ANNUAL PHILOSOPHY CONFERENCE AT VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY
The annual philosophy conference at 柑橘直播 University has been a tradition since 1996. Sponsored by the Philosophy Graduate Student Union (PGSU), it began as one of the first graduate philosophy conferences in continental philosophy. Now open for faculty as well as graduate students, the conference has drawn participants from all areas of philosophy, as well as from around the world.
29th Annual Conference
Philosophy, Nature and Ecology
In light of the existential threat posed by ecological breakdown, this conference seeks to provide a space for graduate students to interrogate and reimagine the relationship(s) between society and nature, between socio-political and ecological systems.
- Friday, April 11, 2025, 2 to 4 p.m. ()
- Saturday, April 12, 2025, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Fedigan Room, SAC 400)
Featuring Keynote Dr. Emily Anne Parker, Towson University, at 4 p.m.
"On Political Ecology: Democracy and Elemental Difference"
For inquiries, contact PGSU Cochairs Shayna Federico at sfederic@villanova.edu or Grant Brown at gbrown08@villanova.edu.
Friday, April 11 (Virtual)
2 to 2:15 p.m.
Opening Remarks
2:15 to 2:40 p.m.
Noah Kupper (The New School): I Resist, Therefore I Am Not: Epistemic Erasure and the Struggle for Place听
2:40 to 3:05 p.m.
Theoren Tolsma (Fordham University): Taking Turns and the Issue of Anthropocentrism
3:05 to 3:30 p.m.
Alexander Davidovic (McMaster University): Dependency In Terrestrial Politics听
3:30 to 4:05 p.m.
Q&A
Saturday, April 12 (In Person, Fedigan Room)
10 to 10:30 a.m.
Breakfast
10:30 to 10:45 a.m.
Opening Remarks
Panel 1: Humans and Animals
10:45 to 11:10 a.m.
Katerina Lanfranco (The New School): Reframing Nature Through Art: an Epistemic Practice in Dignification
11:10 to 11:35 a.m.
Alex Dibelka (Purdue University): Becoming-Animal: Halting the Anthropological Machine
11:35 a.m. to Noon
Q&A
Noon to 1 p.m.
Lunch
Panel 2: Applied Philosophy
1 to 1:25 p.m.
Judith Chavarria (Pennsylvania State University): Always, Already Burning: Rethinking Human Praxis After the Climate
1:25 to 1:50 p.m.
Eleanor Yates-McEwan (University of Dayton): Hot Girl Summer: Climate Planning and Ecofeminism in the City听
1:50 to 2:15 p.m.
Q&A
2:15 to 2:30 p.m.
Break
Panel 3: Ecology and Ecosystems
2:30 to 2:55 p.m.
Kas Bernays (University of Pennsylvania, University of St Andrews): Other Individuals: A Spinozist Approach to Ecosystems and Environmentalism听
2:55 to 3:20 p.m.
Daniel Oni (Pennsylvania State University): Climate Change and The Uses of Apocalyptic Thought: Eschatology, Ecology and the Blochian Imperative of Recreation
3:20 to 3:45 p.m.
Q&A
3:45 to 4 p.m.
Break
Keynote
4 to 5:30 p.m.
Dr. Emily Anne Parker (Towson University): On Political Ecology: Democracy and Elemental Difference.听
2024: "The Philosophy of Love"
Keynote: Dr. Boyd Taylor Coolman, Boston College
2023:
2022: "Mommy-Daddy-Me: Social Critique & Kinship
Keynote: Dr. Robyn Marasco, Hunter College
2021: "Phenomenology and Its Worlds" (virtally)
Keynotes: Alia Al-Saji, PhD, McGill University; Megan Craig, PhD, Stony Brook University
2020: 鈥淧henomenology and its Worlds鈥� (canceled)
Keynotes: Alia Al-Saji, PhD, McGill University; Megan Craig, PhD, Stony Brook University
2019: 鈥淧olitical Epistemologies鈥�
Keynote: Jos茅 Medina, PhD, Northwestern University
2018: "Resistance: Psychoanalysis and Critical Theories"
Keynotes: Amy Allen, PhD, Penn State University; Jamieson Webster, PhD, Eugene Lang College of the New School
2017:"Philosophies of Incarceration and The Incarceration of Philosophy"
Keynote: Sarah Tyson, PhD, University of Colorado-Denver
2016: 鈥淟egacies of Colonialism and Philosophies of Resistance鈥�
Keynotes: Enrique Dussel, PhD, UNAM; Nelson Maldonado-Torres, PhD, Rutgers University
2015: "New Encounters in French and Italian Thought"
Keynote: Jason E. Smith, PhD, Art Center College of Design
2014: "Feminism: Body, Image, Power"
Keynote: Lisa Guenther, PhD, Vanderbilt University
2013:"Apocalyptic Politics: Framing the Present"
Keynote Speakers: Mladen Dolar, PhD, University of Ljubljana; Alenka Zupan膷i膷, PhD, Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts; Slavoj 沤i啪ek, PhD, Birkbeck, University of London; Catherine Malabou, PhD, Kingston University; John D. Caputo, PhD, Syracuse University and 柑橘直播 University
2012: "Critical Theories"
Keynote: Nancy Fraser, PhD, New School for Social Research
2011: "The Return of Metaphysics"
Keynote: Graham Harman, PhD, American University, Cairo
2010: 鈥淭he Place of Psyche: Politics, Art, Nature鈥�
Keynote: Jonathan Lear, PhD, University of Chicago
2009: 鈥淣ew French Thought鈥�
Keynote: Bernard Stiegler, PhD
2008: 鈥淭ime, History, Memory鈥�
Keynote: David Wood, PhD, Vanderbilt University
2007: 鈥淧hilosophy and Sexuality鈥�
Keynote: Alphonso Lingi, PhD, Penn State University
2006: 鈥淢补迟别谤颈补濒颈蝉尘鈥�
Keynotes: Daniel Smith, PhD, Purdue University; Jay Bernstein, PhD, New School for Social Research
2005: 鈥淧hilosophy and Art鈥�
Keynote: Hal Foster, PhD, Princeton University
2004: 鈥淓mpire, War, Violence鈥�
Keynote: John Protevi, PhD, Louisiana State University
2003: 鈥淧sychoanalysis and Philosophy鈥�
Keynote: Sara Beardsworth, PhD, University of Memphis
2002: 鈥淩ace and Philosophy鈥�
Keynote: Lewis Gordon, PhD, Brown University
2001: 鈥淐ontemporary Feminist Theory鈥�
Keynote: Tina Chanter, PhD, University of Memphis
2000: 鈥淎谤颈蝉迟辞迟濒别鈥�
Keynote: Aryeh Kosman, PhD, Haverford College
1999: 鈥淩evolutions in Socio-Political Thought鈥�
Keynote: Bill Martin, PhD, DePaul University