Teaching Philosophy

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Special Issue of Teaching Philosophy

The Ethics of Ambiguity, Simone de Beauvoir¡¯s articulation of an existentialist ethics, is one of the mainstays of introductory courses in ethics and philosophy as well as more advanced courses in existentialism, feminism, continental philosophy, moral theories, and women in philosophy. Instructors often rely on Beauvoir¡¯s discussion of the attitudes toward freedom in the second part¡ªso much so that this part is often featured as a stand-alone excerpt. Students are drawn to the characterization of the subman, the serious man, the nihilist, the adventurer, and the passionate man. Other instructors frame The Ethics of Ambiguity as a response to Sartre¡¯s unfulfilled promise of an existentialist ethics, obscuring Beauvoir¡¯s unique philosophical contributions. Beauvoir¡¯s essay, however, invites a much deeper examination both for its unique insights and for how it builds on or challenges so-called universal accounts of ethical theory. In addition, Beauvoir weaves allusions to 20th century post-war politics and social relations; even 80 years later, her analysis of oppression and critique of social conditions continues to be salient.

In honor of the 80th anniversary of its publication in 2027, Teaching Philosophy invites submissions that explore the practical and theoretical impact of The Ethics of Ambiguity for the teaching and learning of philosophy. We welcome contributions from scholars of a variety of backgrounds and disciplines. In the spirit of Teaching Philosophy¡¯s mission, we especially encourage submissions that rely on collaboration between faculty and students at any level (undergraduate, graduate, non-traditional, or unaffiliated, etc.). We are interested in questions that include, but are not limited to, the following:

• The enduring value of The Ethics of Ambiguity: in the canon of philosophy, as a text in a philosophical curriculum, as an educational resource for instruction.
  
• Novel critiques or analyses of The Ethics of Ambiguity highlighting issues of diversity and amplifying underappreciated voices in philosophy.
• Reflections on the learning process for students first encountering Beauvoir through The Ethics of Ambiguity and methods for teaching Beauvoir¡¯s nonfoundationalist ethics in introductory courses.
• Teaching The Ethics of Ambiguity and practicing decolonizing the classroom.
• Approaches to teaching Beauvoir¡¯s conceptions of Freedom, Ambiguity, and Otherness in ambiguous times and places.
• How to understand Beauvoir¡¯s concept of ¡°projects¡± in the context of pedagogy; how the projects of students and instructors enhance or affect the classroom.
• Examination of the tension between individual freedom and collective liberation in Beauvoir's The Ethics of Ambiguity and reflected in the practice of pedagogy.
• Discussion of The Ethics of Ambiguity as a stage in Beauvoir's thought¡ªthe ¡°moral period¡±¡ªor how to teach The Ethics of Ambiguity in relation to the rest of her work.
• Commentary on recent scholarly interpretations of Beauvoir¡¯s arguments in The Ethics of Ambiguity.
• Engagement of existentialism and phenomenology as historical traditions or enduring methods (e.g., critical phenomenology) in relation to Beauvoir¡¯s thought.
• Application of Beauvoirian insights on political/liberatory violence in relation to student protests and political movements in the past 80 years.
• Beauvoir¡¯s Philosophy of Education; the relationship between Beauvoir's biographical experience as a classroom teacher, pedagogical observations in The Ethics of Ambiguity, The Coming of Age, and The Second Sex, and beyond.

Submission Procedure

We anticipate final articles to run between 6,000 and 8,000 words, including an abstract of no more than 150 words. Submissions should be prepared for anonymous peer-review. For detailed formatting instructions please consult the journal's Submission Guidelines.

Manuscripts should be submitted by March 1, 2026, online at https://mc04.manuscriptcentral.com/teachingphilosophy.

Please note the ¡°Ethics of Ambiguity Special Issue¡± in your cover letter. Inquiries about this call can be directed to the Editor, Maralee Harrell, at [email protected].