14th Biennial RPA Conference 

​Thursday-Saturday, November 12-14, 2020
San Jose, California
Host: San Jose State University

The Radical Philosophy Association Conference Program Committee invites submissions of talks, papers, workshops, roundtable discussions, and other kinds of conference contributions for its 14th biennial meeting.

CONFERENCE THEME: 
The possibilities of impending doom once reserved to the threat of global thermonuclear warfare have unfolded and multiplied in the present day. Today there are a wide variety of reasons to fear the end of civilization, humankind, and even all life on Earth. From environmental catastrophe, automation and the AI singularity, to the saturation of mass communication with propaganda, we seem to be balancing at the tipping point on a number of fronts simultaneously. This meeting of the Radical Philosophy Association is focused on ‘facing’ catastrophe in the senses of describing its features, owning up to it, and tackling it, though papers on any topic of radical philosophy are welcome. We are interested to hear from activists, organizers, philosophers, and those in other related areas of scholarship and struggle.

DEADLINE: MARCH 15, 2020

Submissions
In the spirit of collaboration and in the recognition that radical philosophy often takes place outside traditional philosophical settings, we invite submissions not only from philosophers inside and outside the academy but also from activists, and those who engage in theoretical work in other academic disciplines – such as ethnic studies, women’s studies, social sciences, and literary studies – and from those engaged in theoretical work unconnected to the academy. We especially welcome contributions from those often excluded from or marginalized in philosophy, including people of color, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and poor and working-class people.
In keeping with the spirit of radical thinking embodied by the RPA, we encourage submissions that employ formats and media that challenge the standard conference presentation. For instance, we urge presenters to use formats that allow for greater interaction between participants and audience (e.g. presenting an outline, rather than reading a paper) and that emphasize collective inquiry (e.g. organizing a workshop). Please note that participants will be selected for at most one presentation (talk, workshop, etc.) during the conference; submissions should be presented with this in mind. (This limit does not include chairing sessions.

NOTE: Please do NOT submit complete papers.

Please submit paper, workshop, or other proposals related to the conference theme or general themes of the RPA as an email attachment (pdf, docx, doc, or txt) to cory.wimberly.rpa@gmail.com

Please provide all the information requested:

1. INDIVIDUAL TALK/PAPER/WORKSHOP/OTHER PRESENTATION
Name

Address and email address

Affiliation or independent scholar, activist, educator, etc.

Title of proposal

Nature of proposal (talk, workshop, other)

Abstract of 250-500 words only

Equipment needs, if any

PAPERS BY GRADUATE STUDENTS
If you want to be considered for the Iris Marion Young Award for the best paper submitted by a graduate student, please indicate this on your submission

PAPERS BY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
We are planning to have a special session with undergraduate students who would like to present work related to RPA issues. Please clearly indicate whether you are an undergraduate student.

2. GROUP SESSION
Note: Due to the length of sessions, we will consider only panels of no more than three people.
Name of the panel contact person and each panel member

Addresses and email addresses of all panel members

Affiliation or independent scholar, activist, educator, etc., for each member

Title of panel proposal

Titles of individual papers, if relevant

Nature of panel proposal (talks, workshop, other)

Abstract of 250-500 words only, if relevant

Equipment needs, if any

3. CHAIRING A SESSION
If you would be willing to serve as a session chair, please indicate this on your submission form. Session chairs are responsible for timing presentations and ensuring that each presenter gets their fair share of the available time.

For further information, contact the conference Program Committee:

Cory Wimberly, Program Committee Chair:       corymwimberly@gmail.com
Carlos Sanchez Conference Organizer:                carlos.sanchez@sjsu.edu
Cynthia Kaufman, Conference Organizer:          kaufmancynthia@fhda.edu
Cory Aragon:                                                     corwin.aragon@gmail.com
Mlado Ivanovic:                                                  mivanovi@msu.edu
Anne Pomeroy:                                                   afpomeroy12@gmail.com
Joseph Trullinger:                                                trullinger@email.gwu.edu