Conference Venue:
Department of History, Archaeology, Arts, Philosophy and Ethics, Centre for Ethics and Humanism, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Etterbeek, Belgium
Details
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
In recent years, there has been an upsurge in literature examining the relationship between technology and Hannah Arendtâs political thought. This scholarly interest has taken multiple directions. Some authors have used Arendtâs concepts of plurality, the private, and natality as normative tools to critically assess contemporary technologies like social media. Others have turned their attention to the methodological aspects of Arendtâs work, reflecting on her distinct approach to thinking and the attitude she embodies as a thinker to grapple with technological developments. Still others have uncovered the ways in which Arendt herself engaged with the technological developments of her time, including nuclear weapons, cybernetics, and the space race.
This conference seeks to contribute to this growing interest by exploring how specific technological developments have influenced Arendtâs thinking and shaped the content of her work. In light of the accelerating pace of 21st-century technological advancements, Arendtâs work offers a compelling example of how one can think (politically) with and through technology. Accordingly, the aim of this gathering is not only to analyze the relationship between Arendt and technology but also to conduct Arendtian thinking exercises on contemporary technological phenomena and to explore their influence on our active and mental lives.
The theme of âcoming to terms with technologyâ is central to this conference. As Arendt observed, the advent of new technologies, changing the way life unfolds on earth, requires that âwe come to terms with and reconcile ourselves to reality, that is, try to be at home in the worldâ. While digital transformations are often (and sometimes rightfully) framed as existential threats to political and societal stability, Arendtâs reflections on crises in culture remind us that such moments also present opportunities for reflection, judgment, and new beginnings. This dual focusâon the challenges and the opportunities of technological transformationâguides the discussions we hope to foster.
This conference takes up this challenge of âcoming to terms withâ technological transformations and invites contributions that address questions such as:
- How have technological developments in the 20th century shaped Arendtâs methods and analyses?
- Where, and in which ways, does Arendt address the topic of technology?
- What might it mean to take inspiration from key concepts like labor, work, action, speech, etc. in the face of emerging technologies and their changing relation to socio-political contexts?
- Which aspects of Arendtâs thinking can be mobilized to understand the impact of new and emerging technologies today (e.g. social media, Artificial Intelligence, blockchain, digital commons, quantum technology, biotechnology, ...)?
- How might Arendtâs reflections on crises and new beginnings inspire our response to todayâs technological and (socio-)political transformations?
Practical information
We invite 20â presentations, followed by a 10â Q&A.
Abstracts of 350-500 words should be sent in PDF-format to judith.van.lookeren.campagne[at]vub.be mentioning âAbstract Arendt/Technologyâ in the subject. Submissions should include: name of the author(s), institutional affiliation, and e-mail address, and a short bio (max. 100 words). The organizers are committed to seek a publisher for an edited volume with invited contributions from the conference, but no definite plans are available yet.
The event will take place in Brussels on 23-24 October 2025. Participants will be responsible for arranging and funding their own travel and accommodation. There is no registration fee. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Confirmed keynote speaker: Dr. Waseem Yaqoob (Queen Mary University of London).
Important dates:
- Deadline for abstracts: 28 March 2025
- Notification of acceptance: 30 May 2025
- Conference: 23-24 October 2025
Organised by Judith Campagne (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Dr. Julia Maria Mönig (University of Bonn), and Anthony Longo (University of Antwerp) with support from The Centre for Ethics and Humanism (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) and the Center for European Philosophy (University of Antwerp).