CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
for a topical issue of Open Philosophy
KANT'S CONCEPT OF SPONTANEITY AND ITS LEGACY IN LATER THEORIES OF SUBJECTIVITY

Open Philosophy (https://www.degruyter.com/opphil) invites submissions for the topical issue "Kant's Concept of Spontaneity and its Legacy in Later Theories of Subjectivity," edited by Jessica Segesta (University of Palermo, Italy) and Valentina Dafne De Vita (University of Halle-Wittenberg, Germany).


DESCRIPTION

Spontaneity is a pivotal concept in Kant’s critical philosophy, shaping its theoretical, practical, and aesthetic dimensions. Yet, although Kant himself identifies spontaneity as the transcendental element that defines both the knowing and acting subject, he never fully addresses its broader implications. Instead, spontaneity often operates as an unexamined presupposition within his system, leaving key questions about its role largely unexplored, especially regarding the determination of subjectivity.

In its preliminary definition, Kantian spontaneity refers to an action arising from an internal principle, independent of external sources or constraints. In this sense, the notion of spontaneity closely aligns with the concept of “autonomy”. This initial and broad definition highlights Kant’s connection to both the Leibnizian and earlier Aristotelian accounts of spontaneity, while also raising a critical question: Is such activity fully determined by a subject entirely aware of its sources, or is it unintentional and involuntary? The question is whether the knowing and acting subject is unaware of this activity, or if spontaneity is governed by the conscious intentions and will of the individual. Kant does not provide a clear or explicit resolution to this essential dilemma. Moreover, it remains largely unclear whether spontaneity serves as a determining factor in the subject’s ontological status, or if it merely represents a normative characteristic essential for self-recognition as subject in knowing and acting, as well as in free aesthetic production.

This special issue aims to explore the Kantian notion of spontaneity by investigating its origins, focusing on its core aspects, and examining its status across various areas of critical philosophy. The issue also aims to investigate the development of the concept of spontaneity in later philosophies, with particular emphasis on modern and contemporary theories of subjectivity. This includes how Kantian spontaneity influenced later thinkers, contributing to the formation of modern conceptions of subjectivity, consciousness, and action. Finally, the issue welcomes contributions that address the relevance of this concept in contemporary debates, particularly regarding topics such as artificial intelligence, moral autonomy, and the direct implications for epistemology and ontology.

Contributions may focus on, but are not limited to, the following topics:


Kant’s Notion of Spontaneity: Historical Roots and Influences;
The Role of Spontaneity in Kant’s Theory of Knowledge and Action;
The Relationship between Spontaneity and Consciousness;
Kant’s Concept of Spontaneity between Autonomy and “automaton”;
Spontaneity in Kant’s Critical System: Ontological and Normative Dimensions;
The Role of Spontaneity in the Aesthetic Production;
Kant’s Concept of Spontaneity and its Legacy in later Theories of Subjectivity;
The Relevance of Kant’s Concept of Spontaneity in Contemporary Debates;
Kant’s Spontaneity in the AI Era: Old Perspectives and New Questions.


Authors publishing their articles in the special issue will benefit from:
· transparent, comprehensive and fast peer review,
· efficient route to fast-track publication and full advantage of De Gruyter's e-technology.

Because Open Philosophy is published under an Open Access model, as a rule, publication costs should be covered by so-called Article Publishing Charges (APC), paid by authors, their affiliated institutions, funders, or sponsors.
Authors without access to publishing funds are encouraged to discuss potential discounts or waivers with Managing Editor of the journal Katarzyna Tempczyk (katarzyna.tempczyk@degruyter.com) before submitting their manuscripts.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Submissions will be collected from September 1 to October 31, 2025.

To submit an article for this special issue of Open Philosophy, authors are asked to access the online submission system at http://www.editorialmanager.com/opphil/

Please choose as article type: Kant's Concept of Spontaneity

Before submission the authors should carefully read over the Instruction for Authors, available at: https://www.degruyter.com/publication/journal_key/OPPHIL/downloadAsset/OPPHIL_Instruction%20for%20Authors.pdf

All contributions will undergo critical review before being accepted for publication.

Further questions about this thematic issue can be addressed to Jessica Segesta (jessica.segesta@unipa.it) or Valentina Dafne De Vita (valentina.de-vita@phil.uni-halle.de). In case of technical problems with submission, please contact AssistantManagingEditor@degruyter.com

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