September 2025 - News - Philosophy bulletin board

by Martin Kusch

Dear All, The next talk in the "Wittgenstein=steine" series is this Friday (June 13th) at 3pm in room NIG 3D. The speaker is Konstantin Deininger, and his title is: _"On the Material and Formal Aspects of (Moral) Certainty"_. Abstract: Does morality have a binding character in the sense that chains of justification come to an end? In this talk, I will affirm this question and argue that we can plausibly distinguish between formal and material aspects of moral certainty. As a starting point, I will interpret Wittgenstein's idea of "bedrock," introduced in §217 of the Philosophical Investigations, as standing for the end of a chain of reasoning. In doing so, I align with certain Wittgensteinian interpreters who maintain that some chains of moral reasoning end with certainty. However, I will arrive at deviating conclusions by demonstrating that different kinds of moral certainties function in different ways. Wittgensteinian scholars such as Cora Diamond and Nigel Pleasants correctly identify the formal aspect of moral certainty, showing that some propositions resist justification and doubt. However, the candidates for formal certainties they propose do not fully satisfy the criteria of certainty. This, I argue, is due to their failure to adequately distinguish between the formal and material aspects of certainty. Material certainties, such as Diamond's "slavery is unjust and insupportable" or Pleasants' "killing is wrong," remain intelligible to some extent and are thus subject to justification and doubt. Still, these propositions function as regress stoppers by putting an end to the chain of reasoning--but they do not mark the boundary of the unintelligible as formal certainties do. Drawing on Wittgenstein's later writings, I will argue that only formal certainties--which I refer to as transcendental certainties--are entirely exempt from justification and doubt. I identify the principle "equals are to be treated equally" as a plausible candidate for transcendental certainty. This certainty is foundational to moral reasoning and enables moral thought. I illustrate its role through debates on justice in animal ethics. Everybody welcome! Best wishes from the organizers, Esther Heinrich-Ramharter Anja Weiberg Martin Kusch

2 weeks, 6 days

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Call for Organizers: VDP Summer School 2026 Deadline for applications: November 5th

by VD Philosophy

Dear All, The Vienna Doctoral School of Philosophy is seeking proposals for the sixth edition of its summer school, to take place in 2026. We're currently accepting proposals for organizing and leading our next year's Summer School. Deadline: 5th November 2025 23:59 (CET) Funding: The VDP will cover organizational costs for the conferences, as well as travel expenses for international and local instructors. How to apply? Interested parties should submit a proposal for the upcoming Summer School, which should not exceed 2-3 pages. The proposal should include: 1. Suggested title(s) 2. A description of the summer school 3. Target audience(s) (e.g., late master's students, PhD students, postdocs) 4. Dates 5. Organizing team, including VDP members, postdocs and faculty (ideally up to 4 to 5 members) 6. List of possible instructors 7. Description of the teaching formats (lectures, workshops, group discussions) and daily activities In addition, please send in an excel document a 8. A detailed budget plan (summer schools may charge a fee). VDP doctoral researchers must consult the Funding Request and Reimbursement Guidelines document when preparing this plan. Additionally, organizers are encouraged to seek additional funding. Who can apply? VDP members (VDP doctoral researchers, and VDP supervisory and non-supervisory faculty). Submission Details Please ask questions or submit proposals in PDF format by email to vd.philosophy(a)univie.ac.at (Subject: "Summer School Proposal") Information on VDP summer schools is found at https://vd-philosophy.univie.ac.at/phd-program/doctoral-training/summer-sch… We look forward to receiving your proposals. Best regards, Raphael Aybar -- MSc. Mag. Raphael Aybar, BA Scientific Coordinator Vienna Doctoral School of Philosophy University of Vienna Universitätsstraße 7, B0301 1010 Wien +43-1-4277-46020 https://vd-philosophy.univie.ac.at/ vd.philosophy(a)univie.ac.at raphael.aybar(a)univie.ac.at

