A call for papers for a conference on Kant and Heidegger, Freedom, Will and Right, 19 – 21 February 2021.
“The Possibility and Reality of Freedom”
Kant and Heidegger on Freedom, Will and Right
19-21 February 2021
Meßkirch, Germany
Keynote Speakers:
Prof. Dr. Heiner F. Klemme (Halle-Wittenberg)
Prof. Dr. Claudio La Rocca (Genoa-Pisa)
Prof. Dr. Mazzarella (Naples)
Dr. Manuela Massa (Erfurt-Halle)
Prof. Dr. Harald Seubert (Münich-Zürich)
This conference aims to study a lesser-known aspect of Heidegger’s ontology, and will explore his confrontation with Kant’s Critical philosophy not simply limiting it to readings of Kant-Buch and Being and Time, but confirming it through lectures like Einführung in die Phänomenologische Forschung (1923-1924), Logik. Die Frage nach der Wahrheit (1925-1926), Die Grundprobleme der Phänomenologie (1927), and Vom Wesen der Menschlichen Freiheit (1930). Here Heidegger not only discusses key theoretical questions of Kant’s Critical philosophy, but also explains the concept of the will in Kant’s theory of rights (see GA 17, 154-155) as well as his theory of actions (GA 24, 191ff.). This comparison offers the opportunity to read Heidegger’s ontology from a new point of view and, it is hoped, to reveal an ethical project in Heidegger’s philosophy. The conference will investigate and develop the historical meaning of this confrontation between the two great German philosophers. In addition, it will analyze the relative modernity of Kant’s and Heidegger’s conceptions of freedom with regard to morals and rights (see for example Jaeggi 2005, who contends that Heidegger’s theory of freedom contrasts with the alienation of the modern world). Contributors are invited to consider any aspect of Heidegger’s confrontation with Kant’s doctrines of morals and rights, its relevance to political and moral debate, as well as any of the critical aspects that this confrontation implies. Possible themes could include:
1) The definition of freedom of will in relation to Heidegger’s ontology;
2) Theoretical and practical implications of conscience in existentialism;
3) Theoretical and practical implications of illusion (Schein) for both authors;
4) Responsibility and/or guilt;
5) The problem of lying as a form of deception of judgment about the self—and its practical consequences;
6) The dialectic of authenticity and unauthenticty in relation to Kant’s duty to self-knowledge;
7) The definition of freedom in relation to, and combination with, the dominium.
Proposals for papers should be prepared for blind review and be limited to 500 words. Contact information should be sent in a separate file. Please send your proposal as a PDF no later than 15 December 2020 to [email protected].
The languages used during the conference will be German and English.
Accepted proposals will be published for Akademie-Verlag.
There will be a conference fee of €35.
Organized by Valentina Dafne De Vita (Halle-Wittenberg)
E-mail: [email protected]