III International Colloquium of Philosophy of Technology
Technical worlds: ontological, epistemological and normative aspects of artificiality.

27, 28 and 29 September 2012, Cordoba, Argentina.

Place of the meeting: National University of Córdoba.

Sponsored by:
* Project: “Epistemology of Artifacts. Affordances, practical knowledge and epistemic artifacts.” Ministry of Science and Innovation (Spain). FF12009-120054. (Director: Dr. Jesus Vega Encabo. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid).
* Project: “Technical objects and technically modified organisms. Philosophical, aesthetic and political reflections on technology.” CiFFyH (Research Centre of the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities). FaMAF (Faculty of Mathematics, Astronomy and Physics).
* Department of Philosophy (Faculty of Humanities, UNRC).


----- CALL FOR PAPERS -----

The philosophy of technology involves a complex of objects and problems that traverse metaphysics, epistemology, ethics and philosophical anthropology, as well as culture and society. Some recent discussions in the philosophy of technology have focused on the elucidation of the ontological, normative and epistemic dimensions of artificial worlds. What criteria do we apply to characterize an artifact as a ‘good’ artifact? What does the term ‘good’ mean when applied to the artificial world? What are the features of moral evaluation of the artificial world? When is an artificial novelty a genuine novelty? How do we know the artificial world? Do author and user find themselves in two different epistemic positions? Does the artificial have its own epistemology? What class of thing are artificial things? Are they different from natural kinds? Questions like these are found in research programs in both Continental and Analytic traditions in the philosophy of contemporary technology.

The Third International Colloquium for Philosophy of Technology aims to address these and other issues, and to establish itself as an area of contact between two philosophical traditions: Analytic and Continental, which for various reasons remain apart. Under the theme of this meeting, Technical worlds: Ontological, Epistemological and Normative Aspects of Artificiality, it aims to bring together papers examining key concepts in contemporary debates concerning technology, opening new avenues of inquiry within the discipline, and strengthening the growth and collaboration between researchers devoted to the analysis of the phenomenon of technology.

We invite applicants to submit papers for 30-minute presentations
.
Papers will be accepted on the following topics, although any proposal within the field of philosophy of technology will be considered:

The metaphysics of the artificial world.
Epistemology of the technical phenomenon.
Normativity and technology.
Phenomenology of the technical world.
The technical world and posthumanism.
The technical world and the political.

* Proposals for papers should be sent to the email address: coloquiofdt@gmail.com, with two attachments (format doc, pdf, or rtf) containing:

(1) An extended abstract of approximately 2000 words presenting the title of the paper and clearly indicating the argumentative scheme of work (this should include the specification of the problem addressed, the thesis and bibliography).
(2) Details of the author of the application: name, institutional affiliation, and email address.

* The name and institutional affiliation of the author should be listed only in the second document. The abstracts received will be subject to blind refereeing by specialists appointed by the organizing committee. The latter reserves the right to request the full paper if necessary.

Deadline for receipt of abstracts: August 20, 2012.

Date of notice of acceptance/rejection: August 30, 2012.

Academic Committee:
Diego Lawler (CONICET-SADAF); Jesus Vega Encabo (Univ. Autónoma Madrid, Spain); Diego Parente (CONICET-UNMdP); Andrés Vaccari (Macquarie University, Australia / Fundación Bariloche); Andrés Crelier (CONICET-UNMdP); Javier Blanco (Universidad Nacional de Córdoba); Mario Osella (National University of Río Cuarto).

For more information, see our website:
www.coloquiofdt.blogspot.com

Or contact us at the following address:
coloquiofdt@gmail.com