Please use the comments section on this post to share information about Summer 2025 Programs in Philosophy for graduate students and/or PhDs in philosophy.
If you are organizing such a program, please add a comment to this post that includes:
– program name
– dates
– location
– contact information
– application deadline
– a brief (one-paragraph) description of the program
– link to further information
Here’s an example:
PHYSIS Summer School 2025: Explanation in Metaphysics (w/ Kit Fine)
Dates: June 3-5, 2025
Location: Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
Contact: Javier Cumpa – [email protected]
Deadline: January 8, 2025
Description: The School will consist of the PHYSIS Summer Lectures in Analytic Metaphysics 2025: Explanation in Metaphysics to be given by Kit Fine, and two workshops on related topics: Explanations in Metaphysics and Ontology (June 3) and Explanatory versus Non-Explanatory Metaphysics (June 5). Applicants should submit a 500 word abstract prepared for blind review. Please indicate in your email the particular workshop you are applying for.
Further information: https://redfilosofia.es/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/PHYSIS-Lectures-2025.pdf
Related:
Philosophy Summer Programs for Undergraduates – 2025
Philosophy Summer Programs for High School Students – 2025
AI + Data Ethics Summer Training Program
Dates: June 1st – July 31st, 2025
Location: Northeastern University Boston, MA
Contact: John Basl ([email protected])
Deadline: January 30th, 2025
More info: http://www.aidesummer.org
This summer school is intended for graduate students with advanced training in applied ethics, ethical theory, philosophy of science, or other areas with potential research applications to AI and big data who would like to develop research capacities in the ethics of artificial intelligence (AI), data ethics, and the philosophy of technology. Designing AI and machine learning systems to promote human flourishing in just and sustainable ways will require a robust and diverse AI and data ethics research community. However, there are few graduate programs that train students in these areas. The aim of this summer long, in person training program is to supplement resources in students’ home universities with ethical and technical skills necessary to research in this area.
The program is residential and includes a stipend.
Bayesian Boot Camp
Dates: June 16-27, 2025
Location: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Contact: Mike Titelbaum ([email protected])
Application deadline: March 1
Come to beautiful Madison, Wisconsin for a two-week summer seminar on the fundamentals of Bayesian epistemology! No background in Bayesianism or mathematics beyond high-school algebra is assumed. Rather than being for advanced researchers, this summer seminar aims to introduce Bayesianism to graduate students, postdocs, and faculty who never received training in the area or didn’t have the opportunity to do so, so they may apply it in teaching and research. The seminar will be discussion-based and feature guest presenters who are experts in the field. A limited amount of financial support is available to subsidize travel and lodging costs for participants without sufficient professional funds.
[Website and application materials will be available by mid-January, at which point we will post a link in the comments below.]
I’m interested!
Just a note that applications for the Bayesian Boot Camp have now closed. We had a lot of great applicants, so hopefully we’ll be able to run this program again in the future!
Dates: Monday, July 21st 2025 – Friday, July 25th 2025
Target: Bachelor’s, Masters and PhD students, Students, researchers, and professionals
Maximum 30 participants
Location: Padua
ECTS: 3
Fee: 500euros per week / 20% fee waiver for partner university students / 50% fee waiver for Arqus students (a maximum number of waivers might apply).
The fee includes: All lunches and coffee breaks, Social dinner, The 2-day trip to the Asiago Obervatory (meals, round-trip transportation to/from Asiago, and overnight stays at the observatory guesthouse).
Contact:
https://www.unipd.it/en/space-ethics
[email protected]
Application dates: February 3rd 2025 – March 20th 2025
The Summer School in “SPACE ETHICS” is designed to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and critical thinking skills to address the ethical challenges posed by humanity’s increasing presence in space. This programme is ideal for Bachelor’s, Masters and PhD students who want to shape the future of space exploration in a thoughtful and responsible manner.
