IARPT 2020: CFP

American Immanence

CALL FOR PAPERS

Political Theology and the Powers of Democracy: American Thought for the Anthropocene

IARPT Annual Meeting
June 15-18, 2020
Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota

The Institute for American Religious and Philosophical Thought calls for papers addressing the issues and arguments raised by Michael S. Hogue in his American Immanence: Democracy for an Uncertain World (New York: Columbia University Press, 2018).

“In a time in which it has become empirically and scientifically impossible to think about the human apart from nature, not to mention morally and politically irresponsible, we need more than ever to rethink our concepts of power, value and common life in an ecological context that takes seriously the internal relatedness of human and more-than-human life.” (Hogue, 121)

Taking up his own charge, Hogue delineates and criticizes what he calls “the redeemer symbolic”—a condensation of deficient concepts of self and other, and concomitant destructive practices, which continually reconfigures itself throughout American history to preserve belief that America is an exceptional nation and that, as such, it is justified in extracting value from others and externalizing the costs of so doing upon others. Hogue also criticizes the redeemer symbolic by recourse to a metaphysical critique of “traditional theism.” He argues that the “American immanental” tradition of thought (including as key figures the Pragmatists, Dewey and James; the “Chicago School” philosophers of religion, Mathews, Loomer and Meland; and, above all, Alfred North Whitehead) offers an alternative conception of God/Nature that would delegitimate, if not dissolve, the redeemer symbolic. That conception stresses the vulnerability and resilience of the complexly “intrarelated” system of systems that is Nature. It is the heart of a political theology that in Hogue’s estimation, would ground a politics of democratic risk for an ever more beautiful community of shared vulnerability and resilience.

We invite proposals for presentations that respond to themes advanced and arguments made by Hogue, as well as papers that pertain in a more general fashion to the topics addressed in the book. Specifically, we solicit papers on the following four topics:

  1. The Anthropocene Paradox: Hogue interprets the Anthropocene as the culmination and conclusion of a certain kind of modernity. “Although the Anthropocene literally signifies the beginning of a human geological epoch for the Earth, it also signals the end of the idea of the human difference from the rest of nature. . . .While the Anthropocene is the greatest trial the human species has ever faced, it also provokes creative moral, political, and religious possibilities.” (Hogue, 3) Thus, the crisis of the Anthropocene occasions opportunities for moving beyond human exceptionalism, and for developing alternative, naturalistic, non-anthropocentric modes of thought as terra bestiae—creatures of the earth. How does the Anthropocene suggest new ways of thinking and living—philosophically, religiously, morally, politically—that advance the radical eco-democracy that Hogue anticipates? In the shadow of the climate crisis, what light does such a democratic eco-politics shed? What practices now enable us to move toward it?
  2. Resilient Democracy: Resilient democracy, Hogue explains, is neither a fixed form of sovereignty nor of government. It is an evolving and experimental “way of life” infused with an ethos of empathy, emancipation, and equity. Resilient democracy is predicated on embracing uncertainty and vulnerability as characteristics of immanent existence in an intra-related world. Resiliently democratic life thus refuses the exceptionalism that has marked American political theology throughout the history of the United States. How might a philosophical or religious embrace of uncertainty and vulnerability be converted into specific ecopolitical practices for the Anthropocene?
  3. Political Theologies: Hogue mentions connections and differences between his own, American immanental development of a radical political theology, and an alternative with roots in the “death of God” theologies of the twentieth century. How do these two traditions or discourses stand with respect to one another? How might they be clarified or corrected by mutual encounter?
  4. American Thought: Hogue draws on American philosophers and theologians throughout his project. What other philosophical and theological resources within the American immanental tradition are perhaps unexplored by Hogue? In what ways might his project be furthered by engaging alternative sources of relevant scholarship in philosophy, theology, or political theory?

Proposals should contain a descriptive title and brief (no more than 500 words) but informative and readable description of the paper to be presented, with some indication of why the proposer considers the paper to be an important contribution. Proposals should also include a brief (150-word) biographical sketch of their authors.

All proposals should be sent in Word format to both Andrew Irvine (andrew.irvine@maryvillecollege.edu) and Austin Roberts (aroberts2@drew.edu).

The deadline for submissions is February 1, 2020.

The Columbia University Press website for American Immanence: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/american-immanence/9780231172332

Use the promo code CUP30 to receive a 30% discount on the publisher’s website.

2019 IARPT Conference Hotel Info

2019 IARPT Conference: Pragmatism, Naturalism, and Religion
Asheville, North Carolina
June 17-20, 2019

Location: First Congregational Church
Local Host: James McLachlan
Program Chairs: Matthew Bagger and Michael Raposa
Intellectual Autobiography: Wayne Proudfoot

For our upcoming IARPT conference in Asheville, we have reserved rooms at two hotels:

1. Renaissance Asheville Hotel
31 Woodfin Street
Asheville, NC 28801
828-252-8211
$139 Per Night

2. Sheraton Asheville Downtown
22 Woodfin Street
Asheville, NC 28801
828-253-1851
$109 Per Night

If you wish to reserve a room at the Renaissance, please click hereThe group reservation for the Renaissance is under Western Carolina University (as WCU). If you wish to reserve a room at the Sheraton, please call the hotel. The group reservation for the Sheraton is under IARPT.

There are a limited number of rooms at the conference rate, so members and other conference participants should make reservations as early as possible (the cutoff date is May 17).

