Reason and Power

From antiquity to the present day, philosophers have consistently engaged with the concepts of knowledge, reason, and rationality on the one hand, and with that of power on the other. Furthermore, the corresponding domains of philosophical inquiry—broadly speaking, epistemology, psychology, and ethical and political theory—appear to be deeply intertwined. The aim of Issue 6 of SYNTHESIS – Journal for Philosophy is to explore the theoretical dimensions of the concept of power as it has been interpreted throughout the history of philosophy, and to investigate how these interpretations relate to corresponding conceptions of knowledge, reason, and rationality.

Contributors are invited to engage with one or more of the following questions:

1. Can we identify rational and irrational models underlying different philosophical conceptions of power? How might these models be distinguished and compared?
2. Is it possible to trace a historical evolution in the concepts of reason and power at specific moments in the history of philosophy?
3. How do individual and collective dimensions of power relate to each other and how do they relate to corresponding conceptions of knowledge and reason?
4. Is the dichotomy between rational and irrational models of power exhaustive?
5. Are there non-human conceptions of reason, and what forms of power might they entail?

Authors may also address questions that are not listed here, provided they align with the general theme and aim of the Issue.

Papers should be submitted by 30 April 2026. However, a first selection will be done on Abstracts. Abstracts should be sent by 31 August 2025. Please check the Submission page for details on format and authors’ submission guidelines.

Decision notifications on Abstracts will be sent by 30 September 2025.