ReMA Winter School
This years ReMA Winter School will be hosted by the University of Amsterdam January 30-31, 2025. Rather than a set theme, the aim of the school will be an exhibition of the diverse paths one can take for philosophical research and practice inside and outside the university.
The program aims to expose students to the diverse possibilities for research in philosophy through a set of keynote lectures by Maren Wehrle (EUR), Katrin Schultz (UvA), Stefan Niklas (UvA), Lillith Lee (VU), and Jamila Mascat (UU). We will also host two practical sessions for career advice: one on the process of becoming a researcher and another on careers for philosophers outside of the university.
In addition, students will have the opportunity to present their work at one of two poster sessions (for more information see ‘preparation and assessment’ below)
We will conclude with a panel of the Society of Women in Philosophy (SWIP) on diversity and intersectionality in the field. Along with these academic events, we will host a social evening for participants to meet one another for a night of philosophy and music.
| Primary target group | ReMA students |
| If places available also open to | – |
| Type of activity | Winter School |
| Certificate credit points | 1.5 EC for attendance, 3 EC for attendance and poster presentation |
| Organizer | University of Amsterdam (Dr. Michael Thomas) |
| Location | |
| Date | January 30, 2025 @ 10:00 |
| Venue |
This is a tentative program (may be adjusted for traveling participants). For more information about the student poster sessions see ‘preparation and assessment’ below. For abstracts, see below.
Thursday, January 30
10:00 – Coffee and Welcome
10:30-11:30 – Keynote Lecture I: Maren Wehrle (Rotterdam): “‘There is f(r)iction in the space between’* On the difference between social and intersubjective normality.”
11:30-12:30 – Student Poster Session I
12:30-14:00 – Lunch
14:00-15:00 – Keynote Lecture II: Stefan Niklas (UvA): “Towards a Planetary Aesthetics.”
15:00-16:30 – Practical Session I: Philosophy Beyond the Academy
16:30-21:00 – Dinner and Reception: Philosophy and Music
Friday, January 31
10:00-11:00 – Keynote Lecture III : Lilith Lee (VU)
11:00-12:00 – Student Poster Session II
12:00-13:30 – Lunch
13:30-14:30 – Keynote Lecture IV : Jamila Mascat (Utrecht)
14:30-15:00 – Practical Session II: The Lives of Researchers
15:00-15:30 – Coffee
15:30-16:30 – Keynote Lecture V : Katrin Schulz (UvA)
16:30-17:00 – Pause
17:00-18:00 – SWIP Panel Discussion
———-
Abstracts
Maren Wehrle: ‘There is f(r)iction in the space between’* On the difference between social and intersubjective normality.
Often, the terms ‘normal’ and ‘normality’ are used to express what is socially acceptable within a given cultural or social context. While an established social normality often presents itself as a timeless and self-evident truth, it normally grows out of a contingent and fragile state, where norms have not yet been established or institutionalized. This dynamic state is a precondition of established social norms, so I want to show, and can be phenomenologically described as intersubjective normality. Lived intersubjective normality is understood as an interactive and ongoing process of making and (un-)making of normality, which is characterized by an experienced friction between different ‘normalities’ of individuals or groups.
First, I will introduce the genetic dimension of lived normality, that is, how something becomes normal on an individual level. In a second step, I will try to show how we can study how normality is made and unmade intersubjectively. I will thereby distinguish between a social and an intersubjective normality. Whereas social normality situates and shapes every individual experience, intersubjective normality refers to the actual encounter between subjects. Such a space between, so I want to finally show, is a source of normative friction, and conflict, but also the place where one can stop clinging to old fictions, and begin to perceive the world and others anew, do things differently, and tell more inclusive stories.
*The title is inspired by a line of the song ‘Telling stories’ by Tracy Chapman
MA students participating in the 2025 OSZW Winter School are invited to present their work in one of two poster sessions (see links for more information). As the Winter School aims to diversify our notion of philosophy, the areas for submission are open, but should have a clear grounding in philosophical practice.
Interested students should submit a short abstract of no more than 250 words by November 15. They may send their submission to Decisions will be announced by December 1, 2024.
To help give an idea of how poster presentations we have a Daily Nous article about posters at philosophy conferences, including a bunch of videos showing examples of poster presentations:
https://dailynous.com/2015/08/28/poster-sessions-at-philosophy-conferences/
And this is a very detailed practical guide on how to prepare a poster from the British Society for Ethical Theory:
https://www.bset.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/BSET-PostersGuidance.pdf
Costs:
- ReMA students who are a member of the OZSW and/or another research school in the Humanities (LOGOS) pay a participant fee of 10 euros
- Non-members pay a participant fee of 20 euros.
How to register:
- ReMA students may register for the activity via this link.
The registration deadline is November 30, 2024. If registration has been closed because the maximum amount of participants has been reached, you can submit your name to the waiting list by sending an email to . Please also indicate whether you are a ReMA student or PhD candidate and whether you are a member of the OZSW or not.
The OZSW registration and cancellation policy applies to this activity (to be found here).
| Name | University of Amsterdam (Dr. Michael Thomas) |