The theme for the seventh issue of the Moral Philosophy Discussions section is: Social justice and new technologies: ethical challenges and opportunities

1. Addressing the issue of fairer social justice requires continuous assessment of wealth and its distribution, the possibility of equal opportunities, the defence of rights that uphold the dignity of all, the taking of compensatory measures and support for the most vulnerable. If we consider, moreover, the role played in the social sphere by institutions capable of guaranteeing public services, such as public health and schooling, the right to work, social security, and the taxation system, it becomes possible not only to understand the rights and duties of citizens, but also to assess how central in a given context are values such as equality and life chances in a time when differences are growing and most people find their places in the lottery of opportunities determined by algorithms.

2. The impact of new technologies (including AI) on modern societies complicates ethical issues and leads us to ask to what extent a ‘responsible’ use of technology can promote greater equity, justice or security. People need equitable care, a fair distribution of resources, equal opportunities for different demographic groups and the knowledge that they are being treated with ‘justice’ and that any legitimate demands for gender, economic, ethnic equality will be respected.

3. Addressing the issues of social justice requires a meaningful confrontation with issues of equality and equal opportunities: how is a more equal society possible in the light of ineliminable differences between its members? 

4. Is it possible to include new paradigms in the concept of social justice, such as restorative justice, with regard to prisoners, for example? How can we promote paths to integration for migrants and people with mental health problems?

5. Can new technologies contribute to equal opportunities in access to care and a fairer health system or to support for the disabled?

6. AI seems to be expanding the sphere of equality, in terms of the possibilities open to most people to access information, but how do we assess the fact that this comes with a decrease in privacy and a system of continuous surveillance?

7. Can information technology in the health sphere promote greater social justice by diminishing generational, gender, social, economic differences? How can we promote improvements in quality of life for the elderly and the disabled?

 

The deadline for submissions to this discussion is February 20, 2025. The contributions, between 15,000 and 30,000 characters in length, must be uploaded in anonymized form at this link: https://mimesisjournals.com/ojs/index.php/MF/about/submissions

 

The topic for the Discussions section of the 2/2025 issue of Filosofia Morale/Moral Philosophy is: Cinema, citizenship, and education: shaping democratic imaginaries.

This issue explores the role of cinema in building more just, inclusive, and democratic communities, with particular attention to cinema as an educational tool capable of fostering critical thinking, developing utopian imagination, and strengthening the sense of civic belonging.
The topic can be developed by addressing the following questions:

1. How can cinema, with its unique narrative and visual language, be transformed from a medium of entertainment into a genuine tool of philosophical education, where speculative and moral positions are presented and argued?
   
   
2. What innovative methods can be developed to integrate cinema into educational practices, to promote participatory experiences, to stimulate dialogue that goes beyond the mere consideration of the theses explicitly presented in the films, and to encourage critical thinking and ethical reflection?
   
   
3. How can the imagination of better or worse futures, for example through the depiction of utopian and dystopian scenarios in films, help us to critically analyze and address the contradictions and challenges of the present?
   
   
4. How can filmmakers' speculative visions inspire audiences to engage with issues such as inequality, environmental degradation, technological progress and political crises? How can the cinematic representation of alternative societies lead to transformative action in the real world?
   
   
5. Is it possible for cinema, with its unique power to bring people together, to foster a sense of shared responsibility within democratic societies and to contribute to the bridging of divisions, the countering of polarisation and the promotion of civic participation?
   
   
6. Is there a real impact on cultural perceptions and public policy in the way films address issues of diversity, equity and inclusion? How do films influence conversations about the exploration of identity?
   
   
7. Films can emotionally engage audiences, forcing them to confront moral dilemmas and question social norms and established values. To what extent can a film foster empathy and develop ethical imagination?
   
   
8. Cinematic storytelling often relies on viewers' identification with specific characters and circumstances, leading audiences to challenge their own ideas about what is right and wrong: what are the possibilities and limits of narrative strategies based on identification?

 

The deadline for submissions to this discussion is September 20, 2025. The contributions, between 15,000 and 30,000 characters in length, must be uploaded in anonymized form at this link: https://mimesisjournals.com/ojs/index.php/MF/about/submissions

 

ABOUT THE JOURNAL 

The Italian Society of Moral Philosophy, following one of its statutory purposes, founded Filosofia Morale/Moral Philosophy, a new digital scientific journal, open access and subject to double-blind review. The journal intends to be a common space of research, open to the contribution of all people involved in the study of ethics and capable of promoting a sense of belonging to the scientific community of moral philosophy. 

Moral Philosophy publishes contributions in the field of moral philosophy and neighboring disciplines (politics, theory, aesthetics, language, anthropology, religion), in a pluralist perspective, open to the different traditions of thought and the different approaches that animate ethics. The journal hosts historical, theoretical, applied and interdisciplinary contributions. 

Contributions may be written in Italian, English, French, German and Spanish, provided that they are written or revised by a native speaker by the author. 

The selection criteria are the argumentative rigor, the originality of the theses and the accuracy of the documentation, as well as the correctness and respect of each person, even in the expression of objections and criticisms towards the authors. 

The journal has three sections: Articles, Discussions, and Reviews. 

The Articles section is not thematic: contributions between 30,000 and 50,000 characters (spaces, bibliography and notes included) are published on any topic that falls within the area of moral philosophy broadly understood. Proposals for contributions may be submitted throughout the year. Proposals are double-blind reviewed. Publication shall take place in the first available issue. 

The Discussions section is  thematic: contributions between 15,000 and 30,000 characters are hosted, relevant to the topic that is indicated for each issue in the Call for papers section: https://mimesisjournals.com/ojs/index.php/MF/call-for-papers. Proposals are double-blind reviewed.

The Reviews section hosts contributions of no more than 15,000 characters, with no notes or bibliography, concerning volumes of interest to moral philosophy broadly understood.