Polanyi Conference Call For Papers

POST-CRITICAL PHILOSOPHY & SOCIAL THEORY

 9-11 JUNE 2020

In June 2020, the Polanyi Society will sponsor a conference dedicated to exploring the abiding relevance of Michael Polanyi’s philosophical work, and in particular his social thought. Many of the socio-political and cultural dynamics of the early 21st century invite a reconsideration of the principles and practices that contribute to the maintenance of liberty, solidarity, and constructive pluralism. This conference will explore the enduring relevance of Polanyi’s philosophy for all such efforts, and will also include papers dedicated to other dimensions of Polanyi’s work.

The Society invites proposals for papers that examine Polanyi’s social and political thought, its development, and its relationship to other aspects of his work; comparative studies that examine Polanyi’s thought alongside that of others are welcome. The Society also encourages proposals on any topic related to Polanyi studies; the conference will accommodate presentations on a range of subjects. Initial proposals should be no more than 250 words, and can be sent to Andrew Grosso at atgrosso@icloud.com. The deadline for the submission is Thursday, 31 December 2019; proposals submitted thereafter will be considered only if the conference schedule allows it.

The first day of the conference will be dedicated to discussion of selections from Polanyi’s writings that set forth his thoughts on social dynamics. Senior Polanyi scholars will facilitate collaborative discussions about these texts, and these conversations will provide a framework for the rest of the conference.

There will also be a half-day pre-conference seminar for graduate students and those new to Polanyi studies. This seminar will provide an introductory overview of Polanyi’s life and philosophy, and will focus on Polanyi’s philosophy of science and its roots in his ideas about skills and articulation, subsidiary and focal awareness, and tacit knowing.

In addition to the initial details below, the most current information about the conference will be available on the Society’s website (http://www.polanyisociety.org/).

The conference will convene at Nashotah House Theological Seminary in Nashotah, WI (west of Milwaukee). The nearest airport is General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) in Milwaukee, about 45 minutes away; Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) is about two hours away.

Registration fees include access to all conference sessions and all meals. Early-bird registration is $225 and opens Tuesday, 14 January 2020. Regular registration is $275, and opens Tuesday, 17 March 2020. Late registration will be $300, and opens Tuesday, 12 May 2020.

Registration does not include accommodations; a limited number of rooms will be available at Nashotah House, and there are several affordable hotels within five miles of Nashotah House.

A limited amount of financial aid is available for those unable to meet the cost of registration, accommodations, and travel. For more information about financial assistance, please contact Andrew Grosso at atgrosso@icloud.com.

Additional information regarding the conference will be available on the Society’s website (http://www.polanyisociety.org/) and will be published in future issues of Tradition & Discovery. Those interested can also contact Andrew Grosso at atgrosso@icloud.com.