Since the start of 2012, the Chair of Theoretical Philosophy has been offering the Master program in Theoretical Philosophy. This program enables specialization in the fields of metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of language and philosophy of mind. We concentrate on authors of the classical German philosophical tradition as well as 20th century authors in the analytic tradition.
In the Master in Theoretical Philosophy, students are given a research-orientated insight into the fundamental concepts and theories in the fields of metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of language and philosophy of mind. The focus of the Chair's research profile is on engaging with the approaches of classical German philosophy (Kant, Fichte, Schelling, Hegel) and 20th century philosophy. As reference points, thinkers like Adorno or Heidegger are on a par with Frege, Wittgenstein, Strawson, Sellars, Davidson or Brandom. By building bridges to analytic philosophy, the aim is not only to demonstrate that the supposedly long familiar classic thinkers are still relevant, but also to develop new approaches to solving current problems in theoretical philosophy.
In addition to a continuous, four-semester Master colloquium, courses take the form of special lectures, research seminars, essay courses and seminars on basic theoretical concepts. On top of that, all students meet once a week in the Master tutorial "Theoretische Philosophie". In this session, they work on central texts and topic areas of theoretical philosophy in collaboration with lecturers at the Chair and receive individual support on writing papers.
What is there in the world? What do we mean when we say that something is "real"? Is everything that exists a part of nature? Is freedom possible? What is time? Metaphysics attempts to answer the fundamental questions about the principles of being and human existence. It does not rely on feelings or intuitions to do this, rather on reasoned thinking and the rational examination of arguments. Although metaphysics can claim, with some justification, the title of "first philosophy", it is inseparably tied to the three other areas of theoretical philosophy. For why should we hope to be able to answer these questions satisfactorily given the nature of our knowledge, our language and our minds? Metaphysical questions are not only posed in a fundamental way; they are also a fundamental element of our self-understanding.
How is knowledge possible? What is truth? When do we call a belief justified? What is a judgement? Is there a foundation of knowledge, and does knowledge have limits? Through questions like these, epistemology seeks to clarify the concept of "knowledge" in general terms. Its analysis turns its attention to the making of assertions, to questioning and to argumentative justification, which are embedded in our linguistic practice. In terms of methods and subject matter, epistemology is in close contact with the philosophy of language. Epistemology seeks to understand not only the general form of knowledge, but also the differences between various types of knowledge (e.g. empirical and a priori knowledge). Here, at least, the importance of knowledge for the human condition is plain to see. For what does a human recognise, when they recognise themselves? Is (self-)knowledge a distinctive feature of humanity? Is it perhaps even our apex?
What is the difference between the word "apple" and an apple? If we look around ourselves at the world, we find, as well as all the things which stand for themselves (such as apples, elephants and lighthouses), things which do not stand for themselves but for something different entirely (like words, sentences or whole texts). We usually call these things "signs" and the property, through which they distinguish themselves from everything else, "meaning". But what is exactly is that, "meaning"? And how can an ordinary thing become a sign? Philosophy has been looking for answers to these questions for its entire history. The driving interest here, like almost always in philosophy, is self-knowledge: for, if it s true that humans distinguish themselves from other life-forms principally by their ability to use language, then we must understand language in order to understand ourselves.
According to our everyday understanding of ourselves, we are physical as well as mental beings: not only do we have physical properties (like height, weight or hair colour), we also have mental properties (like feelings or consciousness). But how should we think about the relationship between body and mind? Are these things two totally disparate spheres or are body and mind one and the same thing in the end? How should we analyse the sentence "I am in pain"? Are we just bodies? Or just minds? Are we divided beings by nature? Or are there better interpretations? The questions and answers in philosophy of mind have the potential to cast grave doubts on our everyday understanding of ourselves.
This textual canon is a list of fundamental philosophical works for the Master in Theoretical Philosophy. In keeping with the aim of building a bridge between the two fields, it is divided into the sections "Classic German philosophy" (Klassische deutsche Philosophie) and "Classic analytic philosophy" (Klassische analytische Philosophie).
Like any canon, it can be criticised for its selection. The purpose of the list is to offer students orientation and a starting point for their own explorations in the wide field of theoretical philosophy literature.
In addition to a shortlist, a longlist was also produced, which contains recommendations for an in-depth engagement with the topic areas of theoretical philosophy. The shortlist includes the obligatory textual foundation for students of the Master in Theoretical Philosophy.
You can find some recommended reading from current research in this document (PDF, 212 KB).
Admission to the Master's program in Theoretical Philosophy is currently not possible. Any changes will be announced on this page.
Note: compulsory modules have codes beginning with "P" (Pflichtmodul) and electives have codes beginning with "WP". (Wahlpflichtmodul).
Semester 1 (Winter)
Semester 2 (Summer)
Semester 3 (Winter)
Semester 4 (Summer)
These guidelines (PDF, 857 KB) were created at the Chair for Theoretical Philosophy (Prof. Dr. Axel Hutter) in the 2015/16 Winter Semester and were reviewed and updated in the 2019/20 Winter Semester. They aim to lay out the requirements for written academic work at the Chair in a clear and comprehensible way. The Chair thus recommends that all students read these guidelines. As the word "guidelines" implies, it does not give prescriptions so much as offer an orientation to those who need one.