Although "philosophy" is in the title, we're looking for chapters from any theoretically-oriented disciplinary or interdisciplinary perspective. Feb. 1st submission deadline. Thanks! -- Dylan Wittkower -------------------------------------------- Call for Abstracts Facebook & Philosophy Dylan Wittkower (ed.) d.e.wittkower@gmail.com Abstracts are sought for a new title in the Wiley-Blackwell series Philosophy for Everyone, under the general editorship of Fritz Allhoff. Never before has a single social forum played so central a role in so many people's lives. Facebook is quickly taking on roles previously served by telephones, town squares, televisions, student commons, board games, and much more besides. How does Facebook change our social existence, community activities, and self-identity? How does it add meaning to our lives? Transform us? And, for the better, or for the worse? Facebook is already an important part of our lives – but, even more significantly, it represents a kind of social media that will have an incredible impact on how we live. Facebook & Philosophy is an effort by philosophers, academics, and technology experts to make sense of what Facebook means for us; and to do so in an engaging and exciting way, reaching a broad audience. We solicit abstracts on the implications of Facebook from any philosophical perspective (analytic, continental, pragmatist, non-Western), or from theoretically-oriented interdisciplinary perspectives (especially but not only from Communications, Media Studies, STS, Sociology, Psychology, and Political Science). While any topic is welcome, we expect that primary topics of interest may be: Identity including authenticity online; race/ethnicity/gender issues; religious diversity and identity; relationship status; self-portraiture and profile pictures; and autobiography via mini-feed and microblogging. Friendship v. "Friending" including virtual/real splits, overlaps, and transitions; the effect of communications media on relationships; permanently online friends and the debatable importance of "actually" meeting people; the ethics of friending and unfriending; and the role of boredom and play in friendship. Community Formation including group identity; political affiliation; political debate; political organizing; causes and fundraising; the rise and meaning of a "notification society;" Facebook and the public sphere; and global friendship and cosmopolitanism. Facebook in Organizational Contexts including Facebook in education; Facebook as a resource for business; Facebook, employers, and privacy; Facebook as a business and free content/free access as a business model. Other elements of Facebook use that might be of interest include various applications (e.g. Scrabulous, PackRat, Pirates/Zombies, icanhascheezeburger); integration with mobile computing (inc. cellphones, twitter, iPhones, etc.); the effects of Facebook on our civil and moral rights (e.g. rights to privacy, property, speech, opportunity); and the role of Facebook in political campaigns, especially the 2008 election. Guidelines: The book is intended for a general readership. This does not mean that you can't say something serious or complicated; it does mean that you must be interesting, engaging, and lively. This is a great opportunity to contribute to an understanding of a new and emerging form of sociality, and the importance of this understanding goes far beyond academia. Please send abstracts (250-350 words) by Feb. 1, 2009. Notice of acceptance by March 23rd, 2009. Full chapters (4000-5000 words) due July 13th, 2009. Submit abstracts to facebook.and.philosophy@gmail.com To keep in touch with the volume, and for information about the book as it develops, join its Facebook fan page, here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Facebook-and-Philosophy/40232732873 For more information about Wiley-Blackwell's Philosophy for Everyone Series, or to propose a volume for the series, contact series editor Fritz Allhoff at fritz.allhoff@wmich.edu.