Conference: Feminist Philosophy and Methodological Commitments

International Conference: Feminist Philosophy and Methodological Commitments

July 13th – 14th, Humboldt-University of Berlin, Germany

Over the past few decades, feminist philosophy has become recognised as a philosophical sub-discipline in its own right. Feminist philosophers typically aim both to critique real-world patriarchal social structures by utilising mainstream philosophical tools, and to shape mainstream philosophy with the help of feminist political insights. It is typically distinctive in being framed around specific concepts and background beliefs, which are sensitive to gender justice. Feminist philosophers usually reject the view of philosophy as value-free, neutral investigation upon which feminist insights neither can nor should bear. Many reject the view that the political value commitments of feminism are inconsistent with the supposed valueless theoretical commitments of philosophy. More radically, we contend that philosophers cannot, and should not, generally draw a clear distinction between allegedly constitutive theoretical and cognitive values and contextual social, practical, or ethical values. Echoing the work of Helen Longino and Elizabeth Anderson, we contend that relying on moral, practical, and political values is legitimate and even necessary when making theory choices in philosophy. In so doing, feminist philosophy has brought new methodological insights to bear on traditional ways of doing philosophy. This conference aims to investigate in more depth methodological insights that feminist philosophy can afford, and to examine points of intersection between feminist commitments and existing methodological outlooks (e.g. non-ideal theory, pragmatism, amelioration, critical theory).

Confirmed speakers and talks:

Ásta (Sveinsdóttir)
Nancy Bauer
Alisa Bierria
Christine Bratu
Alice Crary
Ann Garry
Esa Díaz-León
Hilkje Hänel & Johanna Müller
Sally Haslanger
& Katharine Jenkins

For more info see: http://feminist-philosophy-berlin.weebly.com/

As space is limited, we kindly ask you register before June 18, 2017. You can do so here: http://feminist-philosophy-berlin.weebly.com/registration.html

If you have any questions please contact the organizers, Mari Mikkola, Johanna Müller, Hilkje Hänel: feminist.philosophy.berlin2017@gmail.com

CFP: California Roundtable on Philosophy and Race

The California Roundtable on Philosophy and Race
at EMORY University
October 6-7, 2017
Keynote: José Medina
Professor of Philosophy
Vanderbilt University

The California Roundtable on Philosophy and Race announces a call for papers for its 15th annual roundtable. This roundtable brings together philosophers of race in continental and analytic traditions, and those working in related disciplines in a small and congenial setting to share their work and develop this field further. Philosophical papers are invited on any issue regarding race, ethnicity, or racism, including those that take up race in the context of another topic, such as gender, sexuality, politics, ethics, justice, culture, identity, biology, phenomenology, existentialism, psychoanalysis, metaphysics, or epistemology.
Submissions are especially encouraged from junior and senior scholars, feminist philosophers, and philosophers of color. We seek to foster a productive and intellectually stimulating environment for those working in fields concerned with philosophy and race. The Roundtable also aspires to bring together junior and senior scholars to develop and enhance constructive mentoring relationships.

Submission Deadline: May 1st, 2017
Submission Instructions:

1. Submission should be 2-3 pages, with a brief bibliography, your name, institutional affiliation (if any), and rank. Please do NOT send full papers.
2. Please send as a Word or PDF file to crpr2012@gmail.com.
3. File name should include your last name, short title, CRPR 17.
4. Subject heading of email should read [Your name] CRPR Submission 2017
If your paper is accepted, you will have 30 minutes for presentation. This year’s conference will begin Friday morning and go until Saturday evening. Please ensure that you are able to attend the entire conference, until Saturday evening, before submitting abstract.

Our website, www.caroundtable.org will be updated soon with submission instructions and logistics for this year’s conference. Past programs are available there. For questions, please contact us at crpr2012@gmail.com

Organizers:
Mickaella L. Perina, Philosophy, University of Massachusetts, Boston

Falguni A. Sheth, Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Emory University

Northwestern Graduate Students on Kipnis

The Northwestern Philosophy Graduate Student Association has published an open letter on Kipnis’s book.

Several people, including a graduate student in the department of philosophy at Northwestern University, were recently targeted in a book by Radio, Television and Film faculty member Laura Kipnis. In “Unwanted Advances: Sexual Paranoia Comes to Campus,” Kipnis constructs a narrative around a series of events — which have been largely centered within our own department — to support her claim that Title IX fosters a sense of sexual paranoia and creates an environment hostile to academic freedom.

In doing so, Kipnis dedicates a chapter of her book to questioning a sexual assault allegation our fellow graduate student brought against a faculty member. Kipnis questions this allegation on the basis of a limited set of evidence, without consulting with our colleague or those close to her to check a number of important details in the case. Moreover, Kipnis reinforces her claims with unsubstantiated speculations. Her construction of the narrative is, as a result, irresponsible. We feel compelled to express how dissonant Kipnis’ retelling of these events is with our first-hand experiences of them and with the people involved in them, and to express our concern for Kipnis’ conduct, both as an author and as a faculty member at NU.

Read on.