Core topics covered in the course include applied ethics, space debris, dual-use space technologies, space settlement, and mega constellations of nanosatellites. Complementing the academic curriculum, a series of collaborative tasks, field trips and social activities will provide immersive experiences with Italy’s scientific history and future university opportunities:
• Group work and final presentations to present research findings
• 2-day trip to the Astronomical Observatory on the Asiago Plateau, with guided astronomical observation
• Visits to historical sites related to Galileo Galilei, the father of modern science
• Networking events
The History and Epistemology of Econometrics(Summer School Scientific World Conceptions)
Dates: July 7-11, 2025Location: University of Vienna, AustriaContact: Zarah Weiss – [email protected]
Deadline: February 15, 2025
More info: Summer School Institute Vienna Circle
Description: Models and their econometric estimation play an increasingly important role in modern economic and political life. From macroeconomic policy and financial regulation to public health and climate policy, models contribute to shaping policies. The generation of ever more data is likely to support the proliferation of models and econometrics. Research resources in academia focus on the theoretical foundations of the underlying model and on the statistical methods of econometrics; much less attention is devoted to the epistemological challenges of the underlying concepts, the normative challenges of the everyday work with econometrics, and the application of its results in policy decisions and evaluation.
The objective of this program is to increase attention amongst philosophers of science, academic economists, and empirical economists in policy institutions (eg, central banks) to these issues.
The course is also structured around a particular point of view – namely, that economics is a science of models and that most of the main features of econometrics relate generally to the role of models in science.
2025 Feminist Decolonial Politics Workshop
June 3-6 2025
Villanova University and Online
Contact: [email protected]
Applications due: February 1, 2025
The feminist Decolonial Politics Workshop seeks to engage in an in-depth study of theorists who are marginalized in the discipline of Philosophy. Each year, we focus on the works of one theorist over the course of four days. This workshop is participant led, and requires active participation from everyone.
This year we will be focusing on the work of Joy James. We will read three of texts, namely Resisting State Violence (1996), Seeking the Beloved Community (2013), and New Bones (2023). We will also introduce some additional works from James. For more information about the format of this workshop, check out our website. The workshop is primarily open to graduate students and junior scholars.
Summer School 2025 of Philosophy of Physics: The Aim and Structure of Cosmological Theory
Dates: June 23-27, 2025
Location: University of the Italian Switzerland – West Campus Via Buffi 13 Lugano, Switzerland
Deadline: February 15, 2025
Description: A number of challenging questions arise in contemporary cosmology, and philosophers can contribute constructively to answering them. In what sense is cosmology a “special case,” in terms of its aims, the nature of cosmological theories, or the ability to establish theories empirically? What, if anything, constrains theorizing about the early universe or regions of space and time that are beyond our observational ken? These and other questions will be tackled at the summer school, whose organizing theme is the forthcoming book The Aim and Structure of Cosmological Theoryby the instructors C. Smeenk & J.O. Weatherall.
Im interested! How can I apply?
PPE Graduate Summer Workshop
Dates: Monday, June 2 – Saturday, June 7, 2025
Location: Chapman University, Orange, CA
Contact: John Thrasher and Ryan Muldoon
Deadline: Friday, January 24, 2025 (application here)
More info: here
Applicants should be graduate students (MA or Ph.D) or incoming graduate students. The workshop is offered free of charge with lodging, books, and (most) meals covered.
This weeklong summer workshop will combine the introduction of PPE methods with practical training and philosophical discussion. Topics include:
Rational Choice & Game TheoryFormal Political Theory: Spatial Theory & Coalitional BargainingExperimental Economic / Experimental MethodsSocial NormsEvolutionary Theory & Social EvolutionAgent-Based Modeling
This workshop pairs instruction on the basics of PPE methods with discussions of cutting-edge PPE research that uses those methods. The size of this workshop facilitates lecturers and organizers to get to know each student and to address any specific questions they have along the way.
One added benefit of this format is the substantial possibilities for networking among the participants. The overlapping interests they explore here and the friendships they form will likely lead to future research collaborations. In addition to the instructional and research sessions, participants will also work on developing a PPE research project that they will present to the group at the end of the week.
