Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 40, No. 36.
        Department of Digital Humanities, University of Cologne
                      Hosted by DH-Cologne
                       www.dhhumanist.org
                Submit to: humanist@dhhumanist.org




        Date: 2026-06-01 18:54:10+00:00
        From: Arianna Borrelli <anews@WEATHERGLASS.DE>
        Subject: Call for Papers: History and Philosophy of Programming Symposium - What is critical about programming?

History and Philosophy of Programming (7th symposium):

      What is critical about programming?
13th of November 2026 - Universität Basel, Switzerland


Abstract

We are pleased to announce the call for papers for the 7th symposium on
the history and philosophy of programming (HaPoP) in Basel on November
13th, 2026. We invite contributions on the history and philosophy of
programming broadly understood, whether conceptual concerns or practical
matters, field-specific examinations or cross-disciplinary comparisons,
as well as, but not limited to, epistemic, aesthetic and ethical
reflections.

In the spirit of interdisciplinary inquiry into programming, this
symposium asks broadly "what is critical about programming?". We start
from appreciating a critical moment, a crisis, as that which requires
clear assessment of a situation, and subsequent action. From the
so-called "software crisis" in the 1960s to the programming of critical
systems and automated decision-making about potential crises of today,
we seek to assess how criticality is defined within such systems and in
which ways it intersects with adjacent concepts such as risk, safety and
harm.. Moreover, programming can also be considered  as a means of
conducting critique both within the domain of computer science as well
as  outside of it. As such, the symposium considers a critical stance,
or critique, as that which seeks to delimit one's own knowledge and
abilities, considering these limits as rooted within the thinking
subject as well as societal structures. Critically examining programming
therefore involves tracing both how programming is limited in itself,
and how it limits the abilities of the domains and users on which it
operates, as well as how it broadens the possibilities of programming
practices.

We therefore invite abstracts of about 500 words (including references)
on the history and philosophy of programming which should be sent to
basel-2026@hapoc.org <mailto:basel-2026@hapoc.org> by 2026-07-31. Please
see the full open call for further details.

You will find the full call here: https://hapoc.org/hapop-7/


_______________________________________________
Unsubscribe at: http://dhhumanist.org/Restricted
List posts to: humanist@dhhumanist.org
List info and archives at at: http://dhhumanist.org
Listmember interface at: http://dhhumanist.org/Restricted/
Subscribe at: http://dhhumanist.org/membership_form.php