Call for Abstracts
We welcome submissions on the philosophy of AI and the responsible development, deployment, and use of technologies. The idea is to use Shelley’s novel as a source of inspiration to explore new and important areas of AI research, or to offer different perspectives on current ones. Talks need not explicitly engage with the novel (though this is of course very welcome) as long as they tackle themes, questions, and formats that are to some extent relevant to the novel.
In addition, we welcome submissions that contextualise these debates within a broader cultural and historical framework, as well as work on topics in the philosophy of fiction/film/sci-fi and philosophical aesthetics. We hope that the conference will allow for an historically-informed philosophical exploration of the future of AI through the images and ideas that determine our relationship to the things we create – especially when they develop a dynamic of their own and seem to escape our control.
We are open to submissions from a range of different disciplines and perspectives. The only necessary criterion being that papers must be philosophically informed. Potential areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
- What does it mean to create things or beings whose capabilities and effects are fundamentally unpredictable?
- What do we owe – if anything – to the artificial agents that we create?
- How can ethical responsibility be conceived under conditions of radical uncertainty?
- To what extent is AI a modern ‘creature’ in Shelley's sense?
- What continuities exist between myth (Prometheus), literature (Shelley), and modern technological development?
- How can literature/sci-fi/film (etc.) help with the investigation of AI and the philosophy of technology?
- Which metaphors and narratives promote understanding of current developments in the field of AI, and which are misleading?
- What new insights – if any – does Frankenstein bring to the ‘value alignment problem’?
- How should we define sentience, awareness, and similar in artificial intelligence, or should we not define them in such systems at all?
- What is technological progress?
*Abstracts should be submitted as a PDF attachment in English to: frankenstAIn-conference@ku.de
*Please anonymise abstracts by removing any identifying information about the author(s)
*Please include your full name and affiliation (if applicable) in the body of the email
*Deadline for submission is May 1st (2026), 23:59 (CET)
*Applicants will be notified by May 15th
*Abstracts should be between 250 and 500 words long
*Applicants who wish to be considered for the essay prize, please indicate that when submitting the abstract; see the info on the essay prize.
Questions & Further Queries
Questions and further queries should be directed to: frankenstAIn-conference@ku.de
*Participation is free of charge
*Unfortunately we are unable to cover travel and accommodation costs as standard. However, we might be able to provide assistance in special circumstances. If you think this applies to you, then please write to us: frankenstAIn-conference@ku.de