The Philosophy of Iris Murdoch
(w/ Justin Broackes, Cathy Mason, Silvia Panizza, and Rachael Wiseman)
Dates: July 14th – 18th, 2025
Location: University of Vienna, Vienna, AT
Contact: Matt Dougherty ([email protected])
Deadline: TBD
This five-day summer school is intended for PhD and postdoctoral students working on the philosophy of Iris Murdoch, as well as on topics adjacent to her work. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the various aspects of Murdoch’s thinking with our instructors and to present their own work in progress. There will be a small fee for attendance but also some need-based bursaries available. Evening outings in and around Vienna will be organized for those who are interested.
More information will be added here when it’s available!
Here’s the summer school webpage with further information.
Summer School on Panpsychism
Dates: 1-3 July 2025
Location: Institute of Philosophy, Zagreb, Croatia
Contact: Nino Kadic ([email protected])
Deadline: 31 March 2025
Link: https://panpsychism.ifzg.hr
The Summer School aims to critically evaluate both the arguments in favour of and those against panpsychism and related theories, while providing a platform to analyse the broader debate on consciousness. Students will have the opportunity to engage with experts in the field, participate in discussions, explore a comprehensive reading list, while those who apply to present and are accepted will also have the chance to share their work and receive feedback.
The first call for the Summer School on Panpsychism invites PhD students to submit a brief abstract (200-250 words) along with relevant keywords to [email protected]. Please include your name, current academic status, and affiliation as well. Accepted students will have the opportunity to present their work in a 20-minute presentation, followed by a 10-minute discussion. There are six presentation slots available. Students who present will receive a certificate of participation detailing their workload (e.g., equivalent to ECTS credits in the EU), which may be recognised by their home universities. The registration fee for presenters is €100. The application deadline is 31 March 2025.
Details for the second, general call for attendees will be announced soon. Please follow our website for future updates.
Siracusa Summer Seminar on Plato’s Theaetetus
Dates: July 28-August 8, 2025
Location: Exedra Mediterranean Center, Siracusa, Sicily
Contact: Susi Kimbell at [email protected]
Deadline: July 1, 2025 (April 15, 2025 for financial aid applications)
Description: The Summer Seminar combines instruction in Ancient Greek at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels with discussion of Plato’s Theaetetus, and presentations relevant topics. Mornings are free for swimming in the sea, jogging around the island, or optional archeological visits and cultural activities. Evening discussions can be continued at Ortigia’s many bars and restaurants.
Participants are separated by Ancient Greek language skill level for the 3-5 PM sessions, then come together for the presentations and discussion. Level 1 (beginner): studies Learning Greek with Plato, I. Level 2 (intermediate): studies Learning Greek with Plato, II. Level 3 (advanced): studies the Greek text directly.
Participants wishing to present papers on the seminar topic are invited to submit abstracts of up to 300 words for consideration. This is not required unless you are also applying for financial aid.
Students pay a program fee, which covers tuition, activities, refreshments, welcome aperitivo, and farewell dinner. Housing is not included but a variety of options, including Exedra’s own student residence, are available on the island of Ortigia. Sponsorships/bursaries covering all or part of the course fees and housing are available on a competitive basis. Students may participate on or both weeks.
Information: https://fontearetusa.wordpress.com/siracusa-summer-seminar-in-ancient-greek-philosophy/
Application: https://forms.gle/vqwZsCDMvN725aGX9
*Slavery and Early Modern Philosophy: An NEH Institute for Higher-Education Faculty*
June 16 – July 4, 2025
Georgetown University, Washington, DC
Contact: Huaping Lu-Adler ([email protected]) or Julia Jorati ([email protected])
Deadline: March 5, 2025
We aim to recruit 25 scholars, instructors, and advanced graduate students from across the United States interested in early modern texts about slavery. Applicants need not have prior knowledge of early modern debates about slavery; they just need to be interested in learning about this topic and should have some background in the history of philosophy, the philosophy of race, or closely related areas. During the Institute, we will jointly develop new approaches to researching and teaching this material. At the end of our 3-week program, participants will be well-equipped to incorporate early modern texts about slavery into their research and teaching.
