The call for applications is now open for an interdisciplinary workshop to be held on March 27 and 28, 2017 at the Institute of Philosophy of the Universidad Austral (Pilar Campus).
Coordinators:
Dr. Juan F. Franck (Universidad Austral)
Dr. George Gasser (University of Innsbruck)
The discussion surrounding personal identity has a long tradition in philosophy. For a long time, it has focused on memory as the criterion to consider in guaranteeing the continuity of the same person. But there are other biological, psychological, and ontological variations. The recent perspective of including agency as an essential component of personal identity responds both to philosophical concerns and to specific interests within cognitive science.
The workshop is aimed at researchers in the fields of philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience who are interested in the importance of the notion of agency in the debate on personal identity, primarily within the context of cognitive science. Presentations may address ontological, psychological, scientific, and practical issues. The following examples are not intended to be exhaustive:
What are the criteria for personal identity? How does agency relate to personal identity? What ontology follows from accepting agency as an essential component of personal identity?
Is agency a more fundamental component of personal identity than memory? Is identity a second-order phenomenon stemming from first-order neuropsychological processes? What value would our existence have if we lost our narrative or biographical identity?
Is agency weakened in people with autistic traits? Are there situations of extreme pain that can deprive a person of being an agent? Do people who suffer from dementia or amnesia cease to exist, strictly speaking?
Stake
Applicants will first be required to submit a complete curriculum vitae and an extended abstract (approximately 1000 words), indicating their academic affiliation. Selected candidates will be invited to submit a draft of their presentation (approximately 3000 words), which may be written in Spanish or English. At least two weeks before the workshop, the papers will be sent to all participants, who should read them in advance to actively participate in the discussions. Presentations will be 15 minutes long and will be followed by 45 minutes of discussion. The number of presenters will be limited to a maximum of 12.
The objective of the workshop is to contribute to the preparation of the manuscript of an article suitable for submission for evaluation to journals in the participants' own specialty.
Travel and accommodation allowance
Participation in the workshop is free of charge. The organizers will cover all four meals and breaks during the two-day workshop. Thanks to a grant from the Ian Ramsey Centre (University of Oxford), we also have limited funds available to cover travel and accommodation expenses for those living outside the Buenos Aires metropolitan area. Applicants requiring these services should indicate this in their application.
Important dates
Deadline for submitting the abstract (approx. 1000 words) and CV: September 30, 2016.
Invitation to submit the draft : October 15, 2016.
Deadline for submitting the draft (approx. 3000 words): February 28, 2017.
Reports and submission of applications: jfranck@austral.edu.ar (Dr. Juan F. Franck)
Download PDF: Personal Identity and Agency
