From Dimitra Amarantidou and Thomas Michael…
We are writing to share the Call for Papers for a joint special issue entitled Walking, Wandering, and Journeying: Approaches from Chinese and Greek Thought, to be published in Religions and Philosophies.
With this joint special issue we aim to open new, exciting dialogues between the Chinese and Greek philosophical and religious traditions. We invite you to contribute papers that explore the themes of walking, wandering, and journeying as guiding metaphors and embodied practices, whether within a single tradition or from a comparative perspective. The following timeline gives everyone ample time to develop their ideas:
- Abstract Submission Deadline: January 30, 2026
- Full Manuscript Submission Deadline: September 30, 2026
This schedule is designed to allow for preparation and may also align with the related “Way and Being: Between Daoist and Presocratic Approaches” Workshop planned in Germany (Tübingen) on 24-30 August, 2026, offering a potential venue for early discussion of your work.
On the Two Journals and the Publication Process
Your submission will be considered for either Religions or Philosophies based on its focus. As Guest Editors, we will help direct your abstract to the most appropriate journal. Please be aware of the fluid lines between “philosophy” and “religion” in this context. While we welcome you to suggest a preferred journal, we may redirect submissions to ensure the best fit.
Both Religions and Philosophies are highly-ranked, open-access journals, which ensures high visibility and citation rates. A key distinction is that Religions is AHCI-indexed, while Philosophies is ESCI & Scopus-indexed, which can be a significant factor for career advancement, especially at universities that offer publication bonuses.
Publication Fee
As open-access journals, a publication fee (Article Processing Charge) of CHF 1800 applies to accepted papers. We want to clarify this issue:
- Discounts are Available: As a Special Issue, we can secure a 20-30% discount on the fee. In cases of genuine financial hardship, the Managing Editor is committed to finding solutions, including potential waivers.
- Funding and Bonuses: Many scholars have research grants for this purpose. Furthermore, publishing in an A&HCI journal like Religions often makes you eligible for substantial publication bonuses at your home institution, particularly in China, which typically far exceed the fee.
- High-Impact Opportunity: This Special Issue is positioned at the cutting edge of its field, promising a lasting impact. The fee supports the high-quality, rapid publication process.
What to Do Next
For a full overview of the themes and submission guidelines, please see the below links.
If you are interested, we encourage a two-step process:
- Please let us know so we can keep a record, which is necessary for you to receive the publication discount.
Send your abstract to either of us for initial feedback. After your abstract is approved, you can submit via the journal websites:
You can submit your paper any time before the due date. Accepted papers are normally published within one month of publication.
Finally, please feel free to share this announcement with any colleagues or graduate students in your network who might be interested.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
This looks like a fantastic and very timely conference theme. The comparison between Chinese and Greek ideas of wandering is such a rich topic—it’s fascinating to think about how foundational concepts like the “Way” (Dao) and peripatein can be explored side-by-side.
I’m not in a position to submit a paper this time, but as someone interested in philosophy and narrative, I’m keen to follow the discussion. The prompts about “rootlessness” and the “inner journey” are particularly compelling.
I have a logistical question about attending: once the program is finalized, will the conference sessions be recorded and made available online for those who are unable to attend in person? I imagine there would be a lot of interest from people around the world who are intrigued by the theme.
Best of luck with the organization and with gathering what I’m sure will be a wonderful collection of papers!