Website: https://slaveryandearlymodernphilosophy.georgetown.domains/
Integrating statistics into your philosophy instruction
Where
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Minneapolis Campus
When
4-6 August, 2025
What
This workshop is for philosophy teachers aiming to integrate concepts or methods from statistics, data science, and computing into their teaching and/or mentoring. Each participant will have two hours during the summer workshop, arranged how they would like, to describe, test, and receive feedback on a lesson plan, assignment, etc. with the entire group.
Deadline
May 1, 2025
Contact
Corey Dethier (dethi001 [at] umn.edu)
For more info
https://philevents.org/event/show/131754
Summer School for Widening Participation in Mathematical Philosophy
Dates: July 28 – August 1, 2025
Location: LMU Munich, Germany
Contact: [email protected]
Deadline: March 14, 2025
More info: MCMP Summer School for Widening Participation in Mathematical Philosophy
The summer school continues a successful tradition, which began in 2014 with eight editions of the summer school on mathematical philosophy for female students and was expanded in 2024 to underrepresented groups. The 2025 “Summer School for Widening Participation in Mathematical Philosophy” is open to women and members of other groups that are under-represented in mathematical philosophy. These groups include under-represented gender identities, races and ethnicities, people with disabilities, people from low income and non-academic family backgrounds. The target level is master students and last year-bachelor students. The school’s aim is to encourage students to engage with mathematical and scientific approaches to philosophical problems, and thereby help to redress the under-representation of women and other marginalized groups in mathematical philosophy. It offers the opportunity for study in an informal and interdisciplinary setting, for lively debate, and for the development of a network of students and professors interested in the application of formal methods to philosophy.
We are now accepting applications for the summer school (with an extended deadline).
We welcome applications from women and members of other under-represented groups (including under-represented gender identities, races and ethnicities, people with disabilities, people from low income and non-academic family backgrounds) who want to specialize in mathematical philosophy. The school’s target level is master students and last year-bachelor students.
When: 28 July – 1 August, 2025;
Where: in-person, in Munich, Germany;
Application Deadline: March 31, 2025;
Participation fee: The participation fee is 80€. For LMU students: 50€. Depending on available funding, we will have the possibility to grant a small number of waivers;
How to apply: Please submit a cv and a letter of motivation highlighting i) your interest in mathematical philosophy, ii) your belonging to the school’s target group, and (if applicable) iii) your motivation for requesting a waiver. For administrative reasons, waivers require the recipients to present a poster at the students’ poster session. The waivers will cover the recipients’ participation fees and the costs of printing the posters.
Please submit your application material to https://www.efv.verwaltung.uni-muenchen.de/mcmp-summerschool
Textual Editing: Philosophical and Theological texts throughout the Middle Ages
Dates: 9–13 June 2025
Location: London, Senate House
Contact: Zita Toth ([email protected]) or the LIPS organisers ([email protected])
Deadline: n/a (4 April for bursaries)
More info: https://ies.sas.ac.uk/london-international-palaeography-school/course-descriptions/textual-editing-philosophical-and
or the LIPS in general, https://ies.sas.ac.uk/london-international-palaeography-school
This course introduces students to textual editing, especially of Latin writings belonging to the earlier and later medieval philosophical and theological tradition. First, students will learn about the fractious history and the theories of editing texts, both before and since print, as well as some approaches to issues that emerge when dealing with philosophical and theological writings: how to identify interlocutors, how to find (mis)quotations, how to determine which translations of earlier texts (if any) our authors may have been using. Students will also be introduced to textual databases and resources, and shown how they can serve editors.
What: MENTAL REPRESENTATION AND CONSCIOUSNESS – Valencia Philosophy Lab Summer School
When: June 16-20, 2025
Where: Valencia Philosophy Lab – University of Valencia (Spain)
Contact: [email protected] or [email protected]
Deadline: February 28, 2025
More info: https://philevents.org/event/show/131102
Description: The Summer School will cover four sub-topics: (1) mental representation; (2) conceptual, linguistic, and de se representation; (3) representation and consciousness; (4) representation and affect. Structure: Monday (16/6), Tuesday (17/6), Thursday (19/6), and Friday (20/6): two faculty presentations on one sub-topic in the morning; presentations by participants plus group discussion in the afternoon. Wednesday (18/6): professional experience presentations by faculty speakers in the morning (on publishing, jobs, and job applications); afternoon free.
