Call for Abstracts
The European Society for Early Modern Philosophy (ESEMP) invites submissions of abstracts for presentation at the 7th international conference of the ESEMP:
Why and How Do We Study Early Modern Philosophy Today?
25-27 September 2025
FernUniversität in Hagen, Germany
Keynote Speakers: Mogens Lærke (CNRS) and Anik Waldow (University of Sydney)
The aim of this conference is to bring together leading experts and young talented scholars from all over the world to explore ways of approaching early modern philosophy and reflect anew on the aims of doing so. While all papers on the period are welcome, talks highlighting the respective aims or methods of studying EMP are particularly encouraged.
Following recent discussions in the field, we might wonder, for instance, whether we should favour historical over so-called rational reconstructions of texts or what precise aims are served by extending the canon. Likewise, we might ask how advances in the digital humanities shape our field. Even if one works in more traditional ways, one might inquire whether common assumptions about how to place and study texts, figures or debates still stand. This does not mean that papers should focus on these issues alone; rather it is an invitation to reflect on the aims or methods guiding the study at hand.
A second focus of our conference concerns (practical) issues concerning especially early career researchers. In this spirit, the conference includes a mentoring programme intended to connect mentees with experienced researchers who will provide advice on papers.
Submissions
We invite submissions of abstracts for papers addressing all aspects of early modern philosophy. To submit, please email an abstract – between 500-700 words and anonymised for blind review – to Tanja Moll (tanja.moll@fernuni-hagen.de). Please use ‘ESEMP 2025 abstract’ as the header of your email. The email should contain the author’s details (name, position, affiliation, contact details). The mail and the abstract should contain three keywords to which the abstract relates (indicating theme, author, and method / aim highlighted, if applicable). Please use the PDF format for submission and prepare the text of the abstract for blind refereeing.
If you would like to take advantage of the mentoring programme, please say so in your mail. If you would like to act as a mentor, please also indicate this in your mail. We will try to match mentors and mentees in relation to the keywords provided in the mail.
Please direct any questions you might have to Martin Lenz: martin.lenz@fernuni-hagen.de
Procedure
The deadline for abstract submission is 15 January 2025.
Papers will be selected by the board of the ESEMP.
Notifications of acceptance will be made by 28 February 2025.
For each talk, there will be time for a 30-minute presentation, with about another 15 minutes for discussion. All accepted papers will be eligible in case of the publication of the proceedings.
Upon acceptance
We do not request that you pay a fee, but membership of the ESEMP is compulsory to present a paper at the conference. (Annual membership fee: 30 EUR; reduced annual membership fee: 15 EUR).
To become a member of the ESEMP, please use our application form or contact the Treasurer of the ESEMP: hubertus.busche@fernuni-hagen.de