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2. Enlightenment Thought: Concepts, Arguments, Systems

The era of the Enlightenment is considered as the century of philosophers. The research field “the thought of the Enlightenment” offers projects that focus on philosophical concepts, arguments, and systems (all in the broadest possible sense) in the “Age of reason” from a historical and systematic perspective. The emphasis lies on the investigation of the reception and effects of the Enlightenment within Europe, as well as on the current relevance of its emancipatory project.

Projects

The Philosophy of the Enlightenment and its Critics (Hegel, Heidegger, neo-Aristotelianism, etc.)

Heiner F. Klemme

For this project, representative comments on the philosophy of the Enlightenment will be examined and discussed on the basis of their factual and philosophical content. A focal point of the project will be practical philosophy and the theory of subjectivity. G.W.F. Hegel, Hannah Arendt, Martin Heidegger, Philippa Foot, Elisabeth Anscombe and John McDowell will be among the philosophers under study.

Obligation and Practical Reason

Heiner F. Klemme

The concept of obligation, which was introduced in the philosophical debate mainly by Christian Wolff, lies at the heart of this project. Its significance from a historical, philosophical and interdisciplinary perspective will be explored and discussed, while paying particular attention to the period of the Enlightenment.

Philosophy of Religion after the Enlightenment

Jörg Dierken

The concept of philosophy of religion, which emerged in 1770 denotes a way of thinking about religion which considers itself bound to reason. Conceptual and categorical reflection from and about the divine was admittedly already very old by then, but it acquired a new quality and dynamic dimension with the Enlightenment and the advent of modernity. An essential aspect of this is the fact that religion became understood as “the concern of Man” (Spalding).