Political Philosophy in Essen

Welcome

to the pages of the Chair for Practical Philosophy with focus on political, legal and social philosophy. Our research focuses on questions of legitimacy and justice in transnational contexts, on social ontology, on the significance of law and rights for the constitution of political order, and on property theory. Our approach is primarily systematic, but we also engage with the history of philosophy.

Current Teaching

OS Neuere Forschung zur politischen Philosophie (Niederberger)

Master-SE Ästh./Kultur/Soz.: Gesellschaft und Herrschaft (Niederberger, Tölle)

SE Praktische Philosophie: Feministische Theorie und Umweltphilosophie (Weiler)

SE Politische Philosophie/Sozialphilosophie: Was heißt es, gleich zu sein? (Niederberger, Orha)

Interdisziplinäres Seminar (MA Theorie des Sozialen): Transnationale Gerechtigkeit und Demokratie (Niederberger)

Master-SE Moralphil./Angewandte Ethik/Pol. Phil: Carl Schmitt, Der Begriff des Politischen (Tölle)

Master SE-Moralphil./Ang. Ethik/ Polit. Phil.: Wozu Demokratie? Rechte Kritik liberaler Gesellschaften (Weiler)

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Current Research

  • September 16–17, 2026: International Conference "Contemporary Slavery, Human Rights & Socio-Environmental Justice" – Centre for Global Cooperation Research, Duisburg

  • August 13 – November 26, 2026: International Seminar of Social Philosophy (in remembrance of Jürgen Habermas), UNAM Posgrado, Mexiko City – with a presentation by Andreas Niederberger "Will a Pluralistic Foundation Undermine the Strength of Human Rights?" (Oktober 1st)

  • Publication: Review by Andreas Niederberger (Duisburg-Essen) of Stefanie Buchenau, Menschenwürde. Kant und die Aufklärung. Hamburg: Meiner, 2023.

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