August 2025 - News - Philosophy bulletin board

by Martin Kusch

Dear All, The next talk in the "Wittgenstein=steine" series is this Friday (June 13th) at 3pm in room NIG 3D. The speaker is Konstantin Deininger, and his title is: _"On the Material and Formal Aspects of (Moral) Certainty"_. Abstract: Does morality have a binding character in the sense that chains of justification come to an end? In this talk, I will affirm this question and argue that we can plausibly distinguish between formal and material aspects of moral certainty. As a starting point, I will interpret Wittgenstein's idea of "bedrock," introduced in §217 of the Philosophical Investigations, as standing for the end of a chain of reasoning. In doing so, I align with certain Wittgensteinian interpreters who maintain that some chains of moral reasoning end with certainty. However, I will arrive at deviating conclusions by demonstrating that different kinds of moral certainties function in different ways. Wittgensteinian scholars such as Cora Diamond and Nigel Pleasants correctly identify the formal aspect of moral certainty, showing that some propositions resist justification and doubt. However, the candidates for formal certainties they propose do not fully satisfy the criteria of certainty. This, I argue, is due to their failure to adequately distinguish between the formal and material aspects of certainty. Material certainties, such as Diamond's "slavery is unjust and insupportable" or Pleasants' "killing is wrong," remain intelligible to some extent and are thus subject to justification and doubt. Still, these propositions function as regress stoppers by putting an end to the chain of reasoning--but they do not mark the boundary of the unintelligible as formal certainties do. Drawing on Wittgenstein's later writings, I will argue that only formal certainties--which I refer to as transcendental certainties--are entirely exempt from justification and doubt. I identify the principle "equals are to be treated equally" as a plausible candidate for transcendental certainty. This certainty is foundational to moral reasoning and enables moral thought. I illustrate its role through debates on justice in animal ethics. Everybody welcome! Best wishes from the organizers, Esther Heinrich-Ramharter Anja Weiberg Martin Kusch

1 month, 3 weeks

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Call for Organizers: VDP Summer School 2026 Deadline for applications: November 5th

by VD Philosophy

Dear All, The Vienna Doctoral School of Philosophy is seeking proposals for the sixth edition of its summer school, to take place in 2026. We're currently accepting proposals for organizing and leading our next year's Summer School. Deadline: 5th November 2025 23:59 (CET) Funding: The VDP will cover organizational costs for the conferences, as well as travel expenses for international and local instructors. How to apply? Interested parties should submit a proposal for the upcoming Summer School, which should not exceed 2-3 pages. The proposal should include: 1. Suggested title(s) 2. A description of the summer school 3. Target audience(s) (e.g., late master's students, PhD students, postdocs) 4. Dates 5. Organizing team, including VDP members, postdocs and faculty (ideally up to 4 to 5 members) 6. List of possible instructors 7. Description of the teaching formats (lectures, workshops, group discussions) and daily activities In addition, please send in an excel document a 8. A detailed budget plan (summer schools may charge a fee). VDP doctoral researchers must consult the Funding Request and Reimbursement Guidelines document when preparing this plan. Additionally, organizers are encouraged to seek additional funding. Who can apply? VDP members (VDP doctoral researchers, and VDP supervisory and non-supervisory faculty). Submission Details Please ask questions or submit proposals in PDF format by email to vd.philosophy(a)univie.ac.at (Subject: "Summer School Proposal") Information on VDP summer schools is found at https://vd-philosophy.univie.ac.at/phd-program/doctoral-training/summer-sch… We look forward to receiving your proposals. Best regards, Raphael Aybar -- MSc. Mag. Raphael Aybar, BA Scientific Coordinator Vienna Doctoral School of Philosophy University of Vienna Universitätsstraße 7, B0301 1010 Wien +43-1-4277-46020 https://vd-philosophy.univie.ac.at/ vd.philosophy(a)univie.ac.at raphael.aybar(a)univie.ac.at

5 months

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CFA: Central European Graduate Conference in Ancient Philosophy - UniWien. Deadline: 30.09.2025

by Raphael Gustavo Aybar Valdivia

Dear All, We are happy to share that we are inviting submissions for the 5th Central European Graduate Conference in Ancient Philosophy! 🗓️ 8–10 October 2026 | Universität Wien 📌 Deadline for abstracts: 30 September 2025 Keynotes: ✨ Prof. Katerina Ierodiakonou (University of Geneva; NKUA) ✨ Dr. Robert Roreitner (Charles University, Prague) PhD candidates & early-career researchers working on Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy or its reception in the Arabic tradition are warmly invited to apply. 📩 Please send 500–1000 word abstracts (PDF, anonymous) to cegcap5vienna(a)gmail.com. We look forward to your submissions! Best Regards, Bishakha Dutta, Nikolina Kamzola, and Máté Héthelyi

