History and Philosophy of Science Program is inviting submissions to take part in their 2026 Winter School. This year\, the winter school is \;hosting \;the fourth annual Australia/New Zealand Philosophy of Biology (ANZPB) workshop\, \;with further support from the International Society for the History\, Philosophy\, and Social Studies of Biology (ISHPSSB) as an ISHPSSB off-year workshop.
\nThe workshop will be held from 30th June-3rd July 2026 at the Quarantine Station in Sydney Harbour\, Australia -situated on the traditional lands of the Gayamaygal people. The event will include short and long talks with a focus on highlighting work by graduate students\, early career researchers and visiting scholars. In addition to research talks\, the program will include early-career focussed discussion sessions.
\nWe welcome submissions from those wishing to give a talk on \;any \;topic in the philosophy\, history and social studies of biology. Priority for speaking slots will be given to submissions from \;graduate students \;and early career \;researchers. \;
\nAbstracts of no longer than 200 words should be submitted here by \;13 April 2026.
\nThe School of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Sydney is in the Faculty of Science where it has been contributing historical and philosophical perspectives to scientific insight since 1942. The HPS Winter School is part of HPS's goal to bring together international humanities and science scholars for network-building and ongoing collaboration. \;ISHPSSB is an international organisation bringing together scholars the life sciences\, history\, philosophy\, and social studies of science. The biennial ISHPSSB summer meetings are held during odd-years\, and the society supports workshops such as this one during off-years.
\nANZPB aims to provide a regular workshop for the philosophy of biology community across Australia and New Zealand\, and this year thanks to the generous support from both the HPS winter school and ISHPSSB \, we wish to extend \;invitations to \;international participants\, particularly early-career researchers.
\nWe are pleased to offer \;limited \;travel subsidies for graduate students and early-career scholars presenting at the conference. Applications for funding can be made using the same link above. \; \;
\nWe have booked the \;Quarantine \;Station (Q station) for the event. This is easily reachable from Sydney by public ferry\, and from Sydney airport by train and ferry. Transport details will be posted shortly on the event website.
\nFurther information about the meeting is available at \;https://anzphilbio.weebly.com/. If you have any questions about the workshop\, please contact \;kate.lynch@sydney.edu.au
ORGANIZER;CN=Kate E. Lynch;CN=Emily Parke;CN=John Matthewson;CN=Rachael L. Brown;CN=Rebecca Catherine Mann: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260517T235559Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260630T234500 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260630T234500 SUMMARY:New Perspectives on Evolution\, Teleology\, and Theology UID:20260529T225938Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-6b96c54f56-bljdq TZID:Europe/London DESCRIPTION:The workshop investigates new perspectives on the relations of evolution\, teleology\, and theology. Although the topic is much discussed\, new developments in both biology\, philosophy of biology\, and theology/philosophy of religion impact how the relation of evolution and teleology is seen. \;
\nWe ask: \;What is the relationship between evolutionary theory\, teleology\, and theology? How does evolution\, as a scientific theory\, relate to philosophical views of &ldquo\;unguided&rdquo\; or &ldquo\;guided&rdquo\; evolution?
\nWe invite papers focusing on one of the following four themes in relation to the workshop topic: (1) Varieties of Evolutionary Teleological Views\, (2) Explanatory Power and Methodological Considerations\, (3) The Impact of New Scientific Perspectives\, and (4) Theological Perspectives and Worldviews. Contributions can come from scientists\, philosophers\, theologians\, and historians. Please see further details at the event website and contact the organizers\, E. V. Rope Kojonen (Faculty of Theology\, University of Helsinki) or Zachary Ardern (Wellcome Sanger Institute\, Cambridge) if you have questions.
