15th International Philosophy Colloquium Evian Conditions of Freedom

Call for papers

15th International Philosophy Colloquium Evian
Conditions of Freedom

Evian (Lake Geneva), France
July 12-18, 2009

Contact:
Prof. Dr. Georg W. Bertram
Freie Universitaet Berlin, Institut für Philosophie, Habelschwerdter Allee
30, D-14195 Berlin, Germany

Call for Papers:
We invite proposals for presentations (maximum length: one page), along with
a short CV (maximum length: two pages), by April 1st, 2009. Please send
these documents via e-mail to the following address:
evian@philosophie.fu-berlin.de

A detailed exposition of the topic and all relevant information concerning
the character and history of the colloquium as well as matters of
accomodation and costs can be found on our website:
http://www.geisteswissenschaften.fu-berlin.de/eviancolloquium/

The idea of freedom stands at the center of practical philosophy, embedded
in a thick web of relations with concepts such as subjectivity, rationality,
morality, and existence. It draws its force from the tension between two
roles: on the one hand as a fundamental metaphysical or anthropological
determination of human beings; on the other as designating a political ideal
that can more or less be realized or fail to be realized in concrete forms
of life. Rousseau's opening flourish in The Social Contract, "Man is born
free, yet everywhere he is in chains," underlines this tension. In this
sense the idea of freedom stands not only practically but also conceptually
under complex conditions, which need to be understood in order to grasp what
we really mean by "freedom."

The Fifteenth International Philosophy Colloquium Evian invites philosophers
to Lake Geneva to discuss issues concerning the conditions of freedom. It
aims especially to encourage its participants to transcend the narrow
confines of different traditions in philosophy. It is conceived particularly
as a place where the divide between continental and analytic philosophy is
overcome, or at least where their differences can be rendered
philosophically productive. The passive mastery of French, German, and
English (the three languages of discussion of the colloquium) is an
indispensable prerequisite for its participants.

Organisation: Georg W. Bertram (Berlin), Robin Celikates (Bremen), David
Lauer (Berlin); in cooperation with: Karin de Boer (Groningen), Karen
Feldman (Berkeley), Jo-Jo Koo (Pittsburgh), Christophe Laudou (Madrid),
Jérôme Lèbre (Paris), Diane Perpich (Clemson), Hans Bernhard Schmid (Basel),
Chris Doude van Troostvijk (Strasbourg/Amsterdam)