Being Human – Foundation, Imperative or Plati- tude?

4 – 6 June 2015, University of Innsbruck

The 10th congress of the Austrian Society for Philosophy (Österreichische Gesell- schaft für Philosophie) is dedicated to the central theme Being Human – Foundation, Imperative or Platitude?

The question of what it means and implies to be human is fundamental to philosophy as well as to society in general. At the same time, it runs the risk of eliciting mere platitudes in response. Even today, being human involves various questions: Is it possible to distinguish hu- manity, whether biologically or according to our forms of life, from other species or artificial life forms in a meaningful manner? In which respects do human beings differ from persons? Are the faculty of speech or free will perhaps basic criteria of being human? In particular, the normative term of humanity is worthy of discussion since it tends to oscillate between ideality and triviality. In the area of tension created between fun- damental convictions, imperative demands and idle talk, it is important to examine conceptions of humanitarian ethics with their basic principles of humaneness, human dignity, living a good life and conceptions of species boundaries. Moreover, from the perspective of the philosophy of law, one has to consider interpretations of interna- tional humanitarian law, crimes against humanity and the foundation of human rights.

In this context, the 10th congress of the Austrian Society for Philosophy will open a forum at the University of Innsbruck lasting several days where the question of being human will be posed in consideration of old and new provocations.

The central theme shall be discussed in several sections according to systematic aspects. Apart from these sections, there will be eight general sections grouped ac- cording to the major philosophical disciplines, in which research results independent of the congressional theme may be presented.

Main sections dedicated to the central theme of “being human”:

1. Anthropology, Social and Cultural Philosophy 2. Philosophy of Language and Philosophy of Mind 3. Ethics and Philosophy of Law 4. Science and Technology

General sections:

1. Metaphysics and Ontology 2. Ethics and Philosophy of Law 3. Epistemology and Philosophy of Science 4. Political and Social Philosophy 5. Logic and Philosophy of Language 6. History of Philosophy 7. Philosophy of Religion 8. Teaching Philosophy

Keynote speakers:

Prof. Luciano Floridi (University of Oxford) Prof. Rahel Jaeggi (Humboldt University Berlin) Prof. emer. Ágnes Heller (The New School for Social Research) Prof. Julian Nida-Rümelin (Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, to be confirmed)

Abstracts and title suggestions: Should you wish to present a paper, please submit the title of your presentation to- gether with your preference for a section and an abstract of 300-500 words until 15 December 2014 to: [email protected] You will receive feedback concerning your submission by the middle of February 2015. Contact and infor- mation: Ass.-Prof. Dr. Andreas Oberprantacher, Department of Philosophy at the University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52d, A-6020 Innsbruck, phone: +43/512/507-4022, e- mail: [email protected]

Length of presentation: max. 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes for discussion)

Congress languages: German, English

Attendance fees: ÖGP members: € 50.– Non-members: € 80.– Students: € 20.–