SASEP | South African Society for Environmental Philosophy

Southern African Society for Environmental Philosophy (SASEP) 3rd Annual Conference | 26-28 August 2026

Call for Abstracts

We are pleased to distribute this CFA for the 3^rd Annual SASEP Conference, to be held at the North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus.

Conference Dates: 26-28 August 2026

About the Conference

SASEP hopes to bring philosophers and others from tangential fields (e.g. such as environmental and animal law, conservation, environmental management) together to consider issues related broadly to the environment and its inhabitants. Furthermore, SASEP, and its associated conferences will provide space for established and emerging environmental philosophers from Southern Africa and beyond to share their research and exchange ideas that focus on all aspects of the environment from philosophical perspectives. The society will welcome a diverse range of philosophical approaches, interdisciplinary dialogue with those from nascent academic disciplines, such as the environmental sciences, social sciences, and also encourage perspectives from the global south.

Theme

All aspects of environmental philosophy are welcomed, including environmental and animal ethics. The following are guiding questions, but they should not serve as a limitation.

How can we critically reflect on humanity’s relationship to nature?
How do we conceive of nature from a broadly African perspective?
How can we decolonize conservation?
What kinds of contributions can philosophers make to address the environmental crisis?
What does an African Environmental Philosophy look like?
How can we philosophize around climate change from an African view?
How can laws aid/negate human-animal relationships?
How can an “ecological” understanding of digital material relations reshape normative environmental ethics in African contexts?

Submission of Abstracts

Please send a 150-250 word abstract to sasepconference2026@gmail.com. The deadline for submission of abstracts is 15 June 2026. Notification of acceptance will be sent latest by 30 June 2026, but please do let us know if you need confirmation earlier.

*Proposals for panel discussion are also welcome.

Conference Fee

More information to follow

Special Issue

A special issue with a reputable journal will be published after the conference.

Travel

The closest airport to Potchefstroom is OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, which is about 150km away from Potchefstroom.

There are shuttles daily between OR Tambo and Potchefstroom (Lime Time or City Bug).

For more information about the conference and/or SASEP, please feel free to email sasepconference2026@gmail.com