The event brought together leading philosophers from around the world to explore the so-called “inefficacy problem”. This puzzle has sparked vibrant debate in moral and political philosophy. Through a series of talks, commentaries, and discussions, the conference advanced new theoretical insights and fostered collaboration on understanding and responding to this challenge.
“It was particularly rewarding to receive such sharp comments. They fostered an unusually in-depth and productive dialogue,” says Mattias Gunnemyr, researcher at the Department of Philosophy, Linguistics and Theory of 91̽, and one of the conference organisers.
Among the distinguished participants were Carolina Sartorio (Rutgers), Frank Hindriks (Groningen), and keynote speaker Julia Nefsky (Toronto). Boudewijn de Bruin (Groningen) and Julia Driver (Austin) also contributed to the discussions even though they did not present. Among the early-career scholars was Tessa Supèr from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, recipient of the Young Scholar Award for her paper Inefficacy Induced Temptation.
New book in the pipeline
A key aim of the conference was to develop contributions for the forthcoming edited volume The Ethics of Inefficacy, to be published by Routledge in 2026. The volume is co-edited by Mattias Gunnemyr, Rutger van Oeveren, and Jan Willem Wieland. It will be the first book dedicated entirely to the inefficacy problem.
Designed for both researchers and students in philosophy, the volume aims to set the agenda for future inquiry while also serving as a valuable teaching resource.
“Its thematic structure and comprehensive introduction make it suitable for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses,” says Mattias Gunnemyr.
Text: Monica Havström