Faculty: Marc Artiga (University of Valencia); Manuel García-Carpintero (University of Barcelona); Anna Giustina (University of Valencia); David Papineau (King’s College London); Adam Pautz (Brown University); Carlota Serrahima (University of Valencia); Agustin Vicente (University of the Basque Country); Frédérique de Vignemont (Institut Jean Nicod).
Center for Canon Expansion and Change (CCEC)
2025 Summer Program
Dates: June 2-7, 2025
Location: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Contact: Nada Mohamed ([email protected])
Deadline: March 1, 2025
Target: Grad students, postdocs, and faculty
More info and application: https://www.minnesotaccec.com/ccec-summer-program-2025
The Center for Canon Expansion and Change (CCEC) seeks applications for participants in its 3rd annual Summer Program, now funded by a $500,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation. Participants will take part in a week-long collaborative workshop, in which they learn about figures in an expanded canon of early modern philosophy (such as Anton Wilhelm Amo, Margaret Cavendish, and Anne Conway) and cutting-edge research on them; discuss inclusive, student-centered, and equitable pedagogy (with 2 sessions dedicated to teaching a predominantly white audience in predominantly white institutions); and collaboratively craft their own early modern course syllabus. After the workshop, participants and guides will meet regularly and continue to communicate as their courses (and future versions of it) are implemented. Participants will also receive an award from CCEC attesting to their experience with canon expansion and inclusive teaching.
18th Cologne Summer School in Philosophy 2025: Applied Epistemology (Alex Worsnip)
Dates: July 21-25, 2025
Location: University of Cologne, Germany
Contact: [email protected]
Deadline for Applications: April 15, 2025
Description: In recent work, Worsnip has focussed on issues in applied epistemology, with a particular focus on the epistemic responsibilities of ordinary citizens in a democracy. He is currently at work on a book that introduces applied epistemology to introductory readers through the lens of various elements of our current (purported) “epistemic crisis,” such as distrust in experts, conspiracy theories, echo chambers, motivated reasoning, and polarization. A general trend in recent philosophy has been to defend these phenomena from charges of irrationality or epistemic pathology. Cumulatively, it is suggested that our alleged crisis is not so deep after all. Worsnip’s work pushes back on this trend, arguing that these phenomena are, for the most part, epistemically problematic, and that epistemic rationality and responsible citizenship require changing our epistemic practices to avoid their pitfalls. The aim of this summer school is to present Worsnip’s views through a number of lectures and critically discuss these views.
Philosophy of AI Summer School – Paris 2025
June 30 – July 4
Hosted by the AI Lab, University of Hong Kong & The Institute of Philosophy, University of London, School of Advanced Study. Held at the University of London in Paris.
The Philosophy of AI Summer School offers an intensive, 5-day program led by world-class experts in philosophy and artificial intelligence.
Designed for PhD students, postdocs, and early-career researchers in philosophy. The program also welcomes MA students and professionals from related fields who would benefit from engaging with cutting-edge AI philosophy.
Participants have the opportunity to present and discuss their research in poster sessions, fostering collaboration with peers and instructors.
The school will include taught sessions, discussion, social mixers, two lunches, and a dinner.
Expert Lectures & Seminars from the following instructors:
– Henry Shevlin (Cambridge)
– Barry Smith (University of London, Institute of Philosophy)
– Ophelia Deroy (LMU)
– Rachel Sterken (HKU)
– Herman Cappelen (HKU)
– Boris Babic (HKU)
– Brian Wong (HKU)
– Alex Grzankowski (University of London, Institute of Philosophy)
– Sarah Fisher (Cardiff)
– Ben Henke (University of London, Institute of Philosophy)
– Julia Haas (Google DeepMind)
– Reuben Adams (UCL)
Apply by March 28
600 euro tuition
further information:
https://philevents.org/event/show/132461
https://rel.hkbu.edu.hk/activities/2025-cscs-ati-summer-school-buridan-and-the-buddha-nominalism-and-universals-from-east-to-west
2025 CSCS-ATI Summer School- Buridan and the Buddha: Nominalism and Universals from East to West.
This seminar is intended to introduce graduate students to Buddhist and Scholastic perspectives on the problem of universals, both in its general metaphysical character as regards debates about nominalism in East and West, as well as in its connection with logic, theology, or other issues in philosophy of science, ethics, philosophical anthropology, etc.