2 months, 2 weeks

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Einladung zur Buchpräsentation "Interkulturelle Phänomenologie: Georg Stengers Werk im Gespräch" am 08.10.2025 um 17h im Lesesaal der FB Philosophie und Psychologie

by Sonja Fiala

Liebe Institutsangehörige! Herzliche Einladung zur Buchpräsentation "Interkulturelle Phänomenologie: Georg Stengers Werk im Gespräch" am 08.10.2025 um 17h im Lesesaal der FB Philosophie und Psychologie. Zum Buch Es dürfte wohl kaum verwundern, dass die Texte in einem Band, welche das Werk von Georg Stenger würdigen, insbesondere zwei Bereichen entspringen: der Phänomenologie und der interkulturellen Philosophie. Wollte man die einschlägigen Autor*innen dieses Bandes unter einem einzigen programmatischen Begriff vereinen, so wäre dies gewiss die einer >Interkulturellen Phänomenologie<. Darunter werden indes unterschiedliche Fragestellungen verhandelt, so etwa die interkulturellen Verflechtungen des Denkens, die Verortungen der Welt, der Anspruch des Anderen im Politischen sowie das Phänomen des Dazwischen, der Genese und Physis. Mit Beiträgen von Hiroshi Abe | Katsuya Akitomi | Arno Böhler | Sarhan Dhouib | Mădălina Diaconu | Hans-Herbert Kögler | Sophie Loidolt | Ram Adhar Mall | John C. Maraldo | Ali Asghar Mosleh | Ryosuke Ohashi | Heiner Roetz | Hans Schelkshorn | Hans Rainer Sepp | Toru Tani | Zhuofei Wang | Niels Weidtmann | Markus Wirtz | Ichiro Yamaguchi [cid:image001.png@01DC23D1.B0599470] https://bibliothek.univie.ac.at/events/008516.html Liebe Grüße Sonja Fiala OR Mag. Sonja Fiala Leiterin der Fachbibliothek Philosophie und Psychologie Fachreferentin für Philosophie - Hauptbibliothek Universität Wien Universitätsbibliothek Fachbibliothek Philosophie und Psychologie Universitätsstraße 7, 1010 Wien T: +43-1-4277-15079 sonja.fiala(a)univie.ac.at<mailto:sonja.fiala@univie.ac.at> https://ufind.univie.ac.at/de/person.html?id=15366 https://bibliothek.univie.ac.at/fb-philosophie-psychologie/ https://bibliothek.univie.ac.at/fb-philosophie-psychologie/fb_in_medien.html https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5492-8934 Vorsitzende der Arbeitsgruppe Informationsethik der Vereinigung österreichischer Bibliothekarinnen und Bibliothekare https://voeb-b.at/voeb-kommissionen/ag-informationsethik/ [cid:image002.png@01DC23D1.B0599470]

2 months, 4 weeks

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Ausschreibung -I- Job advertisement: University Assistant postdoctoral (4681)

by Philosophie

Guten Tag! wir möchten Sie über folgende aktuelle Jobausschreibung am Institut für Philosophie der Universität Wien informieren: Universitätsassistent*in PostDoc (4681) Arbeitsgruppe: Sprachphilosophie und analytische Philosophie Link zur Ausschreibung: https://jobs.univie.ac.at/job-invite/4681/ Wir laden alle Interessierten herzlich dazu ein, sich für diese Position zu bewerben. Bitte leiten Sie diese Information auch an potenziell interessierte Personen in Ihrem Umfeld weiter. Vielen Dank im Voraus für Ihre Unterstützung! Mit freundlichen Grüßen Katherina Krobath -- Dear Sir or Madam, We would like to inform you about the following current job opening at the Department of Philosophy at the University of Vienna: University Assistant postdoctoral (4681) Working group: Philosophy of Language and Analytic Philosophy Link to the job posting: https://jobs.univie.ac.at/job-invite/4681/ We warmly invite all interested individuals to apply for this position. We would also greatly appreciate it if you could share this information with potentially interested individuals in your network. Thank you in advance for your support! Kind regards, Katherina Krobath