6 months

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Symposium "Wisdom and Contemplation", Kyoto University, 2-3 September 2025.

by Solmeng Hirschi

*** Apologies for cross-posting*** ***German below*** Dear all, Please find below and attached the programme for the upcoming symposium we are organising, which is taking place next week on the 2nd and 3rd of September 2025 at the Kyoto University Graduate School of Letters, Basement Conference Room (Yoshidahonmachi, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8317, Japan). Do join if you can! To register, please send an email to smart-we.office(a)bun.kyoto-u.ac.jp. Please note that this is an in-person only event. Wisdom and Contemplation: A Comparative Approach to Perception and Knowledge-Production in Ancient Conceptions of Sagehood _Across ancient traditions, "contemplation" and "wisdom" emerge as central and somehow connected ideals. In Greek philosophy, the contemplative life was often presented as the highest form of existence, though the exact meaning of contemplation (theōria) remained ambiguous-- ranging from active observation to passive understanding, from the pursuit of knowledge to the assimilation of self with the cosmos. Similar debates surface in Mediterranean wisdom as well as Buddhist and Confucian sources and indeed whenever 'philosophy' is understood to have practical consequences for its practitioners. _ _The symposium sets out to investigate several traditions comparatively, focusing on three dimensions: the semantics of terms used to describe the philosopher-sage, the epistemological role of contemplation as a bridge between perception and inference, and the ethical and social implications of wisdom as a guide for life. By bringing together scholars of diverse fields, we aim to illuminate how ancient cultures conceived of contemplation as a way of coping with uncertainty, fostering virtue, and cultivating flourishing._ Programme (all time are JST) 02.09.2025 09:30 Opening Remarks || Yasuo Deguchi 09:35 _Epicurus on Theôria_ || Solmeng-Jonas Hirschi 10:40 _How Wisdom Makes Us Free: Stoic and Platonic Perspectives_ || Tomohiko Kondo _Lunch Break_ 13:00 _Eyes that See, Eyes that Make Visible: Sages, Pseudo-sages and Human Agency in the Xici 繫辭 and the Zhuangzi 莊子_ || Flaminia Pischedda 14:10 _The Three Kinds of Wisdom Inherited in the Vedas, the Ancient Religious Texts of India_ || Kyoko Amano 15:30 _Aristotle on Why a Life of Contemplation is a Happy Life_ || George Karamanolis 16:40 _We-turn and Aristotle_ || Yasuo Deguchi _Symposium Dinner_ 03.09.2025 09:30 _How Easily Can One Attain Ultimate Happiness? Monk Scholars of Pure Land Buddhism, Who Sought to Break Away from the Orthodox Framework of Wisdom and Contemplation_ || Seiji Kumagai 10:40 _Wisdom and Mystical Knowledge in Iamblichus_ || Andreea-Maria Lemnaru Espuna 13:00 _Plato on Definition and Systematisation of Technē_ || Atsushi Hayase 14:00 Closing Remarks || George Karamanolis This conference is made possible and co-hosted by the University of Vienna (Prof. Karamanolis) and Kyoto University (Prof. Yasuo Deguchi) thanks to a Strategic Partnership Grant between the two universities. Solmeng-Jonas Hirschi & George Karamanolis *** Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen, anbei sowie untenstehend finden Sie das Programm für das kommende Symposium, das nächste Woche am 2. und 3. September 2025 an der Kyoto University Graduate School of Letters, Basement Conference Room (Yoshidahonmachi, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8317, Japan) stattfinden wird. Wir freuen uns über Ihre Teilnahme! Zur Anmeldung senden Sie bitte eine E-Mail an smart-we.office(a)bun.kyoto-u.ac.jp. Bitte beachten Sie, dass es sich ausschließlich um eine Präsenzveranstaltung handelt. Wisdom and Contemplation: A Comparative Approach to Perception and Knowledge-Production in Ancient Conceptions of Sagehood _In den antiken Traditionen treten „Kontemplation/Anschauung" und „Weisheit" als zentrale und in gewisser Weise verbundene Ideale hervor. In der griechischen Philosophie wurde das kontemplative Leben oft als die höchste Daseinsform dargestellt, wenngleich die genaue Bedeutung von theōria mehrdeutig blieb - sie reicht von aktiver Beobachtung bis zu passivem Verstehen, von der Wissenssuche bis zur Assimilation des Selbst an den Kosmos. Ähnliche Debatten finden sich in der mediterranen Weisheitstradition ebenso wie in buddhistischen und konfuzianischen Quellen - und überhaupt anscheinend häufig dann, wenn „Philosophie" als eine Praxis verstanden wird, die konkrete Konsequenzen für ihre Ausübenden hat._ _Das Symposium widmet sich einem vergleichenden Zugang zu mehreren Traditionen mit Schwerpunkt auf drei Dimensionen: den Semantiken der Begriffe, mit denen der Philosophen-Weise beschrieben wird; der epistemologischen Rolle der Kontemplation als Brücke zwischen Wahrnehmung und Schlussfolgerung; sowie den ethischen und sozialen Implikationen der Weisheit als Lebensführung. Durch den Austausch zwischen Fachleuten aus unterschiedlichen Bereichen wollen wir erhellen, wie antike Kulturen Kontemplation als Mittel zum Umgang mit Unsicherheit, zur Förderung der Tugend und zur Entfaltung von Lebensglück verstanden haben._ PROGRAMM (ALLE ZEITEN JST) 02.09.2025 09:30 Opening Remarks || Yasuo Deguchi 09:35 _Epicurus on Theôria_ || Solmeng-Jonas Hirschi 10:40 _How Wisdom Makes Us Free: Stoic and Platonic Perspectives_ || Tomohiko Kondo _Mittagessen_ 13:00 _Eyes that See, Eyes that Make Visible: Sages, Pseudo-sages and Human Agency in the Xici 繫辭 and the Zhuangzi 莊子_ || Flaminia Pischedda 14:10 _The Three Kinds of Wisdom Inherited in the Vedas, the Ancient Religious Texts of India_ || Kyoko Amano 15:30 _Aristotle on Why a Life of Contemplation is a Happy Life_ || George Karamanolis 16:40 _We-turn and Aristotle_ || Yasuo Deguchi _Abendessen_ 03.09.2025 09:30 _How Easily Can One Attain Ultimate Happiness? Monk Scholars of Pure Land Buddhism, Who Sought to Break Away from the Orthodox Framework of Wisdom and Contemplation_ || Seiji Kumagai 10:40 _Wisdom and Mystical Knowledge in Iamblichus_ || Andreea-Maria Lemnaru Espuna 13:00 _Plato on Definition and Systematisation of Technê_ || Atsushi Hayase 14:00 Closing Remarks || George Karamanolis Diese Tagung wird durch die Universität Wien (Prof. Karamanolis) und die Kyoto University (Prof. Yasuo Deguchi) im Rahmen eines Strategic Partnership Grant zwischen den beiden Universitäten ermöglicht und gemeinsam ausgerichtet. Solmeng-Jonas Hirschi & George Karamanolis -- Solmeng-Jonas Hirschi, PhD Postdoctoral Researcher in Ancient Philosophy and Classics FWF-Projekt: "_Magna Moralia: Critical Edition, Translation and Commentary_" Department of Philosophy, Universitätsstraße 7 (NIG), 1010 Wien solmeng.hirschi(a)univie.ac.at https://antikephilosophie.univie.ac.at/forschungsprojekte/

