6-8 September 2024
Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
Conference Theme: The Past in the Present
It is well known that Japanese thinkers, from medieval Buddhist scholars to 20th century thinkers such as Ōmori Shōzō and Kimura Bin, have developed highly original theories of time, which have given rise to lively interpretations both in Japan and elsewhere. But in more general terms as well, the presence of the past has made itself known, sometimes explicitly and sometimes tacitly, during different periods of the development of Japanese thought — the influences of the Japanese tradition on Kyōto school thought have often been discussed, and similarly are the ideas of past thinkers recently been found to make a valuable contribution to present debates, thus, for example, certain ideas of Dōgen have been co-opted by many ecological thinkers of our time both in the West and in Japan. However, the shadows of the past are not always beneficial, thus, for example, the political involvement of some Kyōto school thinkers continues to be an issue for their interpretation. Does the context of the past provide us with the most adequate framework for reading them in the present? These and other related issues should hopefully provide for a fruitful engagement with Japanese philosophical texts, both past and present.
Confirmed Keynote Speakers:
- YUSA Michiko (Western Washington University, Emerita)
- DEGUCHI Yasuo (Kyoto University)
- Tõnu VIIK (Tallinn University).
Submission Guidelines
Applicants are encouraged to send proposals for individual presentations or group proposals (ideally 3 persons together) to collaborate on a panel. Papers related to the conference’s central topic are particularly welcome, but papers on other aspects related to Japanese thought will also be considered. We encourage participants to approach the general topic in a creative way, keeping in mind that giving a presentation on a topic they are interested in is more important than adjusting the topic of the paper to the general theme.
- Deadline Extended: The deadline for submission is Feb 23rd, 2024
- Notification of Peer Review: April 1st, 2024
- Length of abstract: 250-500 words (日本語: 400–700字)
- Keywords: Please include 5–10 with your abstract
- Languages of the Conference: English and Japanese
Submit to: enojp2024@tlu.ee
Call for Applications:
The First PhD Workshop
of the European Network of Japanese Philosophy
Date: September 2024 (before the ENOJP Conference)
Venue: Tallinn
Application deadline: March 31, 2024
The European Network of Japanese Philosophy (ENOJP) invites PhD students engaged in research in Japanese philosophy to apply for the first PhD workshop, to be held in Tallinn the day(s) before the ENOJP conference. This first edition of the workshop will be a pilot one, but – depending on its outcomes – we are planning to organize it every year in the future. The duration of the workshop is still open at this point (one, or two days), as it will depend on the number of participants.
The aim of the workshop is to create a cross-national network of advanced graduate students and scholars in Japanese philosophy. We are thinking of including (some of) the following:
– presentation sessions – where participants, working with their peers, can get and give feedback on their respective research projects;
– advising sessions – where participants can get feedback and advice from a senior scholar specialized in a similar topic;
– “sempai talk sessions”, in which students would be able to talk directly to PhD graduates, discussing various aspects of the process of writing a dissertation (such as overcoming writer’s block, organizing the bibliography, managing the life-work balance, etc.), but also post-doc programs, working the dissertation into a publishable manuscript, applying for jobs etc.
– sessions on publishing (information about journals and publishing houses, what to know when submitting, how to write an abstract etc.)
The workshop will be organized in an informal setting, with ample time for discussion, socializing, and networking.
Please note that at the time of this call for applications, there is no funding available for the workshop. However, the ENOJP and the local organizing team in Tallinn have applied for funding to various institutions and we are hoping to be able to subsidize at least some of the costs of the workshop. The workshop will be free of charge for all participants.
The scholars providing guidance and advice during the workshop will be decided once the application process is over.
Eligibility
Any student of any nationality working in any university on a topic related to Japanese philosophy and intellectual history is eligible. Please note that the workshop will be conducted in English.
Participating in the workshop, and then presenting a paper during the conference is also accepted. (There is no participation fee for the conference, either.)
Application and Selection Process
Please send the following documents by email, through the conference website:
– a curriculum vitae;
– a summary of the dissertation project (maximum 1,000 words), explaining topic, relevance, research question, methodology, and current stage. In your summary, please insert a paragraph about the things you are struggling with / would like to get advice on, etc.
Selected candidates will be notified by April 2024 and will be required to send a more detailed project report (of about 4,000 words) by mid-June, 2024.
The evaluation of the applications will be carried out by the ENOJP Board, in collaboration with the local organizing team in Tallinn.
It is not necessary to be an ENOJP member at the time of application or at the time of the workshop, but we do encourage all candidates to join the network. (There are no membership fees.)
For all enquiries, please feel free to contact us via email at enojp2024@tlu.ee
