Research Project
Kantian Perspectives on Social Irrationality
PROBRAL (CAPES/DAAD) | 2022-2025
The collaborative research project aims to analyze, problematize, and evaluate various aspects of human nature with respect to the sources of social irrationality and their possible solutions, as presented in the philosophy of Kant and the Kantian heritage (especially Rawls and Habermas). At first glance, it may seem that Kantian philosophy has no relevance to social rationality, a field dedicated to defining the most appropriate means to achieve social ends and the realization of certain values. It is within the scope of social rationality to investigate obstacles and define a systematically appropriate organization to overcome them. However, if the relationship between ends and means is not the central element of Kantian ethics, it does not follow that pragmatic rationality does not play an indispensable role for both social and moral ends. This was clearly emphasized by John Rawls, who, in constructing his liberal theory of the principles of justice for the fundamental structure of society, emphasized the role of social rationality and reasonableness. Also in Kant's Anthropology from a Pragmatic Point of View, numerous elements for a systematic analysis of social irrationality can be found. They clarify different dimensions of social irrationality, which are usually treated independently of each other, but when brought together and systematically linked, they constitute a radical critique of social irrationality and an alternative to methodological (epistemological, logical, and moral) egoism.
Events
Workshops on Kantian Perspectives on Social Irrationality
Initiated by Prof. Dr. Joel Thiago Klein (Federal University of Paraná) and Prof. Dr. Jean-Christophe Merle (University of Vechta), the Kant and Interlocutions study group is hosting a series of workshops on the theme "Kantian Perspectives on the Causes of Social Irrationality." This event, to be conducted in a hybrid format, is directed toward Kant study groups from the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), and the University of Vechta. The initiative aims to foster interdisciplinary and international dialogue on key aspects of Kant’s practical philosophy that provide insights into understanding and addressing phenomena of irrationality in contemporary social contexts.
Mon, 17 OctReitoria UFPR Ed. Dom Pedro I Sala 506
Mon, 22 AugUniversität Vechta | Building Q, Room Q
Group Members
Prof. Dr. Alessandro Pinzani
Since 2004, he has been a professor of Ethics and Political Philosophy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. He holds a master's degree in Philosophy from the University of Florence, Italy (1992), and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Tübingen, Germany (1997). He completed postdoctoral research at Columbia University in New York (2001-2002, with a scholarship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation), at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (2010-2011 with a Capes scholarship), as well as at the Università degli Studi di Firenze and Ruhr-Universität de Bochum (2015-2016 with a Capes scholarship). He obtained his Habilitation (Livre-Docência) and Venia Legendi in philosophy at the Universität Tübingen (2004). Among his notable books are "An den Wurzeln moderner Demokratie" (Berlin, Akademie, 2009), "Jürgen Habermas" (Munich, Beck, 2007), and "Vozes do Bolsa Família. Autonomia, dinheiro e cidadania" (in co-authorship with Walquíria Leão Rego, São Paulo, UNESP, 2013; English translation: "Money, Autonomy, and Citizenship," Dordrecht, Springer 2019).
Dr. Anna Szyrwińska-Hörig
Lecturer for special tasks in philosophy at the University of Vechta since October 2015. Previously, a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg from July 2013 to October 2015. Served as a research assistant at the Department of Philosophy at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg from July 2013 to June 2014. Completed a Ph.D. at the Polish Academy of Sciences on the topic: "The Influence of Pietism on Immanuel Kant's Ethics" in 2012. An associate member of the Research Training Group of the Network of Excellence Enlightenment - Religion - Knowledge of the State of Saxony-Anhalt at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg from January 2011 to December 2012. Previously studied philosophy at the Universities of Warsaw and Constance, pursued doctoral studies in Warsaw and Halle, and was a scholarship holder of the Fritz Thyssen Foundation and the Polish Ministry of Education and Science. Main research interests include the history of philosophy, the early modern period, and the Enlightenment, focusing on freedom and determinism, ethics, philosophy of law, and philosophy of religion.
Prof. Dr. Cristina Foroni Consani
Cristina Foroni Consani holds a degree in Law from the State University of Maringá and earned her master's degree in Law and Ph.D. in Philosophy from the Federal University of Santa Catarina. She conducted a doctoral sandwich program at the Department of Political Science at Columbia University (USA). Her research focuses on modern and contemporary political philosophy, philosophy of law, and theories of democracy. Currently, her research explores the theme of conflict in modern and contemporary political philosophy, emphasizing the relationship between consensus and conflict in the realm of international politics, particularly in the works of Jürgen Habermas and Chantal Mouffe.
