Theoretical Philosophy
Research in Theoretical Philosophy
The starting point of many of our research and teaching activities are philosophical questions that arise from or touch upon the content of scientific disciplines. Accordingly, the individual team members have not only philosophical but also specific scientific qualifications. The various interdisciplinary projects range from inquiries regarding time and space travel to inquiries about music and data science. Projects do not only reflect scientific concepts and methods but also aspects of wider (social and anthropological) relevance.
Philosophy of Time
Time appears in different forms: for instance as physical time, as perceived time, as social-intersubjective time, and as historical time. Therefore, the concept of time has been the subject of constant and seminal discussions in various philosophical sub-disciplines such as metaphysics, philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, ethics, and the historiography of philosophy. Comparatively little attention is paid to the connections and commonalities of these discussions. It is the aim of this project to fill part of this gap. Learn more.
In the context of quantum mechanics, the conditions under which quantum systems can generate something like an objective time scale that is in principle accessible to an observer are investigated. Such a time scale is a precondition for things like a quantum clock. Learn more.
For humans, time is something embodied, but how it is actually perceived and experienced is also related to cultural conditions. As time also takes on culturally specific forms, it becomes something local, plural and historical. The aim of the project is to explore the multiple forms of 'human time' (temporalities) within the city of Bremen between 1400 and 1600. The main thesis is that Bremen, and pre-modern cities in general, can be usefully conceptualized for this purpose as 'local time zones'. Within those, time took on locally specific forms for people and was thus experienced and perceived in unical ways. Learn more.
Where thinking and living go hand in hand, every dance takes a bow. Because its attention is permanently focused on the interplay of time, space, body and rhythm. It grants access to that which escapes us: our reality and its dance.
Philosophy and Science
Unfortunately, hearing is often marginalized. Philosophy tends to "look closely" at things, but is rarely "listening" and trying to produce "sound" results. This project tries to counteract this marginalization through interdisciplinary research, but also through cooperations with musicians. Learn more.
How do technology, digital methods and especially space travel change our world and our experiences? What can we learn in space that we couldn't learn "at home" on Earth? Can we address climate change from space, for example? And what new opportunities will arise for disciplines as diverse as pharmacy and architecture if digital methods can be used to redesign both molecules and buildings? And most importantly, what does this mean for our own experiential processes? -- These and similar questions are addressed by our various subprojects.
The project analyses and defends the importance of conceptual-historical knowledge in the individual sciences. This knowledge is of both intrinsic and instrumental value, because it allows one to better understand and, if necessary, actively influence the inner dynamics of what one does as a scientist. Learn more.
This project considers a selection of Concepts and Problems which come up at the beginning of the Western philosophical tradition and have been crucial to the history of several ideas. It aims to show historical and systematic links between early Greek philosophical approaches and Early Modern philosophy and science. Learn More.
This project looks at emergent properties especially in chemistry and the extent to which they appear gradually or "suddenly" at a certain number of particles. It also looks at the concequences of this distinction for our corresponding concepts and the emergence of different levels of explanation. Learn More.
Critical Thinking
"Critical thinking in the sciences" - that sounds like a tautology! Science and research are always (at least supposedly) concerned with critical reflection; that is, with examining and questioning things rather than simply taking them at face value. Or is that perhaps only an ideal? In daily practice it may indeed look different. Numerous constraints, such as economic concerns, financial and time constraints, and peer pressure often make it difficult to critically examine the methods used, the concepts we presuppose and the conclusions drawn. Learn more.
The current developments in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning immediately raise philosophical questions, as does the general handling of ever increasing amounts of data. Pressing epistemological questions concern, for instance, the notion and role of epistemic “transparency” and of “creativity” in computer-based research. Learn more.
Global Philosophy
In Western universities, philosophy is often taught by studying mostly Western authors. This is often criticized, and rightly so: first, this approach can reinforce the stereotype of a philosophy as a Western-looking person, which in turn may lead to a feeling of non-belonging among students with different backgrounds. Second, not including other traditions also means missing out on fruitful and interesting perspectives that can enrich both teaching and research. Learn more.
As one approaches the history of African philosophy, two trends emerge: First, by non-Africans who "unilaterally claim the right to speak on behalf of Africans and define the meaning of experience and truth for them." Second, Africans are resisting and challenging their self-appointed biographers. African philosophy emerged from these two events (Masolo, 1994). The conditions under which African philosophy emerged can be examined as a site of contradictions, and the philosophical work of African philosophers can be seen as an attempt to break free from these contradictions. I would like to examine the forms of knowledge that emerged from this narrowly defined intellectual horizon and how the associated contradictions shaped African philosophy. Learn more.
