From April 8 to 10, 2026, the ZRKG KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt co-organizes the international conference “Atheism and the Meaning of Life” at the campus of Aix-Marseille University, under the direction of Prof. Dr. Sebastian Hüsch (Aix-Marseille University) and Dr. Dr. Klaus Viertbauer (PH Weingarten).
The conference discusses the question of meaningfulness in secular, post-metaphysical, or atheistic contexts, bringing together scholars from around the globe and engaging both continental and analytical philosophical traditions.
The program features four plenary keynote lectures by leading international thinkers. Thaddeus Metz (University of Pretoria, South Africa) opens the conference by exploring the constraints that an atheistic framework may impose on meaningful life, investigating how the absence of transcendent sources affects moral and existential resources. Fiona Ellis (University of Nottingham, UK) examines the interplay of desire, motivation, and meaning, analyzing the possibilities and limits for human fulfillment within an atheistic worldview. François Jullien (Université Paris Diderot, FMSH, France) addresses the philosophical interrogation of God and the consequences of questioning metaphysical assumptions for contemporary life. The conference concludes with Philip Kitcher (Columbia University, USA), who asks what difference, if any, the existence of God makes for the realization of human projects and ethical reflection.
In addition to the keynotes, parallel sessions feature international contributions on a range of topics, including naturalism, existentialism, antinatalism, ethical autonomy, and non-theistic approaches to meaning. The sessions aim to combine historical, analytical, and continental perspectives, fostering rigorous discussion of fundamental philosophical questions in the light of contemporary debates on secularism, pluralism, and human agency. The contributions in these sessions were selected from a call for papers that received more than 120submissions, reflecting the broad interest and high quality of current research in this field.
The conference illustrates the international scope and academic rigor of ZRKG’s research activities and offersan international forum for the systematic exploration of life’s meaning across diverse philosophical approaches. Participants will engage with current research, reflect on both historical and contemporary sources of meaning, and examine the implications of living without reliance on transcendent frameworks. By integrating multiple perspectives and scholarly traditions, the conference provides a comprehensive platform for discussing one of philosophy’s most central questions in a global and interdisciplinary context. A special issue of the journal Religious Studies (Cambridge University Press) is planned for 2028, featuring selected contributions from the conference.
Participation in the conference is possible. For inquiries regarding the program or content, please contact Prof. Dr. Sebastian Hüsch (sebastian.husch@univ-amu.fr) or Dr. Dr. Klaus Viertbauer (klaus.viertbauer@ph-weingarten.de).
