CfP - What is it? That’s the Question! - Rio de Janeiro, July 27-31, 2026
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jean-yves beziau
Jan 28, 2026, 10:33:50 PMJan 28
to diagra...@diagrams-conference.org
Dear Diagramotologists
See below an event we are organizing in Rio next July.
I have myself written about 15 papers entitled "What is X?" for an X,
in particular:
- "What is a diagram?" (with Verônica Filíppovna)
and more recently:
- "What is money?" (with Flawê de Lara Bone)
I also recommend the book
Plato, Diagrammatic Reasoning and Mental Models
by Susanna Saracco
Enjoy and hope to see you in Rio!
JYB
JYB
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The central axis of the World Philosophical Congress “What Is It? That’s the Question!”, to be held in Rio de Janeiro in July 2026, is the founding question of philosophy formulated by Socrates and Plato: ti esti? (“what is it?”). This is a universal question, understandable to researchers from any field, as it concerns the way we define, understand, and investigate objects of knowledge, study and action.
More specifically, the congress aims to articulate all areas of philosophy (ethics, metaphysics, logic, epistemology, aesthetics, political philosophy, and philosophy of science) around a common methodology of conceptual investigation based on the question “what is X?”. The proposal combines conceptual unity with thematic plurality, fostering dialogue among different philosophical traditions and promoting metaphilosophical reflection on definition, explanation, and conceptual analysis.
The general problem addressed is the increasing fragmentation of contemporary philosophy, marked by excessive specialization and a lack of communication among its areas. In this context, it becomes necessary to return to a structuring question capable of integrating different fields without reducing them. The idea is to investigate how the question “What is it?” can function as a transversal methodological core for contemporary philosophical inquiry.
The general problem addressed is the increasing fragmentation of contemporary philosophy, marked by excessive specialization and a lack of communication among its areas. In this context, it becomes necessary to return to a structuring question capable of integrating different fields without reducing them. The idea is to investigate how the question “What is it?” can function as a transversal methodological core for contemporary philosophical inquiry.
The methodological strategy consists in applying eleven complementary procedures of conceptual analysis (including definitions, oppositions, diagrams, categorization, and symbolization) which structure the call for papers and guide the scientific contributions to the congress.
By articulating conceptual rigor, methodological pluralism, and international reach, the event seeks to restore the unity of philosophy around its fundamental question, reaffirming its intellectual, scientific, and cultural relevance in the contemporary context, and making a decisive contribution to the promotion of philosophical research in Brazil and worldwide.
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There will be on the one hand talks about the history of the question, on the other hand talks about specific topics "What is X?".
But the idea is to have in these specific talks a good equilibrium between the X in question and the general methodology to answer the ti esti question.
But the idea is to have in these specific talks a good equilibrium between the X in question and the general methodology to answer the ti esti question.
The conference invites philosophers from all areas and traditions to reflect on their objects of study through the guiding question “What is X?”, understood neither as a request for mere opinion nor as the imposition of a normative theory, but as a disciplined search for conceptual understanding.
Contributions may address any topic. What unifies the conference is not the subject matter, but the methodological focus on conceptual clarification and understanding.
Submissions should explicitly engage with one or more of the eleven methodological procedures for addressing the question “What is X?”. These procedures are intended as heuristic and complementary tools, not as rigid constraints.
The conference “What is it? That's the question!” invites philosophers to return to the most basic philosophical question — not to close it with definitive answers, but to explore, collectively and rigorously, the many ways in which understanding can be pursued.
Submissions should explicitly engage with one or more of the eleven methodological procedures for addressing the question “What is X?”. These procedures are intended as heuristic and complementary tools, not as rigid constraints.
The conference “What is it? That's the question!” invites philosophers to return to the most basic philosophical question — not to close it with definitive answers, but to explore, collectively and rigorously, the many ways in which understanding can be pursued.
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Deadline to submit an abstract to present a talk is February 15, 2026
• Abstracts should clearly state the philosophical question addressed and the methodology used to answer it.
• Length of abstracts: typically 300–500 words.
• Talks may be theoretical, historical, logical, or interdisciplinary, provided they maintain a clear focus on conceptual inquiry. The duration of a contributing talk is 30mn including discussion.
• Length of abstracts: typically 300–500 words.
• Talks may be theoretical, historical, logical, or interdisciplinary, provided they maintain a clear focus on conceptual inquiry. The duration of a contributing talk is 30mn including discussion.
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What is it? That’s the Question!
Rio de Janeiro, July 27-31, 2026
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