Call for papers: Making Peace with the Earth

Michael Deckard Announcement
Location
North Carolina, United States
Subject Fields
Environmental History / Studies, Humanities, Native American History / Studies, Peace History / Studies, Philosophy

CFP

 Making Peace with the Earth:

an interdisciplinary symposium at Lenoir-Rhyne University

 

The symposium will be held entirely in person over three days in Hickory, NC on April 7th – April 9th, 2022.

 

Keynote speakers: Robin Wall Kimmerer (Potawatomi Nation, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Environmental Biology), Laura Hope-Gill (MFA director, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Asheville), Vance Blackfox (Cherokee Nation, ELCA), Keith McDade (Sustainability, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Asheville)

Before we live with other humans, before all is made political or ethical, we live with the earth. Whether we realize it or not, we relate to the earth and all of its inhabitants deeply, as if to the beloved. We need it to survive, to thrive, to exist. In the way that writers as such as Rainer Maria Rilke mention our being “bees of the invisible” or Robin Wall Kimmerer describes “the chance to be outside in the vital presence of other species” and sitting at their feet and listening, what kind of relationship do we want to model for others? How might we describe the earth as teaching us about the primordial ways of healing? What can we do to be exemplars of living in a way that makes peace with the earth? Is this a past tense or a future tense existential opportunity or imperative? This symposium will look to philosophers, scientists, historians, artists, and poets who wish to explore means and modes of making peace with the earth through ideas, words, notes, colors….

We welcome papers, presentations, performances, or creative endeavors on any area of "Making Peace with the Earth" in Native American, European, Anglo-American or other traditions. Please submit proposals (300-500 words) for 15-30 minute presentations by March 1, 2022. Notifications of acceptance will be sent by March 5. Short or mini-presentations are also welcome. Please email proposals or questions to: Michael.Deckard@lr.edu 

Contact Information

Michael Deckard

Associate Professor of Philosophy

Lenoir-Rhyne University

Fulbright Scholar, University of Bucharest (2015-2016)

Contact Email
Michael.Deckard@lr.edu