Latest Update:

To pay registration fees for this event online please visit here, or download a PDF form from here.

Details of travel and accomodation are available here

DRAFT Agenda is available here

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Co-Hosted by:

Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS), South Africa
ISCE Events, USA
Cathedra for the Study of Complexity (Instituto de Filosofia de La Habana), Cuba

22-23 February, 2007, Stellenbosch, South Africa

First Call for Papers

This notice is to inform you about the upcoming two-day Complexity and Philosophy workshop to be held next February (2007) in Stellenbosch, South Africa. It will be co-hosted by Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS), ISCE Events, and the Cathedra for the Study of Complexity (Instituto de Filosofia de La Habana).  As with previous meetings, the aim of this workshop is to explore the philosophical implications of the science and thinking of complex systems.

This workshop complements the 3^rd Biennial International Seminar on the Philosophical, Epistemological and Methodological Implications of Complexity Theory that was held in Havana, Cuba, January 2006. The larger international seminar provides a forum to discuss complexity and philosophy-related issues in general, whereas the aim of the smaller workshop event is to explore specific issues at a greater length with more time made available for discussion rather than presentation.

The location for the workshop event is planned to change each time it is held to enable as wide a range of voices to be heard as possible. In 2002 the event was held in Norwood (just outside Boston) in the US, and in 2004 it was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This time we are pleased to announce that the next event will be held in Stellenbosch, South Africa, with the generous assistance of the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study.

Call for Papers

Potential attendees are encouraged to submit papers on the following topics:

• Status, limits and legitimacy of knowledge regarding complex systems
• Relationship between linear and nonlinear philosophies
• Complexity-based ethics
• Frameworks for the analysis of complex systems
• Complex limits to theories of everything
• Complexity and the social sciences
• Complexity and globalization
• Complexity and human subjectivity

All paper submissions will be considered for publication in the international journal Emergence: Complexity and Organization (depending upon suitability), and/or publication in an edited book Complexity and Philosophy to be published by ISCE Publishing mid-2007. Selected papers from the previous event have appeared in Nonlinear Dynamics, Psychology and the Life Sciences, and this journal may again prove to be a viable publishing avenue for selected papers. All papers will be considered for publication even if time cannot be found for the papers to be presented at the conference itself (the emergent properties of such an event and the organizers’ hope to focus on discussion/dialogue rather than a standard presentation format may at times dictate the proceedings).

Provisional Timetable

Please let Caroline Richardson (stellenbosch2006@isce.edu) know of your interest in attending this event as soon as possible. Attendance at the event will be strictly limited to 30 so as to encourage genuine dialogue amongst participants - selection of attendees will be determined simply on a first come first serve basis (with an additional consideration of paper relevance).

The Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study will assist in finding accommodation in Stellenbosch. There are many excellent guest houses within walking distance of the Institute. The Institute itself is close to the centre of beautiful historic Stellenbosch.

Extended abstracts of around 1000 words to be submitted to Dr. Kurt Richardson (kurt@isce.edu) by end of May, 2006.

The decision by the review board comprising of members of the hosting organizations to invite submission of a full paper - to be no longer than 5000 words - will occur by end of June, 2006.  Please note that paper submission is not a pre-requisite for attendance, but that priority will be given to paper contributors.

Full papers to be submitted by end of November, 2006.

The decision as to what papers will be published and in what form will occur shortly after the closing of the conference. It is hoped that participants will play an integral role in the development of the event timetable before and during the event. Currently we plan to have paper sessions in the morning followed by 2-3 breakout groups in the afternoon to discuss particular aspects of complexity and philosophy (so expect to do some work!)

The cost of registration will be US$300 and must be paid in full before the event - a registration form will sent to participants after the decision regarding paper acceptance has been made. Fees will cover administrative and location costs, and also lunch and coffee/tea breaks during the event. A South African-style dinner will be provided at the close of the first day. Participants will be responsible for their own hotel and transport costs.

If you would like to attend the workshop please send an email to Caroline Richardson (stellenbosch2006@isce.edu) with the following information: Name, academic affiliation and status if any, address, phone, fax, and email. Caroline will contact you for further information re accommodation and payment of workshop fees.

If you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to contact Kurt or Caroline (stellenbosch2006@isce.edu).

Kurt Richardson (ISCE)
Paul Cilliers (Department of Philosophy, Stellenbosch)
Pedro Sotolongo (Instituto de Filosofia de La Habana)