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XII Multilateral Kant Colloquium: “Kant and the Future” (Turin, 29 June-2 July, 2027)

Armando Manchisi // Sep 17, 2026

We are glad to announce the XII Multilateral Kant Colloquium, entitled Kant and the Future, which will take place at the University of Turin from 29 June to 2 July 2027.

The Colloquium will explore the many ways in which Kant’s thought engages with the future and the prospects of human development. The concept of progress plays a central role in Kant’s reflections on moral, political, and legal development, as well as in his account of the history of metaphysics. At the same time, his emphasis on the fragility and contingency of progress raises important questions about the conditions under which humanity may advance toward more just civil and international arrangements. Further future-oriented dimensions of Kant’s philosophy can be found in the concept of orientation, in the role of rational assumptions in guiding moral improvement, and in the regulative and heuristic function of reason. The congress will therefore consider both Kant’s different approaches to the future and the resources offered by his philosophy for addressing contemporary challenges.

The Colloquium is organised by Gabriele Gava (University of Turin) and Sandra V. Palermo (University of Pavia).

The keynote speakers are:

  • Ileana Beade (Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Argentina)
  • Angela Breitenbach (University of Cambridge, United Kingdom)
  • Catalina González Quintero (Universidad de los Andes, Colombia)
  • Joel Klein (Federal University of Paraná, Brazil – Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany)
  • Faustino Oncina Coves (University of Valencia, Spain)
  • Paola Rumore (University of Turin, Italy)
  • Marcus Willaschek (Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany)

A Call for Papers is now open. Submissions on any aspect of Kant’s philosophy are welcome, although a portion of the accepted contributions will be reserved for papers addressing the main theme of the Colloquium. Suggested topics include:

  • progress in moral, political, legal, and historical philosophy;
  • the future of metaphysics;
  • orientation and practical reason;
  • regulative principles and the heuristic function of reason;
  • history, hope, and historical development;
  • teleology and purposiveness;
  • education, enlightenment, and human perfectibility;
  • peace and conflict;
  • climate change;
  • Kant’s legacy and contemporary perspectives on the future.

Submissions should include a title and an extended abstract of no more than 500 words, including footnotes and references. Abstracts must be prepared for anonymous review. The author’s name, academic affiliation, and contact information should be included in the body of the submission email.

The official languages of the Colloquium are English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and German.

Submission deadline: 1 January 2027.

Notification of acceptance: 15 February 2027.

Abstracts should be sent to: kantmultilateral2027@gmail.com.

For further information, please visit the conference website, where you can also find the complete Call for Papers.

 

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