The editors invite new contributions to this history, interpretations and reflections on how that history has contributed to contemporary understandings.
Human Affairs is an international journal for humanities and social affairs, with a special emphasis on philosophy, which was founded in 1990. It focuses on contemporary human affairs, with the goal to advance human self-understanding and communication. Beginning with issue 4 in October 2019, the journal publishes an annual issue dedicated exclusively to philosophy. It is edited at Keele University, UK, by James Tartaglia and Kieran Brayford. Each issue focuses on a particular topic of contemporary philosophical interest and combines invited papers with an open Call for Papers.
History of Nihilism
Jon Stewart’s recently published A History of Nihilism in the Nineteenth Century illustrates that contemporary nihilism, usually understood as the belief that life is meaningless, emerges from the secular worldview ushered in by the rapid expansion of scientific thinking in the early 1800s. Stewart’s work is part of a resurgence of interest in the history of nihilism, and the rediscovery and re-evaluation of figures often neglected by the tradition. In this special issue of Human Affairs, the editors invite new contributions to this history, as well as interpretations of it and reflections on how the history of nihilism has contributed to contemporary understandings of nihilism. The editors invite extended abstracts of a maximum of 1000 words (excluding bibliography). The authors of selected abstracts will be invited to submit a full paper of 4000 words (excluding bibliography).
Papers will be subject to peer review and those accepted will be published alongside invited papers by, amongst others, Jon Stewart, Lydia Amir, George Pattison, Nolen Gertz, Dean Komel, Manca Erzetič, Eva Dědečková, Tom Giesbers, Ashley Woodward and Peter Stewart-Kroeker.
- Deadline for Abstracts: 31 December 2024
- Deadline for Full Papers: 30 April 2025
- Publication: December 2025
Abstracts are to be submitted online – select the option for the History of Nihilism issue: http://www.humanaffairs.sk/