Call for Papers: ‘Care and Indifference in Ancient Philosophy’ (University of St Andrews)

Call for Papers: ‘Care and Indifference in Ancient Philosophy’

University of St Andrews, 5-6 May 2026

The two-day graduate conference Care and Indifference in Ancient Philosophy will be held at the University of St Andrews on 5-6 May 2026.

The conference aims to investigate the notions of care and indifference in ancient philosophy, broadly construed, from the Presocratics to Late Antiquity. We welcome papers addressing a wide range of topics, and especially on how either (or both) of these notions shape ethical, theological, cosmological, or political thought in the ancient Greco-Roman world.

Keynote Speakers

Frisbee Sheffield (University of Cambridge)

Shaul Tor (King’s College London)

Submission Guidelines

Contributions will be selected through a process of blind review. Submissions from current PhD candidates and early-career researchers (having received their PhD not more than 2 years before the submission deadline) are especially encouraged. We particularly welcome papers from traditionally underrepresented groups in the fields of Ancient Philosophy and Classics.

Please send an email to sp283@st-andrews.ac.uk containing two separate documents (in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format):

1. One document including the paper title, and an anonymised abstract (max. 300 words, excluding bibliography).
2. One separate document including:
   1. personal details (i.e., name & surname, and preferred pronouns);
   2. institutional affiliation;
   3. email address;
   4. paper title.

Papers should be suitable for a 20-minute presentation, followed by 10 minutes of discussion. The deadline for submissions is 12 January 2026. Successful applicants will be notified by 30 January 2026. There is no registration fee.

Organization & Support

We regret that we cannot cover travel and accommodation costs. However, a limited number of discretionary bursaries may be awarded to mitigate the costs of train travel within UK (priority will be given to PhD candidates). Further details will be made available to successful applicants. The event will take place in person only.

This event is organized with the generous support of The Aristotelian Society, of the Department of Philosophy and of the School of Classics at the University of St Andrews.

For any further information, please feel free to contact the conference organisers: Mario Bison ( mb563@st-andrews.ac.uk ) & Stefano Parrinello ( sp283@st-andrews.ac.uk ).