It is often thought that modern analytic jurisprudence has left theology behind. Think again. Consider the following quote from the Hart-land of jurisprudence: 

If men are not devils, neither are they angels; and the fact that they are a mean between these two extremes is something which makes a system of mutual forbearances both necessary and possible. With angels, never tempted to harm others, rules requiring forbearances would not be necessary. With devils prepared to destroy, reckless of the cost to themselves, they would be impossible. (HLA Hart, The Concept of Law, 196) 

Neither angels nor demons would have the kind of legal system that we have. Law is situated precariously between heaven and hell. This jurisprudential insight is dripping with theological speculation. It seems that jurisprudence is not done with theology yet. 

This symposium – the sixth in the series – continues the conversation at the intersection of jurisprudence and theology, broadly understood. We welcome papers that explore this intersection from diverse interdisciplinary perspectives, from all faith traditions and none, and from both faculty members and postgraduate students.  

Past symposia were held at the University of Notre Dame Australia (2019), the University of Sydney (2022), the University of Adelaide (2023), the University of Southern Queensland (2024), and the Queensland University of Technology (2025). 

Please submit your abstracts (100-200 words) with your name and institutional affiliation to A/Prof Joshua Neoh (joshua.neoh@anu.edu.au) before 1 November 2025. We will let you know the result of acceptance by 15 November 2025. There is no conference fee for the symposium. 

Accepted papers will be circulated in advance of the symposium. The full papers will be due in early January 2026, so that participants have time to read the papers before the symposium. At the symposium, we will move straight to discussion of each paper. 

Canberra is a very pleasant city, some say the nation’s best. There are plenty of national institutions that you can visit while you are here. There are lots of hotels close to the ANU campus. My personal favourites are Ovolo Nishi and Peppers Gallery.