2 months, 4 weeks

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Invitation "Thinking Nature" - Didier Debaise - Lecture and Workshop, October 16/17

by Ralf Gisinger

Dear colleagues, We are happy to invite you to the next events of the series THINKING NATURE [1] at the Department of Philosophy, University of Vienna. It will be a two-day lecture and workshop with Didier Debaise, who is joining us in Vienna in person (but online participation is also possible): Thinking Nature: Didier Debaise - Lecture and Workshop [2] Thursday, October 16: Lecture "From Nature to the Earthbounds: Rethinking the Adventure of the Moderns" 18:00-20:00 (CET), Room 3A (NIG) and online Friday, October 17: Workshop "Geophilosophies" 10:00-16:30 (CET), Room 3A (NIG) and online Lecture "From Nature to the Earthbounds: Rethinking the Adventure of the Moderns" (October 16) Abstract: The Moderns are notably defined by their concept of nature. In this talk, I aim to examine the birth, circulation, and normative power of the concept of nature, as well as its current crisis. How was the idea of nature and a natural order invented? To which events was this idea connected? How was it deployed across all levels of Modern experience to become the focal point of all major issues? Finally, how did nature become a political force that now reveals its limitations within the framework of the "new climatic regime"? These questions will be explored through the lens of several thinkers, primarily Whitehead, Deleuze, Stengers, and Latour. Workshop "Geophilosophies" (October 17) Description: Reading and discussion of texts by and with Didier Debaise (Université Libre Bruxelles). Inputs/talks by Christoph Hubatschke (IT:U Linz), Eva Jägle (University of Vienna/ University of Music and Performing Arts), Lilian Kroth (University of Fribourg), Isabella Schlehaider (Academy of Fine Arts Vienna). Texts for the workshop and online participation (Zoom): ralf.gisinger(a)univie.ac.at [3] or eva-maria.aigner(a)univie.ac.at [3] Workshop-texts: - "The earthly becomings of thought. How do we take the legacy of Geophilosophy?" (Deleuze and Guattari Studies) - "The Land of the Modernes. The sense of Latour's Pragmatism" (Theory, Culture and Society) - "An Ethology of Abstractions: Learning How to Cultivate Our Modes of Thought with Stengers" (Adventure of Aesthetics) - (With I. Stengers): "An ecology of trust? Consenting to a pluralist universe" Didier Debaise is professor at the Université Libre Bruxelles. His main areas of research are contemporary forms of speculative philosophy, philosophy of nature, and links between American pragmatism and the French contemporary philosophy. He wrote several books on Whitehead's philosophy (_Un empirisme spéculatif, Le vocabulaire de Whitehead _and _L'appât des possibles_), edited volumes on pragmatism (_Vie et experimentation_), on the history of contemporary metaphysics (_Philosophie des possessions_), and he wrote numerous papers on Bergson, Tarde, Whitehead, Simondon, Deleuze, Latour and Stengers. Two of his books were published in English: _Nature as Event _and_ Speculative Empiricism_. Next Event 2025 Claire Colebrook (Penn State University) _November 21_, 10:00-12:00, online. Live-Streaming and Responses in Room 3A (NIG) THINKING NATURE [4], organized by Eva-Maria Aigner and Ralf Gisinger Research Circle Poststructuralism, Gender Theory, Psychoanalysi Funded by the Vienna Doctoral School of Philosophy Contact Eva-Maria Aigner (eva-maria.aigner(a)univie.ac.at [3] ) Ralf Gisinger (ralf.gisinger(a)univie.ac.at [3] ) https://poststrukturalismus.univie.ac.at [5] Links: ------ [1] https://poststrukturalismus.univie.ac.at/veranstaltungen/thinking-nature-ev… [2] https://poststrukturalismus.univie.ac.at/veranstaltungen/thinking-nature-di… [3] http://webmail2016.univie.ac.at/./#NOP [4] https://backend.univie.ac.at/index.php?id=219906&L=0 [5] https://poststrukturalismus.univie.ac.at/

