Call for Papers: Phenomenology and Virtuality
A special issue of Indo-Pacific Journal of Phenomenology is scheduled for publishing under the theme Phenomenology and Virtuality.
Our age is typified by technology but it is the question of the virtual that has particularly come to the forefront after the turn of the century. The contemporary era of emergent digital technologies has seen the multiplication of virtual spaces – our civilizations are indeed steeped in the virtual – which has resulted in complex changes to the dimensions of our existence and experience. While thinkers such as Baudrillard (in Simulacra and Simulation (1981)) emphasize a dichotomous relationship between reality and virtual reality, the enmeshed character of modern individuals within emergent virtual spaces may call into question the continuing relevance of such oppositions.
The upcoming special issue will be edited by Gregory Swer and Jean du Toit with deadlines for the submission of manuscripts being 24 August 2020 via email to Gregory Swer (editor of the journal) at gregswer@gmail.com or Jean du Toit (guest editor of the special issue): at jean.dutoit@nwu.ac.za. Manuscripts are to be 5000-7000 words in length.
The term virtuality (a conflation of the words reality and virtual) may present a challenge to dichotomous views on reality and the virtual. Virtuality does not merely refer to virtual reality, but rather – in a broader sense – circumscribes the many virtual spaces that arise from modern digital technologies within the life-world of the individual.
It is the aim of this special issue to promote interest in the emerging field of the phenomenology of virtuality, and insights from a wide variety of phenomenological perspectives (and multi-disciplinary viewpoints in conversation with phenomenology) are welcomed in addressing this topic.
Topics of discussion could include (but are not limited to) the following:
What is the relation between virtuality and phenomenology? In what ways may traditional phenomenological thought be re-deployed to gain insight into virtuality?
What is the relation / differences between non-virtual and virtual being? Is it possible to distinguish reality from virtuality?
How is selfhood constituted in virtuality? What does inter-subjectivity look like in this regard?
How are the notions of gender and race constituted in virtuality?
What is the relation / lack of relation between cognitive science and phenomenological interpretations of virtuality?
What is the relation between virtuality and the imaginary?