Why Are We Fighting? Philosophy in Polarized Times
April 10, 2026, 10h00 – 17h00
University of Pardubice,
Building Titan/VO
Room: 01009
Conference Schedule
| 9h45 | Registration |
| 10h00 |
Welcome Address from the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies (UPCE) |
| 10h10 | Keynote Lecture: Antony Fredriksson |
| 10h50 — 12h20 | Panel 1: |
| Jakub Kast Novák | Friendly Enemies and Unfriendly Friends: The Possibilities and Limits of Chantal Mouffe’s Model of Agonistic Democracy |
| Alina Rogach | Environmental Burdens On Marginalized Communities: Who Bears the Cost of the Climate Crisis? |
| Liubomyr Vovnianko | An Active and Uncompromising Political Stance, Even at the Risk of Escalation, is Necessary to Maintain the Strongest Diplomatic Position of the States in Times of Polarization and Crisis |
| Pola Deka | The Role of Anger and Compassion in the Foundation of a Just Society: A Perspective Inspired by Martha Nussbaum |
| 12h20 | Lunch |
| 13h10 — 14h20 | Panel 2: |
| María Miralles Viu | Pacifism Across Time and Space, or How Humans can Use Empathy to End Wars |
| Alina Dunaieva | The Limits of Individual Responsibility in Conditions of War |
| Karyna Shynkaretska | How Violence Becomes Acceptable: Mechanisms of Militarisation |
| 14h20 | Coffee |
| 14h30 — 15h40 | Panel 3: |
| Zlata Pelykh | Truth in Ethics and the Fragility of Moral Consensus |
| Magdalena Wolska-Augustyn | The Authority of Rationalism: Conspiracy Theories and Epistemic Injustice |
| Emir Mert Mendi | Reevaluation of Conspiracy Theories in the Light of Epstein Files |
| 15h30 | Coffee |
| 15h40 — 16h50 | Panel 4: |
| Yassine El Bakri | Beyond Scarcity: Mimetic Rivalry and the Existential Simplification of a Polarized Mind |
| Igor Parnowski | Political Polarization as a Struggle Between Regimes of Truth |
| Karol Barć | Clash of Thought Styles: Ludwig Fleck Perspective on Polarization |
| 16h50 | Conference Closing, Final Reflections |
Those who are interested are welcome to join for an informal social after the conference closing at Divadlo 29
Organizing Committee: Niklas Forsberg, Antony Fredriksson, Lesley Jamieson
Queries can be directed to: LesleyPaige.Jamieson@upce.cz