ORGANIZER: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260517T235559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260630T234500 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260630T234500 SUMMARY:Biological Naturalism about Consciousness UID:20260529T225939Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-6b96c54f56-bljdq TZID:America/Los_Angeles LOCATION:390 Portola Plaza\, Los Angeles\, United States DESCRIPTION:Call for Abstracts: Biological Naturalism about Consciousness
\nNovember 5&ndash\;6\, 2026 ·\; University of California\, Los Angeles
\nCan non-biological systems be conscious? If not\, why not? These questions have taken on new weight as AI systems become increasingly sophisticated\, not least because our answers bear on which entities might matter morally.
\nThis conference focuses on biological naturalism: the family of views holding that certain biological properties are required for consciousness. Biological naturalism is often positioned as the principal alternative to functionalism. But compared to its rival\, biological naturalism remains underdeveloped as a positive research program&mdash\;its central commitments are still being clarified\, its empirical predictions are still being articulated\, and the range of strategies for defending it are only now being explored systematically.
\nOur aim is to bring together researchers who want to make progress toward developing a positive version of biological naturalism. We welcome abstracts outlining many different projects\, ranging from the conceptual to the empirical to the practical. Possible topics include:
\nEmpirical approaches to evaluating biological naturalism relative to its competitors
\nExplanatory links between candidate biological properties and structural features of conscious experience
\nThe relationships between biological naturalism and various forms of functionalism
\nPotential differences in the explanatory power of biological naturalism and computational functionalism
\nConnections to animal consciousness research
\nMoral and policy implications for AI welfare
\nWe are primarily interested in papers that develop\, refine\, or extend biological naturalism\, rather than critiques of the view or critiques of its competitors. That said\, internal critiques&mdash\;those that identify obstacles with the aim of overcoming them&mdash\;are very welcome.
\nKeynote speakers: Jonathan Birch\, LSE\; Ned Block\, NYU\; Rosa Cao\, Stanford\; Peter Godfrey-Smith\, University of Sydney\; Matthias Michel\, MIT
\nSubmission: Please submit abstracts of up to 1\,000 words\, prepared for blind review\, via this form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeObQDaMzxhjTWKYIJZNoqBoSWetxKKGtD1mO3DZf0SUtzYgA/viewform) by June 30\, 2026. Decisions will be communicated by July 31\, 2026.
\nFunding: Travel support is available for graduate students and untenured faculty.
\nOrganizers: Josh Armstrong\, UCLA\; Hayley Clatterbuck\, UCLA and Rethink Priorities\; Bob Fischer\, Texas State University and Rethink Priorities
\nQuestions? Please contact Bob Fischer (fischer@txstate.edu).
ORGANIZER;CN=Josh Armstrong;CN=Hayley Clatterbuck;CN=Bob Fischer: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260517T235559Z DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Singapore:20260727T090000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Singapore:20260728T170000 SUMMARY:2026 Foundations of Thermodynamics Workshop: Finding Balance UID:20260529T225940Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-6b96c54f56-bljdq TZID:Asia/Singapore LOCATION:Jurong Town\, Singapore DESCRIPTION: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:20260517T235559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260812T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260814T170000 SUMMARY:Philosophy of Biology at Madison (POBAM) 2026 UID:20260529T225941Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-6b96c54f56-bljdq TZID:America/Chicago LOCATION:Madison\, United States DESCRIPTION:POBAM is a philosophy of biology workshop that began at the University of Wisconsin\, Madison in 2010 and moved to the University of Utah in 2018. \; As of 2026\, it will be back in Madison! At its core\, POBAM aims to showcase innovative work in philosophy of biology and to identify new areas that philosophers of biology might work on. \; Workshops are structured to provide constructive feedback\, training with peers and for junior scholars\, and opportunity for informal and friendly discussions\, while encouraging work bridging philosophy\, biology\, and other cognate fields. \;
ORGANIZER;CN=Aja Watkins;CN=Marina DiMarco: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260517T235559Z DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260817T090000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260822T170000 SUMMARY:SAPoLSN 2026 Graduate Summer School: The Agents of Evolution UID:20260529T225942Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-6b96c54f56-bljdq TZID:Australia/Sydney LOCATION:Sydney\, Australia DESCRIPTION:[Important note] The registration deadline has been extended to May 20th\, 2026.
