Philosophy and Meaning in Life

Call for Papers

Theme: Philosophy and Meaning in Life
Type: 4th International Conference
Institution: Institute of Life and Death Studies, Waseda University
  Department of Philosophy, University of Pretoria
Location: Online
Date: 17.–19.1.2022
Deadline: 10.10.2021

Meaning in life is one of the most fundamental philosophical
problems, discussed for centuries but having acquired considerable
depth in English-speaking philosophy over the past 30 years. Is there
any meaning in life? If so, how can we find it? Can life be
meaningful if death is the ultimate end of our existence? How is
meaning related to well-being and happiness? What are the moral
implications of philosophical debates on meaning in life? Can life be
objectively meaningful, or can it only be subjectively meaningful?
What are the links between God and meaning? What do we mean by
‘meaning’ in the first place?

The aim of the conference is to address these fundamental questions
from a wide range of philosophical perspectives, including both
western and non-western traditions. Potential topics could include,
but are not limited to: theoretical approaches to meaning in/of life;
the relationship between death and meaning; anti-natalism and
nihilism; procreation and extinction; spiritual, religious, and
psychological implications of meaning; linguistic, metaphysical, and
epistemological issues concerning meaning; meaning in applied ethics,
such as bioethics, environmental ethics, and transhumanism; the roles
of narrative, identity, and agency; comparative accounts of meaning
in religio-philosophical traditions around the world; implications of
meaning for health, well-being, or virtue.

Submissions

We invite submissions concerning meaning in/of life as considered in
the field of philosophy. Please send an abstract of approximately 500
words (excluding any references), prepared for blind review to the
organising committee via:
https://www.up.ac.za/cf-pcml2022/conference/registration

Deadline: 10 October 2021
Applicants will be notified of the result via email by the beginning
of December 2021.

Publication:
Speakers are encouraged to submit their papers for publication in a
special issue of the Journal of Philosophy of Life to be published by
the end of 2022 (or possibly early 2023).

Time for presentation:
Normally 50 minutes for live presentations (roughly 20-25 minutes for
talk and the rest for discussion).

Format of presentation:
Online via Zoom and Slack. Some talks will be pre-recorded, while
others will be live.

Official language:
English

Registration:
Please register here:
https://www.up.ac.za/cf-pcml2022/conference/registration

Organising Committee:
Thaddeus Metz, University of Pretoria
Yujin Nagasawa, University of Birmingham
Masahiro Morioka, Waseda University
Nobuo Kurata, Hokkaido University
Tatsuya Murayama, Tohoku University

Queries can be directed to the Organising Committee at:
philosophymeaninglife@gmail.com


Conference website:
https://www.up.ac.za/cf-pcml2022