***APPLICATIONS DUE: April 1st, 2025. Incomplete applications will not be considered.***
Visegrad Environmental Philosophy Summer School (VEPSS)
Dates: 1-7 June 2025
Location: University of Wroclaw (Poland)
Contact: [email protected]
Deadline: 7 March 2025
Application / Website: https://vepss.eu/
VEPSS brings together international researchers and graduate students who work on diverse issues related to the ongoing ecological crisis. In addition to its focus on philosophy and ethics, VEPSS is keen to include a variety of fields in environmental humanities (such as anthropology, sociology, history, comparative literature or aesthetics) in order to encourage addressing the climate crisis from an interdisciplinary perspective. By taking place in a different Visegrad country each year (Czechia, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary), the summer school aims to tap into the Central and Eastern European potential to renew our thinking about ecology and consider how both the planetary and the regional perspectives can help us tackle the challenges of climate change today.
DEADLINE EXTENDED
Center for Canon Expansion and Change (CCEC)
2025 Summer Program
Dates: June 2-7, 2025
Location: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Contact: Nada Mohamed ([email protected])
Deadline: March 15, 2025
Target: Grad students, postdocs, and faculty
More info and application: https://www.minnesotaccec.com/ccec-summer-program-2025
The Center for Canon Expansion and Change (CCEC) seeks applications for participants in its 3rd annual Summer Program, now funded by a $500,000 grant. Participants will take part in a week-long collaborative workshop, in which they learn about figures in an expanded canon of early modern philosophy (such as Anton Wilhelm Amo, Margaret Cavendish, and Anne Conway) and cutting-edge research on them; discuss inclusive, student-centered, and equitable pedagogy (with 2 sessions dedicated to teaching a predominantly white audience in predominantly white institutions); and collaboratively craft their own early modern course syllabus. After the workshop, participants and guides will meet regularly and continue to communicate as their courses (and future versions of it) are implemented. Participants will also receive an award from CCEC attesting to their experience with canon expansion and inclusive teaching.
EVENT: 3rd Hermeneutic Phenomenology Summer School (In-person)
DATES: 16th – 19th June, 2025
EVENT: 3rd Phenomenology Conference (Hybrid)
DATE: 20th June, 2025
LOCATION: University of Greenwich, London, UK.
CONTACT: Lesley Dibley [email protected]
DEADLINE: for abstracts – end April 2025; for registration – 30th May 2025
MORE INFO: https://www.gre.ac.uk/events/current-events/faculty-of-education-and-health/thinking-about-thinking-the-theory-and-practice-of-hermeneutic-phenomenology-june-2025.
Summer school abstract submission: https://forms.office.com/e/DgiV5vYTHU
Conference abstract submission: https://forms.office.com/e/Veg8mDy4Wf
Join is in Greenwich for three and a half days of deep thinking, making the connections between philosophy (Heidegger/Gadamer), research methodology and methods, and earn CPD points. This in-person course is aimed at future and current doctoral students in health, social care and education who are seeking a robust grounding in the essentials of hermeneutic thinking, researching and writing .. and the many challenges and rewards of engaging with the philosophy of interpretive phenomenology, and the related methodology and methods. Delegates are invited to submit abstracts of work in progress, identify specific issues they seek assistance for, and receive feedback from their peers and from the co-facilitators. Hosted by Professor Lesley Dibley who, with Dr Mel Duffy, Prof Annie Vandermause and Prof Suzanne Dickerson, co-authored the well-received text book: Doing Hermeentic Phenomenological Research: A Practical Guide. The summer school is followed by a one day hybrid conference, disseminating findings from completed phenomenological studies of all designs.
