CFA: Philosophy and Science Fiction Conference

[Kayleigh Timmer]

CFA: Philosophy and Science Fiction Conference

Dates:  2^nd and 3^rd July 2026, Durban, UKZN.

Science Fiction as a literary, cinematic, and televisual genre has long served as a gateway to speculation about the possible course and consequences of scientific and technological progress. At its best, it presents us with a series of thought experiments about the social, behavioural, and existential implications of technologies of the future. Or it holds up a critical mirror to features of present-day society whilst provoking reflection on the sort of future society in which one would wish to live. It is unsurprising, then, that science fiction has long featured themes and concepts of philosophical interest. To this end, we invite abstracts that celebrate and explore science fiction as a medium for philosophical reflection (broadly construed).

 

Possible topics:

·      Artificial Intelligence

·      Robotics and Automation

·      Extended and/or Enhanced Cognition

·      Alien minds

·      Bodily modification

·      Afrofuturism

·      Feminist SciFi

·      Interspecies relations/communication

·      Time Travel

·      Dystopias and Utopias

·      Pandemics

·      Alternate dimensions

·      Instrumentalism and Technological Determinism

·      Science Fiction and/as Thought Experiments

·      Immortality

We welcome abstracts broadly related to Philosophy and Science Fiction. We will consider submissions from any school of thought, including but not limited to African Philosophy, Analytic Philosophy, and Continental Philosophy.

The conference venue will be located on or near the Howard College campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is open to all scholars, including graduate students. 

The conference fee (including tea and lunches) is R1500. The fee for graduate students is R1000.

 

If you wish to be considered for inclusion in the programme, please send a title and abstract (between 250 and 500 words) to kayleig...@gmail.com on or before Friday, 30^th January 2026. Notifications of acceptance will be sent out by Friday, 27^th February 2026. If you have any queries at all, then please send them along to greg...@gmail.com or kayleig...@gmail.com.