CONFERENCE DESCRIPTION
The philosophy program at Florida Gulf Coast University invites submissions for our upcoming conference entitled “History, Memory, and Justice,” to be held March 24-25, 2017. This conference aims to explore the meaning that history and memory have in the context of human life and, in particular, what it means to remember devastating acts of human violence in a meaningful and responsible way. To address these difficult questions, we welcome papers from diverse philosophical starting points (e.g. hermeneutics, phenomenology, ethical theory, legal theory, the history of philosophy, critical theory, etc.) and from social scientists in other disciplines involved in related inquiries.
Possible topics of exploration include:
- To what extent is human thinking or human existence always historical? What implications does this have for the study of philosophy?
- What do present generations owe to past generations? What about to future generations? How do current frameworks – ethical, legal, or political – help or hinder us from meeting these obligations?
- What role does memory play in different models of justice? Can forms of recognition, memorialization, or apology help restore justice for past wrongs?
- How is collective memory sustained over time? What gives people a sense of indebtedness to the past?
- What role do significant historical events play or contribute to the construction of current and future identities?
- What issues are raised between conflicting historical narratives (e.g. socio-scientific and oral traditions) in the construction of individual and group identity?
- How can forms of collective memory serve to obscure parts of our history, casting them into oblivion? How can we remedy this forgetting?
- If memorialization is one way of doing justice to the past, how does the passage of time complicate this effort? Does memorializing a past injustice require that we regard it as singular and incomparable, or is it morally necessary to draw comparisons with other, perhaps contemporary injustices?
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSIONS
To submit, please send a detailed abstract of 400-600 words prepared for blind review to fgcuphilconference@gmail.com. In the body of your email, please include your name, your university affiliation, a brief bio, and contact information. Abstract submissions are due by December 15, 2016.
Registration and Travel Information
The campus of Florida Gulf Coast University is located just 10 minutes by car from Southwest Florida International Airport, making air travel to our campus very easy. Further information about travel for conference participants will be available on our program website: http://www.fgcu.edu/CAS/Philosophy/newsandevents.html. There is no registration fee for the conference. The event is free and open to the public.
CONTACT INFORMATION
This conference is being organized by the philosophy program at Florida Gulf Coast University. Please contact any of the following members of the department with questions.
Mohamad Al-Hakim, Assistant Professor of Philosophy (malhakim@fgcu.edu)
Carolyn Culbertson, Assistant Professor of Philosophy (cculbertson@fgcu.edu)
Miles Hentrup, Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy (mhentrup@fgcu.edu)