\n2026 International Graduate Summer School
The Agents of Evolution
Time: \;August 17&ndash\;22\, 2026 (check-in on August 15&ndash\;16)
\nLocation: \;Macquarie University\, Sydney\, Australia
\nOrganizers:
\nSino-Australian Philosophy of Life Sciences Network (SAPoLSN)
\n- \; \; \; \; \; \; School of Humanities at Macquarie University (Pierrick Bourrat)
\n- \; \; \; \; \; \; Department of Philosophy at Peking University (Qiaoying Lu) \;
\n- \; \; \; \; \; \; School of Philosophy at Fudan University (Mingjun Zhang)
\nInstructors:
\n- \; \; \; \; \; \; Elisabeth A. Lloyd (Department of History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine\, Indiana University\, Bloomington\, USA)
\n- \; \; \; \; \; \; Alex Rosenberg (Department of Philosophy\, Duke University\, Durham\, USA)
\nA number of other instructors will participate in the summer school\, including Paul Griffiths (University of Sydney and Macquarie University)\, Matthew Sims (Macquarie University)\, Peter Takacs (Macquarie University)\, and Cristina Villegas (Konrad Lorenz Institute).
\nAbout the Summer School
\nThis summer school is a yearly event sponsored and organized by the Sino-Australian Philosophy of Life Sciences Network (SAPoLSN)\, which was initiated by the Philosophy Discipline within the School of Humanities at Macquarie University\, the Department of Philosophy at Peking University\, and the School of Philosophy at Fudan University. Its purpose is to introduce the most important recent developments in the philosophy of life sciences to graduate students and young scholars\, to promote research and educational cooperation between Chinese and international philosophers of science\, and to promote collaboration between the philosophy of life sciences and the sciences. The first two SAPoLSN Summer Schools were successfully held at Peking University in Beijing in summer 2024 and at Fudan University in Shanghai in summer 2025.
\nThis year&rsquo\;s summer school will be held from August 17&ndash\;22\, 2026\, and will be hosted by the \; Macquarie Minds and Intelligences Research Centre (headed by Andrew Barron) and the School of Humanities at Macquarie University. The theme is:
\nThe Agents of Evolution
\nOne of the greatest achievements of Darwinian theory was to show how the appearance of design in nature can be explained without invoking agency. In particular\, by grounding adaptation in variation\, differential reproduction\, and heredity\, Darwinian explanations replace intention with a process that is blind to ends. Yet it would be a mistake to conclude that evolutionary theory thereby eliminates agency from its conceptual repertoire altogether. Even when organisms are not treated as literal agents\, evolutionary reasoning continues to rely on notions that are naturally read in agential or quasi-agential terms: we speak of strategies\, signals\, conflicts\, cooperation\, and\, more abstractly\, of entities occupying functional and causal roles within evolutionary explanations. In this summer school\, we will examine when\, why\, and in what sense agency re-enters evolutionary theorizing\, including the explanatory payoffs and risks of agential language in evolution.
\nIn addition to traditional lectures\, this summer school will involve diverse activities\, including but not limited to interviews with invited scholars\, academic development panels\, brainstorming sessions (e.g.\, for identifying PhD thesis topics)\, group presentations\, organized dinners\, and (fun!) excursions. Students will have the opportunity to interact with and learn from world-famous philosophers in person\, as well as to communicate and cooperate with their peers in depth. Following the summer school\, Macquarie University will host an international workshop on the same theme from August 24&ndash\;25\, which students are warmly encouraged to attend.
\nRegistration
\nRegistration is required for all students who want to participate in the summer school. However\, registration does not guarantee enrollment in this summer school. Due to limited capacity\, we will select participants based on their registration information. The summer school will be free to attend. A participation fee of A$800 or less (to be determined closer to the date) will be requested from the students to partially cover accommodation costs. Other expenses will be the responsibility of the participants and their institutions.
