Call for Papers

The international conference “What is it? That's the question!” is devoted to the foundational philosophical question ti esti — “What is X?”. This question, central to Socratic and Platonic philosophy, expresses the core methodological gesture of philosophy as conceptual inquiry. Rather than focusing on a specific theme, author, or school, the conference proposes a unifying methodological axis that allows for genuine plurality of topics, traditions, and approaches.

The conference invites philosophers from all areas and traditions to reflect on their objects of study through the guiding question “What is X?”, understood neither as a request for mere opinion nor as the imposition of a normative theory, but as a disciplined search for conceptual understanding. 

Contributions, besides "metatalks" about the ti esti question itself,  may address any topic, see FAQ.  What unifies the conference is not the subject matter, but the methodological focus on conceptual clarification and understanding.  

Submissions should explicitly engage with one or more of the eleven methodological procedures for addressing the question “What is X?”. These procedures are intended as heuristic and complementary tools, not as rigid constraints. 

The conference “What is it? That's the question!” invites philosophers to return to the most basic philosophical question — not to close it with definitive answers, but to explore, collectively and rigorously, the many ways in which understanding can be pursued.

Submission Guidelines

• Abstracts should clearly state the topic  addressed and indicate which of the eleven procedures are employed. 

• Length of abstracts: typically 300–500 words.

• Talks may be theoretical, historical, logical, or interdisciplinary, provided they maintain a clear focus on conceptual inquiry. The duratiom of a contributing talk is 30mn including discussion.

Important dates

• Abstract submission deadline: Februrary 15, 2026

• Notification of acceptance: March 15, 2026

• Conference dates:  July 27-31, 2026

Email: jyb.phi@gmail.com

Here is a list of possible "What is X?" talks :