Copenhagen Winter School in Phenomenology
The Copenhagen Winter School in Phenomenology is a PhD course that offers a close reading of a classical work in phenomenology. In 2027, the selected text is Gerda Walther's Ein Beitrag zur Ontologie der sozialen Gemeinschaften (1923)(Toward an ontology of social communities, trans. S. Luft & R.K.B. Parker, De Gruyter, 2025).
The Winter School will consist in two keynote lectures, 6 presentations by participating PhD students, and sessions devoted to a close reading of Walther's text. The two keynote lectures will discuss Walther's text and PhD students who wish to present will be expected to also engage with the work in question.
Although Walther’s (recently translated) work will constitute the point of departure, the systematic focus of the winter school will be broader. It will also engage with questions pertaining to social phenomenology, phenomenology and social ontology, and the application of phenomenology in the social sciences
The two keynote speakers will be Alessandro Salice (University College Cork) and Dan Zahavi (CFS - University of Copenhagen).
The winter school is aimed specifically at researchers at the beginning of the career.
Participation is free but limited to 35 people. Prior registration is required, please apply before November 1, 2026.
Notification of whether you have been accepted as a participant in the Winter School: November 15, 2026.
ECTS: 1.2 ECTS for participation / 2.7 ECTS for participation with presentation
The deadline for submitting an abstract is November 1, 2026.
Abstracts must be 500-1000 words in length
Abstracts that in some way engage with Walther's book on social communities will be prioritized
How to submit an abstract
- Send an email with your abstract included as an attachment (acceptable formats: .doc, .docx, .rtf, and .pdf)
- Make sure that the subject line of the email reads: “Abstract Copenhagen Winter School 2027”
- Address the email to zahavi@hum.ku.dk
Notification of reviewers’ decision: November 15, 2026
Organizers:
Dan Zahavi (University of Copenhagen)
Søren Overgaard (University of Copenhagen)
Please direct any questions to zahavi@hum.ku.dk
Registration
Winter School 2027 before November 1, 2026.
On both days, we will provide:
- Morning croissants, coffee, and tea
- Coffee and tea in the breaks
- A lunch voucher (including food and a beverage)
- Cake during the final break of the day
There will also be a common dinner on Thursday, January 28, but this will be self-paid. The restaurant charges approximately 185 DKK for the buffet (all you can eat) and 39 DKK for a beverage. Please let us know in the registration if you will join.
NB: As of spring 2023, Danish universities do not accept visitors or students with financing from CSC (Chinese Scholarship Council). The reason is that the terms of the contracts that CSC scholarship holders must sign compromise their working and living conditions and are inconsistent with academic freedom as it is understood at Danish universities.