6 months

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Ausschreibung: Universitätsassistent*in Postdoc, im Forschungsbereich Antike Philosophie (4367) -I- Job advertisement: University Assistant postdoctoral, in the research area of Ancient Philosophy (4367)

by Philosophie

Guten Tag! wir möchten Sie über folgende aktuelle Jobausschreibung am Institut für Philosophie der Universität Wien informieren: Universitätsassistent*in Postdoc, im Forschungsbereich Antike Philosophie (4367) Link zur Ausschreibung: https://jobs.univie.ac.at/job-invite/4367/ Wir laden alle Interessierten herzlich dazu ein, sich für diese Position zu bewerben. Bitte leiten Sie diese Information auch an potenziell interessierte Personen in Ihrem Umfeld weiter. Vielen Dank im Voraus für Ihre Unterstützung! Mit freundlichen Grüßen Katherina Krobath -- Dear Sir or Madam, We would like to inform you about the following current job opening at the Department of Philosophy at the University of Vienna: University Assistant postdoctoral, in the research area of Ancient Philosophy (4367) Link to the job posting: <https://jobs.univie.ac.at/job-invite/4367/> https://jobs.univie.ac.at/job-invite/4367/ We warmly invite all interested individuals to apply for this position. We would also greatly appreciate it if you could share this information with potentially interested individuals in your network. Thank you in advance for your support! Kind regards, Katherina Krobath ---- Institutskoordination Dipl.-Ing. Katherina Geneviève Krobath, BEd Andreas Wintersperger, MA <mailto:philosophie@univie.ac.at> philosophie(a)univie.ac.at +43(1)4277 46401 Institut für Philosophie Universitätsstraße 7, Raum A316 1010 Wien <https://philosophie.univie.ac.at/> https://philosophie.univie.ac.at/