Social Epistemology
Exchanging information is an integral part of our society and of what connects us. In a normal situation, we are willing to trust the information we receive from others. In doing so, we rely on the assumption that other people feel obligated to comply with certain standards: we expect each others not to lie or not to present guesses and hunches as if they were established facts. Learn more.
Our social identities are accompanied by both positive and negative prejudices, including ideas about what we are capable of knowing. However, ascriptions of knowledge and ignorance to social groups are not always based on prejudice, but can also be theoretically grounded, such as by the standpoint theorists. This project researches the impacts of such ignorance ascriptions. Learn More.
Finished Projects
To what extent are statements about the geometry and form (topology) of space and time conventional - precisely not literal assertions about facts, but (as conventionalists claim) expressions of a non-factual element of theory based on human settlements? We examine new approaches to this provocative thesis and its status in present theories of physics.
The terms paradigm and paradigm shift are used inflationarily in science and everyday life, and so there seem to be paradigm shifts in science everywhere. But to what extent is the concept appropriate for disciplines other than physics, at which Kuhn conceived the concept? Learn more.
The search for an empirically adequate theory of quantum gravity - i.e. a theory that should cover a range of validity in which traditionally both quantum mechanical and gravitational aspects are relevant - has been dragging on since the 1930s. The project addresses methodological-conceptual questions in the theory development and pursuit of a theory of quantum gravity: Can candidates be meaningfully tested or compared before the actual experiment? How systematically have the known candidates been found? Have meaningful directions of theory development been disregarded for purely contingent but substantively unjustified reasons? Learn more.
One of our current philosophy of science foci deals with so-called super-empirical theory virtues, i.e., theory criteria beyond empirical adequacy (with emphasis on forms of simplicity and unifying power) that play an important role in theory selection and evaluation. In specific applications to physical theories, we explore various explications of these criteria. The resulting case studies shed critical light on the status of these theory virtues and allow for a nuanced, practice-oriented assessment of these criteria.
Hermann Weyl (1885-1955) is considered one of the most important mathematicians of the 20th century. This project is devoted to his philosophical writings and demonstrates the unity of his thought. In particular, the conditions under which Weyl comes to references to Husserl and German Idealism in the context of his mathematical and physical works are systematically reconstructed. The academic environments from his student days in Göttingen and, in particular, the constellation with the Fichte expert Fritz Medicus during their time together at the ETH Zurich from 1913 to 1930 prove to be important prerequisites. Learn more.
This project is about a critical examination of the different and at the same time successful theoretical approaches in contemporary quantum field theory. The current state of physics is discussed against the background of a symbolic philosophy, which goes back to some extent to the work of Hermann von Helmholtz and Heinrich Hertz and was then developed in particular by Ernst Cassirer. Learn more.
In this project systematic connections of perception, consciousness and time are investigated. In doing so, the work of Leibniz and Husserl is used; however, not for philological-exegetical reasons, but in order to gain (with Wittgenstein's formulation) a "clear representation". For the works of Leibniz and Husserl have strongly influenced later discussions and continue to serve as a useful orientation in many aspects. Learn more.
Former Members
Prof. Dr. Manfred Stöckler (retired)
Dr. Anne Christina Thaeder, postdoc (2019-2020)
Mahé Crüsemann, project employee (2020-2021)
Dr. Patrick Dürr, postdoc (2021-2022)
Catherine Herbin, doctoral student(2019-2022)
Pressefunde
Zeitschrift "Cinema" zum Thema Zeitreisen
Playlist "Auszeit" (Musik und Statements zum Thema Zeit)
Zeitzeichen (Bericht über Bonner Jazz-Tagung und Konzerte)
Projektbeteiligte "Space-based Geoengineering" im Interview mit der OHB
Ehemalige Mitarbeiterin im Interview zum Berufsbild "Philosophin"
Liedermacherin sieht Bremer Philosophie als Rettungsanker und beteiligt sich am Projekt "ZeitHören"
"Philosophie der Zeit" im Ludwigshafener Pesch-Haus
Musikalische Kreativität, künstliche Intelligenz und die Philosophie von Hören und Klang