Call for Application

01. März 2026

Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) on Spinoza's Philosophy

»Hortus Spinozanum III – Thinking Emancipation«

25–29 May 2026 online

1–5 June 2026, University of Paris Nanterre
Send us your application by 1 March 2026

https://site.unibo.it/sivenatura/it/eventi/bip-hortus-spinozanum-iii-thinking-emancipatimce_temp_url

Hardly any other Western philosopher of the early modern era developed more unconventional theories than Baruch de Spinoza. The heterodoxy of his philosophy stems from several doctrines, among others, the capacity of matter to form itself, the parallelism of body and mind, the excessiveness of positive affects and their power to induce the production of rational ideas, as well as the potentiality of the multitude to govern itself, to destroy dysfunctional institutions and create new ones from below. The Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) »Hortus Spinozanum – Thinking Emancipation« provides critical tools for interpreting the present era from a Spinozian perspective, but also offers an opportunity to study multiple aspects of Spinoza’s thought in their historical contexts. In addition, you will gain insights into why Spinoza has received such outstanding attention from various currents of contemporary critical thought, from post-structuralism and post-Marxism to New Materialism.

The professorship Cultural Philosophy/ Philosophies of Culture invites MA and doctoral students to apply for the BIP on Spinoza’s philosophy, taught by lecturers from around ten European universities. You will spend one week in Paris with international students from universities in the Hortus Spinozanum network. The innovative format of combining online sessions with a face-to-face teaching period is an excellent opportunity for students to broaden their understanding of Spinoza’s thought, its sources, and receptions. It provides an opportunity to meet Spinoza scholars in a thriving international environment. You find a list of courses and presentations on the homepage of Cultural Philosophy/ Philosophies of Culture:

www.kuwi.europa-uni.de/de/professuren-mitarbeitende/kulturphilosophie/index.htmlmce_temp_url

·       The program carries 6 ECTS for a total of 30 teaching hours (F2F and online).
·       The summer school takes place at the University of Paris Nanterre from 1–5 June 2026.
·       The virtual mobility period takes place from 26–29 May.
·       Activities will be conducted in French and English. Good knowledge of both languages is a prerequisite for participation.
·       For the transfer of your credits to Frankfurt, you have to submit a ten-page term paper.
·       Your stay in Paris will be financially supported by Erasmus funds (79 €/ day).
·       You receive an additional travel cost compensation of 309 €.
·       Further subsidies for green travel or to compensate for disadvantages are possible.
·       Apply for one of six available scholarships (deadline: 1 March 2026).

Please send your brief and informal application to Prof. Dr. Katja Diefenbach: diefenbach@europa-uni.de. A couple of lines are sufficient (in English or German):

· Why are you interested in the programme?
· Do you already have knowledge of Spinoza’s philosophy (which is not necessary in order to apply) and if so, regarding which aspects?

Viadrina programme head: Prof. Dr. Katja Diefenbach, diefenbach@europa-uni.de
Lecture K. Diefenbach: Deleuze’s Spinoza and the Enigma of the Doctrine of Attributes (1/6/26)
International Office Coordinator: Sarah Krebs, short-term@europa-uni.de

Hortus Spinozanum III: Thinking Emancipation

PDF: List of Speakers and Presentations

Laurent Bove (Association des Amis de Spinoza): Une pensée inédite des contre-pouvoirs et de la décision démocratique.
Gaye Çankaya Eksen (Galatasaray University): Relational Richness of the Body, Cognitive Emancipation of the Mind.
Fabio Carnevali (Università di Palermo / Université Paris Nanterre): A Spinozist Reading of Eco-Anarchism.
Filippo Del Lucchese (Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna): Subject and Relation: Pathways between Spinoza and Marx.
Katja Diefenbach (European University Viadrina): Deleuze’s Spinoza and the Enigma of the Doctrine of Attributes.
Diego Donna (Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna): Les raisons de la force. Boulainvilliers lecteur de Spinoza, entre conatus et droit.
Sebastian Dute (École Normale Supérieure de Lyon): The Problem of Resistance in Spinoza’s Political Philosophy.
Gabriel Frizzarin (Université de Sao Paulo / Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne): Le modèle de la nature humaine chez Spinoza : une détermination de la raison.
Iago Orlandi Gazola (Universidade de São Paulo / Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna): The Conflict between Experiences in Ethics III.
Chantal Jaquet (Professor Emerita, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne): Le problème du possible et du contingent chez Spinoza.
Dani Barki Minkovicius (Universidade de São Paulo / Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne): Spinoza et Plotin, une lecture bergsonienne.
Ioannis Prelorentzos (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens): Autour du TTP.
Matheus Romero de Morais (Université de São Paulo / Università degli Studi di Urbino Carlo Bo): Spinoza against Voluntary Servitude.
Martin Saar, Ivo Eichhorn and Andrea C. Blättler (Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main): Spinoza, Life, Power.
Andrea Sangiacomo (University of Groningen / Erasmus University Rotterdam): Spinoza’s Metaphysics of Essences: Uniqueness and Negation.
Aris Stilianou (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki): Spinoza on Revolution.
Francesco Toto (Roma Tre University): Le Chapitre I du TTP: La prophétie / Le Chapitre II du TTP: Le prophète.
Lorenzo Vinciguerra (Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna): Immanence and Imagination.
Zehao Yin (Université Paris Nanterre): Spinoza on the Union of Mind and Body.