International Conference: After the Death of the Human

June 18, 2026

AFTER THE DEATH OF THE HUMAN

International Conference Celebrating Michel Foucault’s Centenary (1926-2026)

 

Date: June 18-20, 2026

Conference venue: University of Lisbon, School of Arts and Humanities – Amphitheater III and Rooms B112 [Library]

 

It is with great enthusiasm that the Center of Philosophy of the University of Lisbon (CFUL) announces the international conference “After the Death of the Human,” to be held from June 18 to 20, 2026. This event celebrates the centenary of Michel Foucault’s birth, offering an interdisciplinary forum to reassess his philosophical legacy in light of contemporary global challenges. The conference will take place at the School of Arts and Humanities of the University of Lisbon, with in-person sessions held in Amphitheater 3 and in rooms B112, located in the Library.
The conference explores the historical condition of humanity following the “death of the human,” addressing crucial themes such as biopolitics, algorithmic power, ethics, and new anthropologies. The academic program is extensive and diverse, including plenary sessions with renowned speakers such as Robert Nigro (Leuphana University), Elisabetta Basso (University of Pavia), Sverre Raffnsøe (Copenhagen Business School), and Philipp Sarasin (University of Zurich). In the closing session, Ulrich Hoinkes (University of Kiel) will deliver a lecture on the ethos of critique in the age of polycrisis.
The numerous parallel panels will feature presentations and discussions on the aesthetics of the self, gender, discipline, education, and Foucault’s relationship to other philosophical works, such as those of Kant, Marx, and Nietzsche. Participation and attendance are free.

 

 

 

Program: here.

 

Organizing Committee

  • Chairs:
    Fernando Silva (CFUL, University of Lisbon, Portugal)
    Paulo Jesus (CFUL, University of Lisbon, Portugal)
    Marita Rainsborough (Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany, & CFUL, Portugal)
  • Members:
    Daniela Lima Barros (UFF, Brazil & U. Lisboa, Portugal)
    Diogo Sardinha (CFUL, Portugal)
    Elisabetta Basso (University of Pavia, Italy)
    Leonel Ribeiro dos Santos (CFUL, Portugal)
    Maura Ceci (CFUL, Portugal)
    Ricardo Mendoza-Canales (CFUL, Portugal)
    Roberto Nigro (Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany)
    Rodrigo Castro (Complutense University, Madrid, Spain)
    Soraya Nour Sckell (NOVA School of Law, Lisbon, Portugal)
    Ubirajara Marques (UNESP, Brazil)

 

Scientific Committee
Arthur Leal Ferreira (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Daniele Lorenzini (University of Pennsylvania, USA)
Edward F. McGushin (Stonehill College, USA)
Frieder Vogelmann (University College Freiburg, Germany)
Gladys Merma-Molina (University of Alicante, Spain)
José Miranda Justo (CFUL, Portugal)
Katrin Meyer (University of Basel, Switzerland)
Leonel Ribeiro dos Santos (CFUL, Portugal)
Marita Rainsborough (Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany, & CFUL, Portugal)
Martin Saar (Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany)
Nuria Sánchez Madrid (Complutense University, Madrid, Spain)
Paulo Jesus (CFUL, Portugal)
Philipp Sarasin (University of Zurich, Switzerland)
Ricardo Mendoza-Canales (CFUL, Portugal)
Roberto Nigro (Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany)
Rodrigo Castro (Complutense University, Madrid, Spain)
Samuel Binkley (Emerson College, USA)
Sophie Witt (University of Hamburg, Germany)
Soraya Nour Sckell (NOVA School of Law, Lisbon, Portugal)
Sverre Raffnsøe (Copenhagen Business School, Denmark)
Ubirajara Marques (UNESP, Brazil)

 

Hosting and Organizing Institution
University of Lisbon, School of Arts and Humanities, Centre of Philosophy, Portugal

 

Co-organizing Institutions

Alicante University, Education Faculty (Spain)

Centro de Pesquisas e Estudos Kantianos “Valerio Rohden” (CPEK), Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP, Brazil)

Complutense University Madrid (Spain), Departamento de Filosofía y Sociedad

Complutense University Madrid (Spain), Research Group “Normativity, Emotions, Discourse and Society” (GINEDIS)

Complutense University Madrid (Spain), Red Iberoamericana Foucault

Complutense University Madrid (Spain), Seminario Foucault Complutense

Leuphana University of Lüneburg (Germany), Institute of Philosophy and Art History

University of Hamburg (Germany), Institute for Liberal Arts & Sciences

 

This activity is funded by Portuguese national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., within the project UID/00310/2025, Centro de Filosofia da Universidade de Lisboa (https://doi.org/10.54499/UID/00310/2025).