International Network for Philosophers of Education

 University of Quebec at Montreal (Montreal, Canada)

11-14 August 2026

First Call for Papers

Initiating New Conversations Across a Divided World

As INPE prepares for its 20th conference in Montréal, nearly forty years have passed since its founding. Then, in 1988, the world was starkly divided between West and East. The movement of people and the flow of information were restricted, arms races intensified, and mutual distrust pervaded international relations. It was in this context that philosophers of education from both sides came together and began to speak. And yet, in various forms and in various ways, the world once again finds itself fractured—politically, culturally, epistemologically. What, we may ask, has been achieved in the intervening decades? Communication technologies have certainly advanced, and global connectivity has deepened. Yet at the same time, the once-cherished ideal of democracy seems to be losing its light. What now, then? What has philosophy of education accomplished? More pressingly, what can philosophy of education do in these circumstances?

The theme of the 20th INPE conference is "Initiating New Conversations Across a Divided World." It is a call to reflect on our past, respond to the present, and imagine new possibilities for the future—through dialogue, through thinking, and through education. Which new conversations does a divided world require? What can new conversations bring when democracy is under pressure? What should the role of philosophy of education be when the usual patterns of epistemological and political morals are under pressure from new forms of communication, changed political and educational discourses?

The conference seeks to create a vibrant space of deliberation, dialogue, and debate, and invites philosophical papers reflecting on education in relation to the theme above and/or in relation to the following sub-themes:

• Violence in education
• Epistemic harm and education as restoration
• Conflict, reconciliation, peace, and the philosophy of education
• Democracy, censorship, and education
• Authority, vulnerability, and pedagogy
• Indigenous and alternative pedagogies
• Intergenerational justice and schooling
• Academic freedom and activism
• Racism and exclusion
• Pluralism, multiculturalism, and global citizenship education
• Posthumanism and AI
• Education and the polycene

INPE 2026 will cooperate for the first time with The John Dewey Society (JDS), so that the first 2 days of our conference will be held jointly with JDS. As a special event, INPE will be collaborating with JDS on their Presidential Panel, followed by a reception, and co-sponsored by The Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain (PESGB). This unique opportunity may also provide participants with new opportunities for conversations among INPE, JDS, and PESGB. 

There will be three plenary sessions: the Terence McLaughlin Lecture in honor of the late past President of INPE, plus addresses by two other invited speakers. In addition, there will be 3 types of sessions for which contributions are invited:

1. Concurrent Paper Sessions

These will be organized around philosophical papers on one of the conference themes. Each session will allow sufficient time for discussion of a paper of up to 5000-6000 words in length. Submissions for concurrent paper sessions should include a full paper and a 500-word abstract.

2. Working Paper Sessions

The purpose of working paper sessions is to allow participants to present papers outlining ‘work in progress’. Proposals for working paper sessions should be in the form of a 1000-2000 word abstract and will be grouped by topic or approach.

3. Round tables/symposia

Submissions may include proposals for round tables/symposia in which three or four participants will present related papers around a particular theme. Submissions should provide the symposium title and topic, an overall abstract of 200-300 words, the names of the participants and an outline of 100- 200 words on each of the proposed contributions.

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

Please note, the due date for submissions is 1 March 2026. Please note also that the conference is planned to take place on-site, in Montreal, Canada. Submissions should not include papers that have been published previously, presented at other conferences, or that are scheduled for other forthcoming conferences. All conference proposals – for any of the three types of sessions – should be sent to the Program Committee (inpe2026program@gmail.com) by 1 March 2026. Proposals will be reviewed by the Conference Program Committee. All authors are requested to identify under which sub-theme their contribution is submitted. While contributions would ideally deal with the assigned themes, this is not mandatory. However, the philosophical-educational bearing should be rendered explicit in the text. Decisions will be announced by 1 May 2026. Proposals are welcome from those who are not members of INPE. However, if accepted, presenters will be required to join INPE before 15 May 2026.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Mario Di Paolantonio, York University, Canada

Raúl Olmo Fregoso Bailón, the University of Nebraska at Reno, USA

Liz Jackson, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

PROGRAM COMMITTEE

Yasushi Maruyama (Hiroshima University, Japan)

Ruyu Hung (National Chiayi University, Taiwan)

Duckjoo Kwak (Seoul National University, Korea)

Huajun Zhang (Beijing Normal University, China)

Karsten Kenklies (The University of Strathclyde, UK)

Andrew Gibbons (Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand)

Jeff Stickney (OISE, Canada)

Elias Schwieler (The University of Calgary, Canada)

José Sérgio Fonseca de Carvalho (São Paulo State University, Brazil)

David Hansen (Teachers College, USA)