We are excited to be partnering with the University of Virginia Contemplative Sciences Center to publish a special issue of the Journal of Contemplative Studies called "Contemplation +Technology". The special issue invites scholars to explore the dynamic and multifaceted relationship between contemplation and technology.
In an era marked by rapid technological advancements—spanning artificial intelligence, digital media, virtual reality, and neurotechnology—many of the tools we rely on shape not only how we think but how we live, perceive, and experience the world. This shift invites both excitement and concern: technology has the potential to enhance contemplative practices by fostering deeper self-awareness, social connection, and global empathy, but it also risks exacerbating distraction, disembodiment, and existential alienation.
We seek to examine how contemplative traditions, long devoted to fostering presence, mindfulness, and reflection, are being transformed by technology. Can the digital environment serve as a meaningful space for contemplative experiences, or do such practices require embodied, slow engagement with the analog world? Conversely, how might contemplative practices offer insights into the ethical challenges raised by surveillance, algorithmic decision-making, or the culture of constant connectivity? Stay tuned for the call for papers!
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