The conference Pluralism: East and West will be held at Sofia University ‘St. Kliment Ohridski’ in Sofia, Bulgaria, from December 3rd to 4th, 2025.
During the conference, Prof. Kris McDaniel (University of Notre Dame), a key figure in contemporary philosophy, will deliver a talk entitled “Theories of Degrees of Being” at 10:00 AM on December 3, 2025, in the Conference Hall of the Rectorate Building at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski.” On December 5th, a workshop will be held with the participation of Professor McDaniel.
Full program of the conference
Organisers: Assist. Prof. Dr. Alex Kostova, Department of History of Philosophy, Faculty of Philosophy, Sofia University
Pluralism has become a central topic of philosophical inquiry, significantly broadening its influence over the past two decades. A key question for contemporary philosophers is how dogmatism in various epistemic domains—ranging from philosophy and science to religion and culture—can be effectively critiqued and transcended without succumbing to problematic forms of relativism. Within this context, pluralism has emerged as a compelling approach, influencing debates across virtually every philosophical discipline, including metaphysics, logic, ethics, political philosophy, and philosophy of science.
Despite pluralism’s growing prominence, two important challenges persist. First, foundational debates regarding the conditions and possibility of philosophical pluralism remain insufficiently addressed, overshadowed by narrower, discipline-specific inquiries. Second, pluralist traditions originating outside the Western intellectual context—such as those from India, China, and Japan—remain underexplored. These omissions constrain a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of pluralism as a truly global philosophical phenomenon.
This conference aims to explicitly bridge Western and non-Western traditions of pluralism by bringing together scholars working in the field. Central to this gathering are the following questions: What insights can we gain through a historical-philosophical reconstruction of pluralist tendencies in Western and Eastern thought? What “blind spots” can we identify, and what promising new pathways for developing pluralist insights can emerge through this dialogue?
By initiating this exchange, the conference will establish a foundation for addressing more specialized questions concerning the theoretical and practical implications of pluralism in contemporary philosophy, including but not limited to:
• How has pluralism evolved within Western and Eastern philosophical traditions?
• What contributions have key philosophers made to pluralist thought, and what roles have lesser-known figures or neglected influences played?
• How is pluralism differentiated from dogmatism and relativism, and what are their interrelations?
• In what ways do pluralist debates impact specific philosophical disciplines such as metaphysics, epistemology, and logic?
• What new avenues does pluralism open for philosophical inquiry?