3 months

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Einladung zur Buchpräsentation "Das Neue - Prolegomena zur Känologie" am 22.10.2025 um 18h im Lesesaal der FB Philosophie und Psychologie

by Sonja Fiala

Liebe Institutsangehörige! Herzliche Einladung zur Buchpräsentation "Das Neue - Prolegomena zur Känologie" am 22.10.2025 um 18h im Lesesaal der FB Philosophie und Psychologie. Zum Buch Dieses Buch versteht sich als einleitender Aufbau einer Philosophie des Neuen. Damit verfolgt es zwei Ziele. Einerseits handelt es sich um die Etablierung eines neuen philosophischen Begriffes: Känologie. Andererseits gilt der Hauptumfang dieser Untersuchung der erst beginnenden Problematisierung des Phänomens des Neuen. Denn das Neue wurde bisher noch nicht in vergleichbar systematischer Weise thematisiert. Hauptverantwortlich dafür ist der Umstand, dass das Neue nicht als eigenständiges und besonderes Phänomen angezeigt wurde. An dieser Stelle meldet Känologie ihren Anspruch an. Känologie ist Tatsachenforschung. Es geht ihr um die Erforschung der Sache des Neuen in seiner Tat. Zum Autor Markus E. Hodec studierte Philosophie, Ethik, Politikwissenschaft und Soziologie an der Universität Wien, der Fakultät für Humanwissenschaften der Karls-Universität in Prag, der Universität Innsbruck und der Argentinischen Akademie der Wissenschaften in Buenos Aires. Er promovierte im Fach Philosophie und arbeitet vor allem zur Philosophie des 19. und 20. Jahrhunderts sowie zur Antiken Philosophie. Er ist Herausgeber der Reihe "Jahrbuch der Prager Gruppe". Zuletzt erschien sein Roman "Alex" sowie das Kunstkartenbuch "Kainós". Er ist Vorstandsmitglied des Instituts für Philosophie, Psychoanalyse, Kulturwissenschaften e.V. und lässt sich derzeit in Wien zum Psychoanalytiker ausbilden. [cid:image001.png@01DC23D2.C4AFC470] https://bibliothek.univie.ac.at/events/008517.html Liebe Grüße Sonja Fiala OR Mag. Sonja Fiala Leiterin der Fachbibliothek Philosophie und Psychologie Fachreferentin für Philosophie - Hauptbibliothek Universität Wien Universitätsbibliothek Fachbibliothek Philosophie und Psychologie Universitätsstraße 7, 1010 Wien T: +43-1-4277-15079 sonja.fiala(a)univie.ac.at<mailto:sonja.fiala@univie.ac.at> https://ufind.univie.ac.at/de/person.html?id=15366 https://bibliothek.univie.ac.at/fb-philosophie-psychologie/ https://bibliothek.univie.ac.at/fb-philosophie-psychologie/fb_in_medien.html https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5492-8934 Vorsitzende der Arbeitsgruppe Informationsethik der Vereinigung österreichischer Bibliothekarinnen und Bibliothekare https://voeb-b.at/voeb-kommissionen/ag-informationsethik/ [cid:image002.png@01DC23D2.C4AFC470]

3 months

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Einladung | Präsentation der Schulbuchreihe „Ethik. Diskurs und Orientierung“

