Call for Proposals
Advancing Public
Philosophy
March 14-16, 2013, Emory Conference Center, Atlanta, GA
Hosted by the Public Philosophy Network
The Public Philosophy
Network invites proposals for its second conference on Advancing Publicly Philosophy.
The conference will include a mix of workshops, panels, papers and informal
sessions on various issues in public philosophy, including discussions of
larger philosophical questions about how to engage in philosophical activity
outside the academy and on concrete projects and political problems as well.
For more on the Public Philosophy Network, go
here: http://publicphilosophynetwork.org
We invite proposals that cover topics related to
understanding and advancing public philosophy, including the following:
Proposals should specify
the format: workshop, paper, or organized panel.
Workshops.
Proposals should include a workshop title and descriptions of the organizer(s)’
interest and experience with the subject matter and how the topic is of concern
to philosophy or public life. Proposals should also include an overview of how
the three-hour workshop will proceed, highlighting how it will be participatory
and indicating any non-academic participants you might invite. We anticipate
that workshops will take different formats, depending on the issues being
addressed and the number and type of participants. The goals of these sessions
are to foster partnerships and projects, whether new or ongoing, and, where
appropriate, to spark substantive dialogue between philosophers and
“practitioners” (public policy makers, government officials, grassroots
activists, nonprofit leaders, etc.). A second call will be issued later in the
year inviting people to apply to participate in the workshop. (Workshop
organizers should help publicize this second call.) We will limit each workshop
to about 20 participants. Those who are accepted in time will be listed
on the program as discussants, though they will not be expected to make any
formal presentation.
Papers. We
are especially interested in papers that report on public philosophy projects
or reflect on the practice of public philosophy. Proposal should include
the title and a brief description of the paper. Proposals for individual papers
should be prepared for 30 minutes of presentation and discussion time. Accepted
proposals will be grouped into sessions. Papers may be presented in any style,
from reading whole or sections of papers to more conversation based to
powerpoint slides and multimedia.
Organized Panels. We invite proposals for panels on any number of themes:
Book sessions, philosophical issues in public philosophy, or policy problems
and how philosophers have or may engage them. These sessions could include a
traditional set of three papers followed by discussion or more informal brief
panelist remarks followed by interactive discussion among panelists and the
audience. Proposals should include names and affiliations of proposed
panelists, the proposed format, and an abstract of the topic to be addressed.
All meeting space will have Wi-Fi; a screen and
projector will be available for those who need it. Please submit proposals on
topics like those described above (350-500 words) by August 1, 2012 via http://publicphilosophynetwork.ning.com/page/submission-form
A notification on accepted workshops, papers,
and panels will be sent by September 1, 2012.
Please notify us if you require accommodation
for disability.
Conference Steering Committee
Noelle McAfee, Emory University (chair)
Adam Briggle, University of North Texas
Robert Kirkman, Georgia Institute of Technology
Andrew Light, George Mason University &
Center for American Progress
Sarah Clark Miller, University of Memphis &
Pennsylvania State University
Kyle Powys Whyte, Michigan State University