\nStudents from Fudan University and Peking University who are selected as participants in the summer school can obtain a certain amount of travel support from the School of Philosophy at Fudan University and the Department of Philosophy at Peking University\, respectively. Students from Fudan University should contact mingjunzhang@fudan.edu.cn.
\nRequirements:
\nDeadline for registration: May 20th\, 2026 (Sydney time\, UTC+10)
\nRegistration link: \;https://www.wjx.top/vm/YqwATWz.aspx
\n[Note] The file‑upload function in our registration form may fail on secured university networks and display an &ldquo\;HTTP error&rdquo\;. Switching to a mobile hotspot or a non‑campus network usually resolves the issue immediately. If the problem persists\, please contact Kangqiao Wang and submit your registration information by email.
\nContact
\nFor further information about the summer school\, please contact:
\nKangqiao Wang
\nEmail: kangqiao.wang@students.mq.edu.au
\nSAPoLSN website: \;https://sapolsn.com/
ORGANIZER;CN=Pierrick Bourrat;CN=Qiaoying Lu;CN=Mingjun Zhang: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260517T235559Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260914T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T170000 SUMMARY:New Directions in Law-Based Explanations in the Sciences UID:20260529T225943Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-6b96c54f56-bljdq TZID:Europe/London LOCATION:Lakatos Building\, London\, United Kingdom DESCRIPTION:When we look at current research across the natural and social sciences dealing with explanations of phenomena in their respective fields\, the word &lsquo\;explanation&rsquo\; is often modified with an adjective: causal\, non-causal\, mechanistic\, nomological/law-based\, topological\, mathematical\, and narrative are some of the non-mutually-exclusive modifiers that one may encounter. It is generally accepted that fields such as physics rely more on laws for their explanatory practices than disciplines such as cell biology\, which are\, for the most part\, concerned with mechanistic explanations\, for example. In the philosophy of science\, particularly since the advent of the New Mechanism literature in the 1990s\, barring some exceptions\, there has been relatively little sustained work on the pragmatic side of law-based explanations as opposed to other explanatory modalities\, and the interest that law-based explanations have garnered has mostly focused on the metaphysics of laws. This workshop aims to bring the philosophy of law-based explanations\, with particular attention to their pragmatic dimensions\, back into focus. Moreover\, while being historically informed\, the hope is to discuss new directions within this strand of the philosophy of explanation. Some questions for consideration could include (in no particular order):
\nConfirmed Speakers:
\nCall for Abstracts
\n13th International Philosophy of Medicine Roundtable Conference
\nSeptember 14-18\, 2026
\nVirtual
\nHosted by the University of Pittsburgh \;
\nConference Dates
\nSeptember 14: Pre-conference workshop on the philosophy of diagnosis
\nSeptember 14: Keynote talks \;
\nSeptember 15-18: Selected Talks
\nVenue
\nThe 13th International Philosophy of Medicine Roundtable will be held online\, hosted by the University of Pittsburgh Department of History and Philosophy of Science.
\nKeynote speakers
\nLisa Sanders (Yale School of Medicine)
\nGurpreet Dhaliwal (University of California\, San Francisco School of Medicine) \;
\nCall for Abstracts: Main Conference Program
\nWe welcome philosophical talks on all aspects of health and medicine\, broadly construed. \;
\nPlease submit a 500-word abstract tohttps://forms.gle/fenNHJ982oNzKW42Aby March 15\, 2026. Abstracts will undergo blinded review by the scientific committee. Accepted papers will be allocated a 30 min speaking slot (including Q&\;A). \;
\nAn individual may be listed as an author on more than one abstract. However\, they may only submit one abstract on which they are listed as a presenter (and may only present once in the main program).
\nSpecial issue
\nPresenters at the Roundtable will be invited to submit a paper version of their talk to a special section of the journal Philosophy of Medicine (https://philmed.pitt.edu). Details will be provided to presenters.
