Call for Papers: Political Philosophy as Public Philosophy

Political philosophy has long grappled with foundational questions about justice, power, freedom, and authority. However, these questions are not only of theoretical interest; they directly inform public life and the decisions made by governments, institutions, and individuals. The increasing polarization of politics at both national and international levels calls for political philosophers to take a more engaged role in defending the public value of rational discourse. Yet this polarization itself threatens their capacity to perform such an enlightening role effectively.

This special issue will examine the role of political philosophy as a form of public philosophy, encouraging contributions that address questions such as:

• How can political philosophy be made more accessible and relevant to the general public?
• In what ways can political philosophers influence public policy and political debates?
• What public role has philosophy played throughout its historical development as a discipline, and how has it contributed to political reflection in the public space?
• What are the challenges and opportunities in applying abstract philosophical concepts to concrete social and political issues?
• How can the tools and methods of political philosophy help navigate the tensions between democracy, pluralism, and the public interest?
• What responsibilities do political philosophers have in shaping public discourse and civic education?

We invite papers that explore these and other themes from various perspectives, including but not limited to:

• The role of political philosophers as public intellectuals and their engagement with media, activism, and political advocacy.
• Case studies where political philosophy has directly influenced public policy or political movements.
• The relevance of the tradition of political philosophy to contemporary political and social challenges.
• The impact of political philosophy on public education, civic engagement, and political literacy.
• Ethical questions surrounding the public role of political philosophers in democratic and non-democratic societies.

We invite interested researchers to submit their papers through the journal’s platform: https://revistas.uminho.pt/index.php/eps/about/submissions

Papers should not exceed 8.000 words, including footnotes and references, and must be submitted by November 1, 2025. 

For further information, interested researchers can contact the guest editors of this special issue: João Cardoso Rosas (rosas@elach.uminho.pt) and Daniele Santoro (daxanto@gmail.com).