Invited speakers
Tuija Pulkkinen, Academy professor at the Department of philosophy,
history and culture, Helsinki University. Kristina Fjelkestam, Professor in
gender studies, Stockholm University. Claudia Lindén, docent and associate
professor in literature, Södertörn University. Sara Edenheim, docent in
history and associate professor in gender studies, Umeå University
What is the relationship between feminism and philosophy today? Although
feminist philosophy is now a recognized field in the institution of
philosophy, a tension between the two terms still seem to persist.
Compared to the status of feminism in other disciplines in the humanities
and the social sciences, feminist philosophy is generally marginalized in
departments for philosophy. A lot of work in feminist philosophy is done in
other disciplines, such as literary studies, the history of ideas, gender
studies, and sociology.
The project Feminist philosophy has the ambition to be an international
interdisciplinary platform for inquiries in feminist philosophy. Our aim is to
explore the borders, connections and tensions between feminism and
philosophy in critical historical and contemporary perspectives. We want to
create a forum where philosophy is scrutinized from a feminist perspective
and yet be able to ask questions about what philosophy has to offer
feminism.
We invite scholars and students to an inaugural three-day symposium at
Umeå University in Sweden on the theme of feminism and the philosophy of
time and history. Papers may address, but are by no means limited to, the
following subjects:
 The concept of time in the work of feminist philosophers
 Time as a question for feminist and queer theory
 Time as an analytic category in feminist and queer historical
investigations
 The ethics of time and history in a feminist or queer perspective
 Time, history and political change
 Feminism and conceptual historyFeminism or queer theory and the
philosophical canon
 Methodological questions pertaining to the study of philosophers
from marginalized groups in history
 The historiography of feminist philosophy
 The institution of philosophy in critical historical or sociological
perspectives
 We are also happy to include papers that address questions of
philosophy and marginalized groups more generally speaking.
The symposium in Umeå is at once a conference in its own right and a
preparatory gathering to write a proposal for a new circle in the Nordic
Summer University (see below for more information about the NSU).
If it is accepted, the circle will run from 2017-2019 and organize a total of
six conferences on feminism and philosophy; three annual symposia held in
collaboration with universities in the Nordic and Baltic countries during the
winter and three joint summer sessions together with the other circles in
the NSU.
All participants in Umeå are invited to contribute to the planning of the
activities of the circle, which will be based on the interests of the attending
scholars. There are plans for several publications in connection to the work
of the circle.
Participation
Anyone interested in presenting a paper is invited to submit an abstract of
approximately 300 words and a short bio
to feminist.philosophy.nsu@gmail.com no later than December 14th, 2015.
If you wish to participate without presenting a paper, please write 50-100
words about yourself and submit by December 14th, 2015.
Decisions will be communicated in the middle of December, together with
further information on how to register. The cost of participating is 300 SEK
for students and independent scholars and 500 SEK for senior scholars and
doctoral students. The fee includes lunch and coffee during the symposium.
About the circle
Feminist philosophy has the ambition to become an international network,
primarily oriented towards the Nordic and the Baltic countries.
Interdisciplinary in scope, we welcome anyone with an interest in feminist
philosophy, for example scholars from philosophy, the history of ideas,
literary studies, gender studies, political science, sociology, and the arts.
We are happy to include both scholars who focus on developing feminist
philosophy as such, as well as those who study philosophy as an institution.
We accept scholars working in all philosophical traditions. The network
aims to transcend the hierarchies of academia and is open to senior
scholars, phd-candidates, and master students. People of all genders are
welcome.
About the Nordic Summer University
Founded in 1950, the Nordic Summer University is an independent, nonprofit academic institution that fosters intellectual and cultural exchange
between the Nordic and the Baltic countries. Committed to egalitarian and
interdisciplinary modes of learning, the NSU is open for senior scholars as
well as doctoral and master students and professionals with relevant
backgrounds. The NSU is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. Read
more about the Nordic Summer University on the
website http://nordic.university
Coordinators
The coordinators of Feminist Philosophy are Synne Myreböe, Department
of historical, philosophical and religious studies, Umeå University, Sweden,
Valgerður Pálmadóttir, Department of historical, philosophical and
religious studies at Umeå University, Sweden, and Johanna Sjöstedt,
Department of literature, history of ideas and religious studies, University
of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Contact the coordinators at feminist.philosophy.nsu@gmail.com and join
our Facebook group Feminist philosophy (NSU).