Call for Papers: 

Politics of Counter Catastrophe: Reconfiguring Freedom for the Future

Workshop with Wendy Brown and Eva von Redecker

Center for Environmental and Technology Ethics - Prague (CETE-P), Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences

23 May 2025

Organisers: Iwona Janicka and Jan Bierhanzl

In modern times, the concept of freedom has driven human emancipation, and yet been closely entwined with the idea of dominion over things, people, and non-human lives. What is more, the capitalist system has universalized the concept of the commodity, which provides a rationale for the extraction of maximum profit from resources and labour alike. The response of contemporary politics to the neoliberal exacerbation of these inherent tendencies of Western modernity is manifested in various forms, some of which are more alarming than others. These include, for instance, phenomena described by Eva von Redecker as ‘phantom possession’ or the domination of politics by nihilism, as discussed by Wendy Brown. In light of the climate crisis and the unsustainability of the capitalist way of life, it is imperative that the fundamental principles of modern philosophical, political, and ethical systems be re-examined, with a particular focus on the concept of freedom. The objective of this seminar is to reconsider the relationship between democracy and the climate crisis in dialogue with two prominent thinkers – Wendy Brown and Eva von Redecker – in order to propose alternatives to the prevailing destructive ways of life. In the face of climate disruption, how will an emerging responsibility for life affect politics? How can the non-human articulate its needs? How can we practice ‘reparative democracy’ (Wendy Brown) and a ‘revolution for life’ (Eva von Redecker)? What politics of counter catastrophe can be undertaken collectively today?

This one-day workshop is aimed at junior scholars: graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and early career academics, who would like to present their work and receive constructive feedback from Wendy Brown and Eva von Redecker. We encourage junior scholars, particularly from underrepresented groups, to submit their proposals and share their work in a supportive setting.

To present, please submit the title and abstract (max. 250 words) of your paper (15 min) to cetep@flu.cas.cz by 2 March 2025. You will receive a notification by 9 March.

Call for Papers: 

Politics of Counter Catastrophe: Reconfiguring Freedom for the Future

Workshop with Wendy Brown and Eva von Redecker

Center for Environmental and Technology Ethics - Prague (CETE-P), Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences

23 May 2025

Organisers: Iwona Janicka and Jan Bierhanzl

In modern times, the concept of freedom has driven human emancipation, and yet been closely entwined with the idea of dominion over things, people, and non-human lives. What is more, the capitalist system has universalized the concept of the commodity, which provides a rationale for the extraction of maximum profit from resources and labour alike. The response of contemporary politics to the neoliberal exacerbation of these inherent tendencies of Western modernity is manifested in various forms, some of which are more alarming than others. These include, for instance, phenomena described by Eva von Redecker as ‘phantom possession’ or the domination of politics by nihilism, as discussed by Wendy Brown. In light of the climate crisis and the unsustainability of the capitalist way of life, it is imperative that the fundamental principles of modern philosophical, political, and ethical systems be re-examined, with a particular focus on the concept of freedom. The objective of this seminar is to reconsider the relationship between democracy and the climate crisis in dialogue with two prominent thinkers – Wendy Brown and Eva von Redecker – in order to propose alternatives to the prevailing destructive ways of life. In the face of climate disruption, how will an emerging responsibility for life affect politics? How can the non-human articulate its needs? How can we practice ‘reparative democracy’ (Wendy Brown) and a ‘revolution for life’ (Eva von Redecker)? What politics of counter catastrophe can be undertaken collectively today?

This one-day workshop is aimed at junior scholars: graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and early career academics, who would like to present their work and receive constructive feedback from Wendy Brown and Eva von Redecker. We encourage junior scholars, particularly from underrepresented groups, to submit their proposals and share their work in a supportive setting.

To present, please submit the title and abstract (max. 250 words) of your paper (15 min) to cetep@flu.cas.cz by 2 March 2025. You will receive a notification by 9 March.