Posted: June 18, 2008

Conference of the Society for Philosophy and Technology: Converging Technologies, Changing Societies

(Nanowerk News) CEPTES, the Center for the Philosophy of Technology and Science at the University of Twente in The Netherlands has posted a call for papers for its 16th International Conference of the Society for Philosophy and Technology: Converging Technologies, Changing Societies in July 2009:
SPT 2009 welcomes high quality papers and panel proposals in all areas of philosophy of technology. Given the focus of this year’s conference, papers dealing with converging technologies and their social and cultural impact are especially welcomed. SPT 2009 will include 14 tracks:

1. Converging technologies and human enhancement

2. Converging technologies and engineering sciences

3. Converging technologies and risks

4. Converging technologies: general issues

5. Ethics of emerging technologies

6. Philosophy and ethics of biomedical and nanotechnology

7. Philosophy and ethics of information technology

8. Environmental philosophy and sustainable technology

9. Philosophy of engineering and design

10. Robots, cyborgs and artificial life

11. Technology and moral responsibility

12. Technology, culture and globalisation

13. The good life and technology

14. Philosophy of technology: general and assorted issues

Papers will be accepted on the basis of a submitted abstract, which will be refereed. An abstract must be between 500 and 750 words in length (references excluded) and submitted via email as embedded plain text or an attachment in RTF or WORD (no docx) or PDF format. It should also contain the name and number of the track to which the abstract is submitted. Abstracts must be submitted no later than January 5, 2009. Authors will be informed of the decision of the referees by March 2, 2009.
Panel Proposals. We will also accept proposals for panel discussions, also to be submitted by January 5, 2009. Panel proposals must include a statement of the general topic and an overview of the specific questions or issues to be addressed. In addition, the proposal should include a list of the panelists involved, their expertise in this area, and whether they have indicated that they are willing to participate.
The SPT conference series is recognized as the premier international event in philosophy of technology, with delegates from all over the world. Conferences are held every 2 years, alternating between Europe and the United States. SPT 2009 is the 16th conference in the series.
Organizing Committee:
Directors: Philip Brey and Peter-Paul Verbeek, University of Twente
Coordination: Katinka Waelbers, University of Twente
Please look out for our second call for papers, early September 2008. It will list keynote speakers, the programme committee, track chairs, and brief track descriptions. Or keep checking the conference website (currently in progress) at http://www.utwente.nl/ceptes/spt2009/
Source: University of Twente