#CFP: Philosophy of Communication Conference

The Biennial Philosophy of Communication Conference has a tradition of examining the intersection of philosophy and communication. The conference welcomes a wide variety of perspectives, intellectual traditions, and research methods. The history of the conference has prioritized phenomenological, existential, rhetorical, semiotic, and ethical approaches to issues of communication. The theme of this year’s conference is Rhetoric, Race, and Religion. We are proud to partner with The Center for the Study of Rhetoric, Race, and Religion from Memphis, TN. The conference theme is a call for the exigency of reflection on race and religion in the current moment. The African-American philosopher, Leonard Harris, said, “Philosophical texts, if products of social groups doggedly fighting to survive, are texts born of struggle.” We hope that the conference theme will invite potential participants to “shift the geographies of reason,” to quote Lewis R. Gordon, and look for these texts “born of struggle,” particularly from the Global South.

Possible topics and themes for the conference relating to Rhetoric, Race, and Religion include:

• Phenomenology of race and embodiment

• Cornel West’s prophetic pragmatism

• Rhetorical analysis of August Wilson’s plays

• Insurrectionist philosophy

• African-American prophetic traditions and the Black Church

• Afropessimism

• Rhetoric and religion in the Civil Rights movement and other global freedom struggles

• Derrick Bell and Critical Race Theory

• Black feminism and religion

• Anti-racism and decoloniality

• Race in religious communication

• bell hooks and the intersections of race and gender

• Creolization and Afro-Caribbean philosophy

• Intersectionality

• Ubuntu and ethics of care

• Bayard Rustin at the intersection of race and sexuality

• The relevance of the philosophy of Franz Fanon today

• Urban renewal rhetoric in Pittsburgh and beyond

• Narratives of faith

• Semiotics of religious iconography

• George Yancey and critical whiteness studies

• The role of race and religion in today’s political struggles

• Case studies on public relations and race

• The mediation of technology in religion today

• Rhetorical comparisons of issues of race and religion across cultures

• Anti-DEI rhetoric

• Indigenous religious practices and the Abrahamic traditions

• The role of race and religion and the art of Romare Bearden

• The intersection of race, politics, and sports

As always, papers addressing other aspects in the philosophy of communication, regardless of connection to the conference theme, are welcome.

Keynote speakers include Theon Hill (Wheaton College), Andre E. Johnson (University of Memphis), Tahirah Walker (Point Park University), and Damion Waymer (University of South Carolina).

Paper submissions should include:

• Paper title

• Abstract (100–150 words)

• Institutional affiliation

• Email address

Panel proposals should include:

• Panel title

• Rationale (250–500 words)

• Titles and abstracts (100–150 words) for up to five presentations

• Institutional affiliation and email address of each presenter

All submissions should be sent tocec@duq.edu by April 15, 2026. Please write to Erik Garrett (garrette@duq.edu) and Janie Fritz (harden@duq.edu) if you need an expedited decision.