by Sonja Fiala

[Logo der Universitätsbibliothek Wien] Präsentation der Schulbuchreihe „Ethik. Diskurs und Orientierung“ am 9.10.2025 um 18:00 Uhr in der FB Philosophie und Psychologie <https://bibliothek.univie.ac.at/fb-philosophie-psychologie/> Universitätsstraße 7, Stiege II, 3. Stock 1010 Wien [cid:image002.png@01DC0B69.2DB12D10] Unter dem Motto "Fach- und Methodenkompetenz im Ethik-Unterricht" wird die Schulbuchreihe „Ethik. Diskurs und Orientierung“ von Katharina Lacina, Anita Kitzberger und Andreas Höller präsentiert. Alle Informationen<https://bibliothek.univie.ac.at/events/008415.html> Zur Reihe Die Schulbuchreihe "Ethik" begleitet Schülerinnen und Schüler auf der Suche nach Orientierung in Grundfragen des Lebens. Dabei werden Wege zu einer gelingenden Lebensgestaltung aufgezeigt und diskutiert. Ethik weckt die Freude am Argumentieren und trägt dazu bei, die autonome Urteilsfähigkeit der Schülerinnen und Schüler zu schärfen. mit Katharina Lacina und Andreas Höller (beide Institut für Philosophie, Universität Wien) Im Anschluss laden wir zu Brot und Wein! Alle Bände in u:search, der Suchmaschine der UB Wien: Schulbuchreihe Ethik. Diskurs und Orientierung<https://usearch.univie.ac.at/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,ethik%…> [cid:image002.png@01DC0B69.2DB12D10] kommunikation.ub(a)univie.ac.at<mailto:kommunikation.ub@univie.ac.at> bibliothek.univie.ac.at/events<https://bibliothek.univie.ac.at/events> Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/ub.wien/?locale=de_DE> ǀ Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/ubwien/> ǀ YouTube<https://www.youtube.com/user/ubwienprojekt> Bildnachweis: © Verlag Hölder-Pichler-Tempsky / Raphael Dürnberger

3 months, 1 week

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Invitation: Talk on Opium for the Earth at the expense of nonhuman animals? A non-anthropocentric perspective on Geoengineering

by Leonie Bossert

Dear colleagues, You are cordially invited to the Winter Lecture Series of the Vienna Animal Studies Group, which starts next Wednesday (Sept. 10) with a talk on a non-anthropocentric ethics of geoengineering. When: September 10th at 5:00 pm Where: NIG Hörsaal 3D What: Talk by Leonie Bossert on "Opium for the Earth at the expense of nonhuman animals? A non-anthropocentric perspective on Geoengineering" For more information on this and the upcoming events, please visit https://www.viennaanimalstudies.com/event-list With best wishes on behalf of the VAS team, Leonie Bossert -- Dr. Leonie N. Bossert Post-Doctoral University Assistant Chair for Philosophy of Media and Technology University of Vienna Latest publications: "Why the carbon footprint of generative large language models alone will not help us assess their sustainability." Nature Machine Intelligence 2025 (7), 164-165, with Wulf Loh. "On the values of microbes: An ethical investigation of relational values associated with the microbial world." People and Nature 2025 (7/4), 804-814, with Davina Höll.

3 months, 1 week

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Workshop: Rethinking European Modernity in a Global Context, 26.-27.09.2025, Universität Wien

by Gerald Posselt

Workshop Rethinking European Modernity in a Global Context: A Conversation with Hans Schelkshorn Fri 26-09-2025 & Sat 27-09-2025 Meeting Room at the Deanery of the Faculty of Catholic Theology (Dekanatssitzungssaal KTF) University of Vienna, and online ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: PD Dr. Gerald Posselt Department of Philosophy |University of Vienna Universitätsstr. 7 | 1010 Vienna +43-1-4277-46452 gerald.posselt(a)univie.ac.at<mailto:gerald.posselt@univie.ac.at> Language and Violence / Critical Theories Network<https://language.univie.ac.at/> Recent publications: "Politik und Aphasie: Zur Polarität von Metapher und Metonymie", in: Zeitschrift für Praktische Philosophie 12 (1), 2025, 369-398. https://doi.org/10.22613/zfpp/12.1.16 "Aporias of Truth and Politics: Arendt, Foucault, and the Practice of Truth-Telling." Genealogy+Critique 11 (1), 2025, 1-31. https://doi.org/10.16995/gc.17038

3 months, 1 week

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AI in Academia Workshop - Efficiency, Transparency and Responsibility - 13-15 Oct.

by Vienna Doctoral School of Philosophy

Dear all, The Vienna Doctoral School of Historical and Cultural Studies is inviting PhD students and Postdocs to register to the following workshop: AI in Academia Workshop - Efficiency, Transparency and Responsibility You can find a full description of the workshop and register at: https://urise.univie.ac.at/mod/booking/optionview.php?optionid=1363&cmid=28… Best wishes, Raphael Aybar

3 months, 1 week

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2025

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