issue 13: conditions of possibility
call for papers
The editors of theory@buffalo are seeking submissions for the 2009 issue on the theme of possibility and futurity.
Possibility has been philosophically important since Aristotle’s Metaphysics, yet despite some notable exceptions (Spinoza, Leibniz, Kant, for instance) it was not until the 20th century that possibility came into its own, and with the futural as its dominant modality, displaced the dominance of actuality and the present. Since this turn toward possibility continental philosophy has seen a delineation of two camps of thinking on this subject: one which traces its roots from Aristotle through Heidegger to figures such as Agamben, Arendt, and Derrida, while the other returns to Spinoza and includes Deleuze as well as others. To the extent that such a division in the thinking of possibility signals a split in contemporary theory, an investigation into the nature of this division is also an inquiry into the condition of theory and its conditions of possibility. Given the priority of possibility in the discourses of theory and the tensions that mark it, we seek to engage these two traditions of approaching possibility and futurity in order to explore the condition of theory and the possibilities of its future.
We welcome all papers that examine the theme of possibility and the futural in any number of disciplines, including but not limited to: art, feminism, film, literature, philosophy, politics and visual studies. Possible topics might include: theory’s possibilities; art and possibility (science-fiction, fantasy, etc.); the impossible; ontology and possibility; the imagination; the virtual; possibility and knowledge; the event; the possibility of utopia/revolution and utopian/revolutionary possibilities; calculating the possible (probability, gambling, randomness, contingency); potentiality and power; possibility and phenomenology; and possible worlds. We are particularly interested in the relevant theoretical works of Agamben, Arendt, Aristotle, Bergson, Bloch, Deleuze, Derrida, Foucault, Heidegger, Irigaray, Kant, Kristeva, Leibniz and Spinoza, although other critical perspectives are also welcome.
theory@buffalo also accepts book reviews. These can be on any topic and must be 1200 words or less. All other submissions should be no longer than 10,000 words. Please send two blind copies with a cover page and disk to the address below. Alternatively, you may send your submission as an MS Word attachment to dbc8@buffalo.edu or jfkurt@buffalo.edu, re: theory@buffalo 13.
Please see our submission guidelines for length and formatting specifications.
All submissions are due September 1, 2008.
theory@buffalo
David Collins and James Kurt, Editors
Department of Comparative Literature
638 Samuel Clemens Hall, North Campus
State University of New York at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY 14260
USA