15th Braga Summer School on Migration and Forced Displacement
Dates: 15-16 July, 2025
Location: University of Minho, Portugal
Contact: [email protected]
Deadline: May 1st, 2025
Description:
Debates surrounding the ethics of (forced) migration have historically emphasised the importance of moving away from abstract ideals and instead focusing on real-world facts and constraints. This is partially due to the practical urgency questions of migration have had recently. However, one contributing factor may be the discrepancy between widely accepted normative views in academic discussions—such as those regarding the legitimacy of borders (Abizadeh, 2008; Miller, 2010; Carens, 2013; Bertram, 2018) —and the prevailing sentiments of the general public. While there is a strong agreement among scholars that migration ethicists must engage with actual circumstances to a certain degree, there remains a lack of consensus regarding the definition of what the real world is for the purposes of migration ethics. It may be fair to say that ‘people sometimes disagree more about what the real world is (…) than they do about what a just world would look like’ (Carens, 2013: 305). The assertion holds particularly true in today’s context, where right-wing movements have effectively mainstreamed the notion of ‘alternative facts’ in public discourse. In any case, it is a fact that ‘the birth of a discipline’, as Chimni remarks, ‘is not an ahistorical process; disciplines begin and evolve, suffer ebbs and flows, in response to external developments.’ (2009: 23).
Currently, migration ethics relies on a variety of foundational assumptions. Migration is predominantly regarded as a one-off journey undertaken by individuals from one territory to another, during which they slowly become members. Within this framework, discussions regarding migration focus on the rights and duties of migrants in relation to their new state of residence. Scholars often adopt a state-centred perspective, which highlights the criteria governing the admission of migrants and their gradual process of integration. Recent studies in the political theory of migration have started to contest these assumptions by incorporating empirical evidence and critically examining the wider social, political, and economic framework that influence migration (Achiume, 2019; Dumitru, 2023; Sharma, 2017; Reed-Sandoval & Díaz Cepeda, 2021). To fully grasp the complexities of migration, it is essential to consider this context, which will aid us in formulating normative theories that respond to the diverse political challenges associated with migration. Our workshop aims to delve into numerous research paths that remain under-explored.
Migration and/or Forced Displacement: How should we conceptualise refugeehood? What does it mean to be forcibly displaced? Should we keep up the distinction between refugees and other migrants? Are refugees special? How should we better capture the rights of internally displaced people?
De-colonial Perspectives: To what extent do migration regimes perpetuate colonial practices? Could migration and asylum be ways to correct former colonial injustices? In what ways do the demands of migrants align with or clash against the interests of other socially disadvantaged groups? In a wider context, how do historical and geopolitical factors influence the formulation of migration policies in terms of their normative significance?
Political Legitimacy: What do we gain from taking legitimacy, rather than justice, as the central value in a normative theory of migration?
Statism: Should (forced) migration be determinate at the level of the state? What is and what could be the role of cities and regional polities, international union of states, as well as non-state actors like NGOs, in the design of migration policies? Would our view of migration change if we adopted the perspective of (forced) migrants, instead of the perspective of the state?
Methodological Debates: Is the distinction between non-ideal and ideal theory helpful at all in the migration context? Hoes does methodological nationalism affect migration ethics’ normative standards? Should we focus instead on ethical problems that present themselves to actors in policy contexts (Bauböck et al, 2022)?
International Law: International migration law has evolved considerably in recent decades—how should normative approaches take that into account?
If you want to apply, please fill in the form and submit the abstract form (website). Please provide your name, contact information, affiliation and short bio (no more than 200 words). Abstracts should not be longer than 400 words and suitable for blind-review. The deadline for abstract submissions is May 1st, 2025.
Keynote Speakers: David Miller (Oxford), Eszter Kollar (KU Leuven), and Phil Cole (UWE Bristol)
Further information: https://15thbragasummerschool.weebly.com/
Hi, The Institute of Philosophy is hosting our annual Philosophy of AI Summer School in Paris:Philosophy of AI Summer School – Paris 2025 | Institute of Philosophy Can you please add to the calendar?