\nImportant dates
\nSubmission deadline: March 15\, 2026
\nNotification of acceptance: by the end of April 2026
\nConference dates: September 14-18\, 2026
\nContacts
\nQuestions regarding submissions or the Roundtable conference generally should be directed to pmr2026@pitt.edu.
\nLocal Organizers
\nJonathan Fuller\, Raphael Scholl\, Laura Matthews\, Sloane Wesloh\, Rose Gatfield-Jeffries (University of Pittsburgh\, Department of History and Philosophy of Science) \;
\nScientific Committee
\nAtocha Aliseda\, Rachel Ankeny\, Robyn Bluhm\, Giovanni Boniolo\, Kirstin Borgerson (Chair)\, Raffalla Campaner\, Jonathan Fuller\, Elselijn Kingma\, Maë\;l Lemoine\, Benjamin Smart (Secretary)
ORGANIZER;CN=Sloane Wesloh;CN=Rose Gatfield-Jeffries;CN=Laura Matthews;CN=Raphael Scholl;CN=Jonathan Fuller: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260517T235559Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260928T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260930T170000 SUMMARY:New Perspectives on Evolution\, Teleology\, and Theology UID:20260529T225945Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-6b96c54f56-bljdq TZID:Europe/London DESCRIPTION:The workshop investigates new perspectives on the relations of evolution\, teleology\, and theology. Although the topic is much discussed\, new developments in both biology\, philosophy of biology\, and theology/philosophy of religion impact how the relation of evolution and teleology is seen. \;
\nWe ask: \;What is the relationship between evolutionary theory\, teleology\, and theology? How does evolution\, as a scientific theory\, relate to philosophical views of &ldquo\;unguided&rdquo\; or &ldquo\;guided&rdquo\; evolution?
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We invite papers focusing on one of the following four themes in relation to the workshop topic: (1) Varieties of Evolutionary Teleological Views\, (2) Explanatory Power and Methodological Considerations\, (3) The Impact of New Scientific Perspectives\, and (4) Theological Perspectives and Worldviews. Contributions can come from scientists\, philosophers\, theologians\, and historians. Please see further details at the event website.
\n ORGANIZER: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260517T235559Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20261007T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20261009T170000 SUMMARY:Causality and Causal Inference in Medicine UID:20260529T225946Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-6b96c54f56-bljdq TZID:Europe/Madrid LOCATION:Facultad de Filosofia\, C/Camilo José Cela S/N\, Sevilla\, Spain\, 41018 DESCRIPTION:Interactions between the philosophy of causality and investigations of inferential practices in the sciences\, particularly medicine\, have yielded key developments across disciplines. One such example is evidential pluralism\, arguing for broadening the evidence range beyond difference-making to overcome the rigidity of evidence-based medicine. Further interdisciplinary engagements can assess the adequacy of different philosophical analyses of causation and corresponding causal concepts with respect to particular scientific problems or areas or draw on practices from the sciences to adjust the philosophical toolkit. At the same time\, there are also challenges to address\, such as working across areas with different\, sometimes conflicting\, methods and approaches. This conference aims to bring together current research dealing with causality and inferential practices in the health sciences\, broadly construed\, welcoming philosophical\, methodological\, and scientific contributions\, among others.
\nKeynote speakers:
\nJonathan Fuller (University of Pittsburgh)
\nNaja Hulvej Rod (University of Copenhagen)
\nSaana Jukola (University of Twente)
\nLocal organizing team: Cristina Baré\;s Gó\;mez\, Matthieu Fontaine\, Elena Popa\, Quentin Ruyant.
This conference is the 16th in the series of Causality in the Sciences conferences. Steering committee: Phyllis Illari\, Science &\; Technology Studies\, UCL\; Samantha Kleinberg\, Computer Science\, Stevens\; Bert Leuridan\, Philosophy\, Antwerp\; Julian Reiss: Philosophy\, Linz\; Federica Russo: History and Philosophy of Science\, Utrecht\; Erik Weber: Philosophy\, Ghent\; Jon Williamson: Philosophy\, Manchester. \; \;
Funding and organization
*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