6 months, 1 week

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Invitation: Workshop “From Disappointment to Bitterness and Back” (27–29 August 2025, University of Vienna)

by Leah Ritterfeld

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce our upcoming workshop “From Disappointment to Bitterness and Back”, which will take place from 27–29 August 2025 at the University of Vienna. The workshop will bring together scholars exploring disappointment and bitterness in moral and social philosophy. We are delighted to welcome the following keynote speakers: Prof. Michael Brady (University of Glasgow) Prof. Íngrid Vendrell-Ferran (Philipps Universität Marburg) Assoc. Prof. Thomas Brudholm (University of Copenhagen) More information can be found at: https://philevents.org/event/show/130614 https://philevents.org/event/show/130618 For the full schedule, please see attached document. If you would like to join, please register as soon as possible by sending an email to leah.ritterfeld(a)univie.ac.at <mailto:leah.ritterfeld@univie.ac.at>. We warmly invite you to participate and look forward to engaging discussions. Kind regards, Prof. Hans Bernhard Schmid, Dr. Niels de Haan, and Leah Ritterfeld

6 months, 2 weeks

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Ausschreibung: Universitätsassistent*in Praedoc, im Forschungsbereich Wissenschaftsphilosophie (4375) -I- Job advertisement: University assistant predoctoral, in the research area of Philosophy of Science (4375)

by Philosophie

Guten Tag! wir möchten Sie über folgende aktuelle Jobausschreibung am Institut für Philosophie der Universität Wien informieren: Universitätsassistent*in Praedoc, im Forschungsbereich Wissenschaftsphilosophie (4375) Link zur Ausschreibung: https://jobs.univie.ac.at/job-invite/4375/ Wir laden alle Interessierten herzlich dazu ein, sich für diese Position zu bewerben. Bitte leiten Sie diese Information auch an potenziell interessierte Personen in Ihrem Umfeld weiter. Vielen Dank im Voraus für Ihre Unterstützung! Mit freundlichen Grüßen Katherina Krobath -- Dear Sir or Madam, We would like to inform you about the following current job opening at the Department of Philosophy at the University of Vienna: University Assistant Praedoc, University assistant predoctoral, in the research area of Philosophy of Science (4375) Link to the job posting: https://jobs.univie.ac.at/job-invite/4375/ We warmly invite all interested individuals to apply for this position. We would also greatly appreciate it if you could share this information with potentially interested individuals in your network. Thank you in advance for your support! Kind regards, Katherina Krobath ---- Institutskoordination Dipl.-Ing. Katherina Geneviève Krobath, BEd Andreas Wintersperger, MA <mailto:philosophie@univie.ac.at> philosophie(a)univie.ac.at +43(1)4277 46401 Institut für Philosophie Universitätsstraße 7, Raum A316 1010 Wien <https://philosophie.univie.ac.at/> https://philosophie.univie.ac.at/

6 months, 2 weeks

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Invitation - Talk by Kelli Barr on August 19th - "The Material Theory of Values in Science"

by Veronika Lassl

Dear all, the WFAP warmly invites you to join a talk to be held by Kelli R. Barr (PhD) from the University of California, Davis, in two weeks. The title of the talk is "The Material Theory of Values in Science". When? Tuesday, 19.08.2025, 4:45pm - 6:15pm Where? Room 3C, NIG Universitätsstaße 7, 1010 Wien Please send an e-mail to veronika.lassl(a)univie.ac.at for the Zoom link, should you wish to listen in online. Abstract How are we to understand situations where science fails on its own terms? For example, Scientists have blamed perverse incentives for systematic epistemic failures like non-replicability and publication bias, but the exact relationship remains an open question. Let's assume they are right to blame the (social) system. This paper presents a novel framework for understanding how features of the social organization of science are implicated in collective epistemic failures: the material theory of values in science (MTV). This project is inspired by and follows in the tradition of feminist philosophers of science who have called attention to the need for explanations of systemic, specifically antifeminist, biases in science and for embodied models of scientists as epistemic agents. In the first part, I discuss the replication crisis as involving a particular type of collective action problem: a no-win standoff. The next part introduces the MTV and the explanation it supplies for this phenomenon. In the third section, the MTV is compared to several alternative explanatory strategies, including from the contemporary literature values in science and social epistemology, specifically agent-based computational models. I argue for why my approach is preferable and describe an important revision it entails for the general Mertonian sociological picture invoked in discussions of incentives in science. Kind regards, Veronika Lassl Chairperson - Vienna Forum for Analytic Philosophy wfap.philo.at

6 months, 3 weeks

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