Please direct all questions about hotel reservations to our local host, James McLachlan.

2019 IARPT Conference Info and CFP

2019 IARPT Conference: Pragmatism, Naturalism, and Religion
Asheville, North Carolina
June 17-20, 2019

Location: First Congregational Church
Local Host: James McLachlan
Program Chairs: Matthew Bagger and Michael Raposa
Intellectual Autobiography: Wayne Proudfoot

For its 2019 annual conference, the Institute for American Religious and Philosophical Thought calls for papers addressing the issues raised by Pragmatism and Naturalism: Scientific and Social Inquiry After Representationalism (Columbia University Press, 2018), a collection of essays authored by Jim Wetzel, Jeff Stout, Michael Raposa, Wayne Proudfoot, Philip Kitcher, Jonathon Kahn, Terry Godlove, Nancy Frankenberry, Scott Davis, and Matt Bagger.*  Although it is not a festschrift, the volume honors Wayne Proudfoot by its focus on issues central to his work.  The volume’s essays specify the distinctive naturalism of the classical pragmatists, evaluate the contribution pragmatism can make to a viable naturalism, and consider the merits of pragmatic naturalism for democratic theory and practice as well as the philosophy and study of religion.

We invite proposals for presentations that respond to the essays in the volume as well as papers that pertain in a more general fashion to the topics addressed in the volume.  Specifically, we solicit papers on the following topics:

  1. The classical pragmatists and naturalism
  2. Pragmatism, naturalism, and the study of religion
  3. Pragmatism and democracy
  4. Pragmatism and the philosophy of religion
  5. Wayne Proudfoot’s scholarship

Wayne Proudfoot and Jeff Stout will deliver plenary addresses.

Proposals should contain a descriptive title and brief (no more than 500 words) but informative and readable description of the paper to be presented, with some indication of why the proposer considers the paper to be an important contribution. Proposals should also include a brief (150-word) biographical sketch of their authors.

All proposals should be sent in Word format to both Michael Raposa (mlr0@lehigh.edu) and Matt Bagger (matthew.c.bagger@gmail.com). The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2019.

*The Columbia University Press website for Pragmatism and Naturalism: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/pragmatism-and-naturalism/9780231181884

Use the promo code CUP30 to receive a 30% discount.

Twelfth Biennial Personalist Seminar

TWELFTH BIENNIAL PERSONALIST SEMINAR:

C.S. PEIRCE AND ROBERT CORRINGTON

JULY 24-28, 2018

Western Carolina University

Program

About 15-25 participants

Program Structure

The program will center around the Ecstatic Naturalism of Robert Corrington and the thought of C.S. Peirce, with separate days devoted to different aspects of their work. The first day will introduce the group to Ecstatic Naturalism and Peirce and the background in their contexts. These discussions will be led by Robert S. Corrington, Henry Anson Buttz Professor of Philosophical Theology at Drew University and Douglas Anderson, Chair of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of North Texas. The remaining days each participant will be responsible for a specific text and/or aspect, or present a paper on Corrington’s thought and/or Pierce and will help lead that part of the discussion.

Proposals

Submit a title and brief (no more than one page) summary of your interest in the seminar’s subjects.  Accepted projects will receive between 60 and 90 minutes for presentation and discussion of the finished projects. Proposals should be sent to:

Dr. James McLachlan

jmclachla@email.wcu.edu

Due Date:  June 15

Location

The seminar will be held on the campus of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina. Cullowhee is located approximately 50 miles west of Asheville and sits near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Appalachian Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway, and several national forests which make up some of the largest wilderness areas in the Eastern United States.

Lodging & Meals

Affordable on-campus accommodations are available in Madison Hall (the site of the meeting). These are standard residence hall rooms, but all have a private bath. Linen packets are included. On-campus stays include breakfasts and lunches Monday through Friday.  Dinner is on your own.

Costs
Single Occupancy w/ meals = $262
Double Occupancy w/ meals = $225

To REGISTER

REGISTER ONLINE NOW

Off campus lodging is available in area hotels.

Conference Registration

The conference registration fee is $75 (Paid separately).

For further information, contact Dr. James M. McLachlan, Dept. of Philosophy and Religion, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723. Phone 828-227-3940 or email jmclachla@wcu.edu

For questions about registration or accommodations contact Bobby Hensley, Associate Director of Continuing Education, at 828-227-7397 or email hensley@wcu.edu

AIPCT Summer Dissertation Fellowship

SUMMER DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIP

The American Institute for Philosophical and Cultural Thought (AIPCT) is pleased to announce the establishment of the Foundation for the Philosophy of Creativity (FPC) Summer Dissertation Research Fellowship. The FPC Fellow must be in residence at the AIPCT in Murphysboro, IL, from June 1 until August 2, and will receive housing and $1000 per month, plus a travel stipend of $200. The FPC Fellow will carry out research on the dissertation (the idea is to finish a chapter while there). The dissertation can be in any discipline in the humanities or social sciences, so long as the topic of the research relates to theoretical ideas about creativity, broadly construed. The dissertation need not be wholly concerned with creativity, but the portion of the research carried out at AIPCT must be related to creativity. Around August 1 the FPC Fellow will present the research at AIPCT in a public lecture. Among the criteria considered by the selection committee is how well the project fits with the holdings and emphasis of AIPCT (American Philosophical and Cultural Thought) acheter kamagra oral jelly en ligne. Continue reading AIPCT Summer Dissertation Fellowship