News
Call for Abstracts: Oxford Collab News: notice
| Posted On | 11th Jun 2026 |
|---|---|
| Posted By | Philosophy |
| Author | ALEKSI GRAMATIKOV (Vice President) |
The Inaugural Conference between
Maynooth University Philosophy Society and The Philosophical Society: Oxford
Part of The Philosophical Society: Oxford’s International Weekend 2026
Topic: ‘What is the Value of Philosophy?’
Maynooth University, Kildare, Ireland
20th–21st November, 2026
Call for Abstracts
Scope:
From Hegel proclaiming the absoluteness and importance of philosophy to contemporary voices which suggest its obsolete status in the face of our modern technology: whether one is a fanatic or simply disinterested, it seems that the relevance of philosophy persists. Philosophy, the most fundamental discipline and one lauded as the original blueprint for all other preceding subjects of thought, takes blow after blow and is somehow no less resilient as a result. Is its value simply that, its ever-presence and dare we say pestering nature? Must philosophy retire from the forefront and live-out its grey years as a handmaiden to the natural sciences? This and more is available for the potential speaker to grapple with.
We invite those interested to contribute to this broad topic in whichever sense they see fit, as long as they in some way engage with the question ‘What is the Value of Philosophy?’. Whether the speaker believes that philosophy is more relevant than ever or whether it is beyond its golden age, or perhaps something in between or outside these general parameters: this is not for us to decide, but it is our privilege to delight in the potential discussions and insights that this conference will facilitate.
Keynote Speaker:
Our keynote speaker is one whom both societies have much to thank for. Without his involvement this event would not have made it past the stage of an idea. In his position as both the Secretary of The Philosophical Society: Oxford and as a PhD candidate at Maynooth University, Ireland, we are delighted to have him as the bridge between both contexts.
Dr Alan Xuereb holds a Doctorate in Law (1996) from the University of Malta and an M.Phil. in Philosophy of Law (2004) from the same institution. He is currently employed as a lawyer-linguist at the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg. While his principal academic field is the philosophy of law, Alan has long maintained a strong interest in political philosophy, particularly in questions concerning the common good, as well as in the philosophy of physics, with a special focus on the nature of time. He has recently completed a second doctorate (PhD in Philosophy) at Maynooth University, in which he has explored the relationship between aesthetic experience, in its various forms, and the common good. This research project includes a deeper investigation into Christian Norberg-Schulz’s interpretation of Martin Heidegger’s phenomenological approach to architecture. He is the current Secretary of The Philosophical Society: Oxford.
Proposed Conference Format:
| Day 1: Friday, 20th November |
|
Time | Topic | Speaker(s) |
13:00–13:10 |
Introduction to Day 1 |
Sheilagh Noonan President of the Maynooth University Philosophy Society
Oisín A. Raymond Secretary of the Maynooth University Philosophy Society and Co-Editor in Chief of Maynooth Philosophy Supplement |
13:10–13:55 |
Keynote Speaker |
Dr Alan Xuereb Secretary of The Philosophical Society: Oxford |
13:55–14:10 |
Q&A |
|
14:10–14:55 |
Speaker 2 |
TBA |
14:55–15:10 |
Q&A |
|
15:10–15:55 |
Speaker 3 |
TBA |
15:55–16:10 |
Q&A |
|
|
End of Day 1 |
|
|
| Day 2: Saturday, 21st November |
|
| Time | Topic | Speaker(s) |
|
09:00–09:10 |
Introduction to Day 2 |
Kathy Postelle Rixon Chairperson of The Philosophical Society: Oxford
Aleksi Ivanov Gramatikov Previous Vice-President of the Maynooth University Philosophy Society
Founder and Co-Editor in Chief of Maynooth Philosophy Supplement |
|
09:10–09:55 |
Speaker 4 |
TBA |
|
09:55–10:10 |
Q&A |
|
|
10:10–10:55 |
Speaker 5 |
TBA |
|
10:55–11:10 |
Q&A |
|
|
11:10–11:55 |
Speaker 6 |
TBA |
|
11:55–12:10 |
Q&A |
|
|
12:10–13:10 |
Lunch Break |
|
|
13:10–13:55 |
Speaker 7 |
TBA |
|
13:55–14:10 |
Q&A |
|
|
14:10–14:55 |
Speaker 8 |
TBA |
|
14:55–15:10 |
Q&A |
|
|
15:10–15:55 |
Speaker 9 |
TBA |
|
15:55–16:10 |
Q&A |
|
|
|
End of Conference |
|
Timeline and Selection Process:
Deadline for Abstracts: 31st August, 2026
Notified by: 1st October, 2026
Conference held: 20th–21st November, 2026
Abstracts will undergo blind peer-review by members of the conference committee who represent the Maynooth University Philosophy Society and The Philosophical Society: Oxford, respectively.
Submission of Abstracts:
Abstracts must include the following:
1. Proposed title; 2. No more than 3–5 Keywords; 3. Be no longer than 500 words
Upon successful completion and acceptance, speakers will be asked to forward a short biographical note consisting of no more than 200 words.
Submissions from The Philosophical Society: Oxford members must be sent to:
Submissions from Maynooth University Philosophy Society members and other interested speakers must be sent to:
Admittance for non-members and non-speakers:
Entrance fee: €5
Fee can be paid on the day of the conference before being allowed to enter the conference venue.
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