Confronting (Bio)Capitalism: Critique, Feminism, and Ecology
International Workshop
Confronting (Bio)Capitalism: Critique, Feminism, and Ecology —
Johanna Oksala’s Contributions to Foucault Studies and Beyond
13 May 2025
School of Arts and Humanities – University of Lisbon
Event organized as part of the activities of Praxis-CFUL
Guest Speaker: Johanna Oksala (Loyola University Chicago)
This interdisciplinary workshop seeks to explore and engage with the wide-ranging philosophical contributions of Johanna Oksala. Positioned at the intersection of critical theory, feminist philosophy, phenomenology, and political thought, Oksala’s work offers a vital lens for addressing contemporary social and political challenges. While she is widely recognized for her incisive interpretations of Michel Foucault—particularly on issues of freedom, subjectivity, violence, and power—her scholarship extends well beyond Foucauldian analysis. From feminist and gender theory to recent interventions on ecology and climate change, Oksala has developed an original philosophical framework that both draws on and departs from Foucault in productive ways. She will join the workshop and participate in the discussions, offering a valuable opportunity for direct dialogue with her thinking.
Program
| 9.30 – 9.45 | Meeting & Greetings |
| 9.45 – 10.00 | Opening Remarks/Introduction |
| 10.00 – 11.40 | Session I Moderator: Zach Tailor Daphne Pons (Loyola University of Chicago): “Foucault and Althusserian Marxism: Extending Johanna Oksala’s Insights on the Foucault/Marx Relationship” António Baião (University of Minho): “Three Questions to Oksala on the Historical A priori to the Conduction of Conducts” Tamara Caraus (University of Lisbon): “Critique as Function? Foucault and the Task of Philosophy” |
| 11.40 – 12.00 | Coffee Break |
| 12.00 – 13.10 | Session II Moderator: Antonio Oraldi Agnese Di Riccio (New School for Social Research): “The Politicization of Nature: Ecofeminist Ecological Imaginaries against (Bio) Capitalism” Maura Ceci (University of Lisbon): “Speaking the Truth in a Post-Truth World: Parrhesia and Eco-activism” |
| 13.10 – 15.00 | Lunch |
| 15.00 – 16.10 | Session III Moderator: Francesca Scapinello Ricardo Mendoza-Canales (University of Lisbon): “On Oksala’s Phenomenology of Gender” Ana Oliveira (University of Coimbra): “A Few Notes on the Subject of Feminism” |
| 16.10 – 16.30 | Coffee Break |
| 16.30 – 18.00 | Keynote Lecture Johanna Oksala (Loyola University Chicago): “Intersectional Critiques of Capitalism” |
| 18.00 – 18.15 | Concluding Remarks |
| 19.30 | Workshop Dinner |
Free attendance and open to the public
Organization: Maura Ceci, Ricardo Mendoza-Canales and Tamara Caraus (Praxis-CFUL)
This event is funded by Portuguese national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., in the scope of the project UIDB/00310, Centro de Filosofia da Universidade de Lisboa.