17th SOCIAL ETHICS SOCIETY CONFERENCE
CALL FOR PAPERS
Theme: Humanity at the Technological Crossroads: Justice, Democratic Futures, and Ethical Responsibility
Date: February 19–20, 2027
Venue: North Valley College, Kidapawan City, Philippines
The conference is fully in-person.
Deadline of Submission: January 15, 2027
Email: roger.bayod@gmail.com
Host Institution: North Valley College
Conference Chair: Dr. Rogelio Bayod
The Social Ethics Society invites philosophers, researchers, academics, professionals, and undergraduate and graduate students to submit abstracts for the 17th Social Ethics Society Conference, to be held on February 19–20, 2027, at North Valley College in Kidapawan City, Philippines.
Under the theme “Humanity at the Technological Crossroads: Justice, Democratic Futures, and Ethical Responsibility,” the conference seeks to foster critical philosophical dialogue on the ethical, political, and social implications of technological transformation. It welcomes contributions that examine how emerging technologies shape human dignity, democratic institutions, social justice, and the future of human societies.
Rationale and Background
Technological transformation has become one of the defining features of contemporary human existence. Artificial intelligence, algorithmic decision-making, digital surveillance, automation, and emerging technological systems are reshaping how people work, communicate, govern, and understand themselves. While these developments offer new possibilities for human flourishing, scientific advancement, and social progress, they also raise fundamental philosophical questions concerning justice, freedom, equality, accountability, and human responsibility.
The growing influence of technology in political and economic life demands renewed reflection on the relationship between technological progress and the common good. Who benefits from technological innovation, and who bears its risks? Can democratic institutions remain responsive and accountable when decision-making is increasingly mediated by algorithms and powerful technological corporations? How should societies address digital inequality, technological dependency, and the concentration of economic and political power? What ethical principles should guide the development and use of technologies that increasingly influence human choices and social relationships?
These questions are particularly significant in the context of global justice, where technological resources, infrastructure, and opportunities remain unevenly distributed. The experiences of marginalized communities, Indigenous peoples, and developing societies challenge universal claims about technological progress and invite critical reflection on whose knowledge, interests, and values shape technological development. The ethical implications of technology must therefore be considered alongside broader concerns about democratic participation, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and the protection of human dignity.
The 17th Social Ethics Society Conference provides a forum for examining these challenges through the perspectives of philosophy, ethics, political theory, science and technology studies, and related disciplines. It encourages scholars to explore how technology can be critically understood and ethically governed in ways that promote justice, strengthen democratic life, and preserve human agency.
Ultimately, the conference aims to advance philosophical inquiry into the kind of future humanity wishes to create. Rather than treating technological innovation as an end in itself, it calls for a renewed commitment to ethical responsibility, democratic accountability, and the pursuit of a more just and humane world.
Suggested Topics
Papers may address, but are not limited to, the following areas:
- Education, Global Poverty, and Human Development
- Global Justice and the Ethics of Emerging Technologies
- Artificial Intelligence, Moral Agency, and Human Responsibility
- Democracy, Algorithmic Governance, and Political Accountability
- Techno-Capitalism, Digital Inequality, and Social Justice
- Philosophy of Technology and the Meaning of Human Flourishing
- Human Dignity, Autonomy, and Technological Transformation
- Digital Surveillance, Privacy, and Individual Freedom
- AI Ethics, Accountability, and the Future of Work
- Technology, Decoloniality, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems
- Digital Colonialism and the Global Distribution of Technological Power
- Technology, Environmental Ethics, and Sustainable Development
- Transhumanism, Human Enhancement, and the Future of Humanity
- Social Media, Disinformation, and Democratic Participation
- Technology, Peacebuilding, and Conflict Resolution
- Ethics of Innovation, Public Policy, and the Common Good
- Philosophy of Man in the Age of AI
- AI, Peace, and Buddhist Philosophy
The conference also welcomes papers addressing other philosophical and ethical questions relevant to the conference theme.
Plenary Speakers
- Dr. Juichiro Tanabe (,Waseda University)
- Dr. Layne Hartsell (Chulalongkorn University)
- Dr. Daniel Mishori (Tel Aviv University)
- Dr. Bernardo Caslib Jr (UP Manila)
- Dr. Noel Pariñas (UP Los Baños)
- Dr. Anton Heinrich Rennesland (UST)
- Fr. John Guo (UIC)
Conference Fees
Regular - 5,600
Graduate Students - 4 000
Undergraduate - 2,000
Inclusion - Meals, Conference kit, book, access to all sessions. Certificates
Accommodation - Participants are advised to book their own hotels. The Secretariat will send a list of accommodation to the presenters of accepted abstracts.
For more information, contact the Secretariat:
Migs Mansueto: migs_mansueto@yahoo.com or Dr. Rogelio Bayod: roger.bayod@gmail.com