Call for Participants / Call for Abstracts:
Collegium Spinozanum V
An International Summer School on Spinoza and Spinozisms in Their Historical and Philosophical Contexts
FernUniversität in Hagen, 30 June – 3 July 2026
The Collegium Spinozanum V aims to bring together advanced students and established scholars working broadly on Spinoza’s thought, its sources, and its reception. Creating an international forum to stimulate scholarly exchange and conversations inspired by diverse approaches, the Collegium Spinozanum has been held four times with increasing participation and has now become a well-established tradition.
Over four consecutive days, morning sessions will be devoted to distinct areas of Spinoza scholarship, guided by our keynote speakers. Afternoon sessions will feature roundtable discussions and selected papers presented by participants.
Keynote Speakers
Alexander Douglas (University of St. Andrews)
Julia Peters (University of Heidelberg)
Kristin Primus (University of California, Berkeley)
Martin Saar (Goethe-Universität Frankfurt)
Academic Coordinators
Martin Lenz (FernUniversität in Hagen)
Andrea Sangiacomo (University of Groningen / Erasmus University Rotterdam)
Practical Information
Level: From advanced BA students to senior academics
Fee (includes course materials, administration, four lunches, coffee breaks, and one dinner):
- €350 – PhD students, postdocs, and senior staff
- €250 – Undergraduate students
In cases of financial hardship, a reduced fee may be available. Please indicate this in your application if applicable.
Requirements
Participants should have a basic prior knowledge of Spinoza’s philosophy and a general familiarity with philosophy and the history of philosophy. A sufficient command of English is required for active participation and presentation.
Learning Outcomes
After this course, participants will be able to:
- Grasp key and challenging aspects of Spinoza’s philosophy and its historical dimensions.
- Navigate contemporary scholarly debates related to Spinoza and Spinozism.
- Develop analytical skills in reading, understanding, and explaining historical texts.
- Enhance social and academic skills for engaging with a diverse scholarly audience.
Workload
- Preparatory work: 24 hours
- Contact hours: 30 hours
Total: 54 hours (equivalent to approximately 2 ECTS)
Participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance stating the total workload. Students may apply for credit recognition at their home institutions; the final decision rests with those institutions. The organizers will provide additional documentation if required.
Application Procedure
To apply, kindly send a mail to Alina Barendt: alina.barendt@fernuni-hagen.de
Please state ‘CS V’ in the header of your mail and provide your name, academic status and affiliation / place of study.
Please add the following documents in PDF format:
- CV (max 2 pages)
- Motivation statement (max 300 words) stating the reasons for attending the Collegium
- For those who wish to present a paper: send an abstract of max. 500 words.
Application deadline: January 31, 2026
Participants who apply to present a paper will be notified of acceptance of their papers by February 15, 2026. Time slots for presentations are limited. But if your paper is declined, you can still participate in the summer school.
Please note that in the case that the number of applications will exceed 40, a selection may take place. The selection will give priority to participants who have been accepted and further to those who best meet the requirement (prior knowledge of Spinoza and background in philosophy and history of philosophy), and who completed their registration earlier.
Accommodation
The fee does not cover accommodation costs. Below is a list of nearby options:
Low budget:
Medium budget:
High budget:
Handling Ideas 