Prof. Dr. Jean-Christophe Merle
Merle holds a degree in Philosophy from the University of Paris IV (Paris-Sorbonne) (1985) and a degree in History from the University of Paris IV (Paris-Sorbonne) (1987). They completed a Ph.D. in Philosophy at the University of Fribourg (1993) and earned a Habilitation (equivalent to a post-doctoral qualification in Brazil) from the University of Tübingen. Currently, they are a Full Professor at the University of Vechta (Germany) and Honorary Professor at the University of Saarland (Germany). Merle is a member of the editorial board of the Revista Brasileira de Estudos Políticos at the Faculty of Law and Political Science of UFMG. They have teaching and research experience in the field of Philosophy, with a focus on Practical Philosophy, and have published several works in this area.
Prof. Dr. Joel Thiago Klein
Degree and Master in Philosophy from the Federal University of Santa Maria (2008) and Doctorate in Philosophy from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (2012), with a doctoral internship at the Humboldt University of Berlin. Professor of Modern Philosophy, Ethics and Political Philosophy at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), where he teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses. He is also a permanent member of the Graduate Course in Philosophy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). He completed his postdoctoral studies at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich with a CAPES/Alexander von Humboldt fellowship for experienced researchers. Editor of Studia Kantiana (journal of the Brazilian Kant Society since 08/2015, qualis A2). Member of the Board of the Brazilian Kant Society (2014-2018; 2018-2022; 2023-2026). Sustaining member of the Kant Working Group of ANPOF. Associate member of the Philosophy Center of the University of Lisbon. CNPq Productivity Fellow since 2016. Former CAPES and DAAD fellow. His publications include the book Kant and the Idea of a Universal History (Loyola, 2016) and articles published in the main Brazilian philosophy journals (such as Ethic@, Analytica, Kriterion, Veritas, Discurso, Transformação, Dois Pontos, Cadernos de Filosofia Alemã, Dissertatio, Studia Kantiana and Manuscrito) and in important international journals (such as Kant-Studien, Kant Yearbook, Kantian Review, Revista Portuguesa de Filosofia, Revista Latinoamericana de Filosofia, Philosophica, among others). He also has several publications in international collective volumes from publishers such as OLMS, De Gruyter, Palgrave Macmillan, Cambridge Schollars, Duncker & Humblot, and Routledge. He has edited 34 journal volumes (Studia Kantiana, Ethic@, Dois Pontos, and Princípios). In addition to his research on Kant's theoretical and practical philosophy (from a historical and systematic perspective), he works on epistemology, democracy, philosophy of law, philosophy of history, and theories of justice. He has supervised 15 master's theses and is currently supervising 6 graduate students (3 master's and 3 Ph.D. students) and 2 postdocs.
Dr. Luciana María Marta Martínez
Postdoctoral researcher at UFPR. Recently worked as a researcher at the Kant University of Kaliningrad and as a professor at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) and the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA). Currently serves as the secretary of the Kantian Studies Group of Buenos Aires (GEK) and the journal "Revista de Estudios Kantianos" (REK) of SEKLE, and is a member of the editorial committee of the journal "Siglo Dieciocho." Also, a member of the North American Kant Society (NAKS), the Argentine Association of 18th Century Studies, and the International Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies (ISECS).
Prof. Dr. Maria de Lourdes Borges
Holds a Master's degree in Philosophy from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (1990) and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (1996). Currently, she is a Full Professor at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. She completed postdoctoral studies at the University of Pennsylvania (1999), Humboldt University (2006), and Columbia University (2014). Her expertise lies in the field of Philosophy, with a focus on Kant, Hegel, ethics, emotions, and feminist philosophy. She has published works such as "What can Kant teach us about emotions" in The Journal of Philosophy and "Physiology and the Controlling of Affects in Kant's Philosophy" in the Kantian Review. She has authored several books and articles on Kant, Hegel, ethics, emotions, and feminist philosophy, including "História e Metafísica em Hegel," "Amor," "Tudo o que você precisa saber sobre Ética," "Atualidade de Hegel," "Body and Justice," "Razão e Emoção em Kant," "Emotion, Reason and Action in Kant" (Bloombury, 2019).
Prof. Dr. Vinícius Berlendis de Figueiredo
Hold a Bachelor's (1988), Master's (1993), Ph.D. (1999), and post-doctoral degree (2013) in Philosophy from the University of São Paulo. Participated in the cadre training program (1988-1990) and served as a researcher (1990-1993) at CEBRAP. Since 1993, has been a professor at the Federal University of Paraná. Former editor of the journal "Dois Pontos" (2004-2008), secretary-general of the Brazilian Kant Society (2004-2007), president of ANPOF (2011-2012), and associate and full coordinator of the Philosophy area at Capes (2014-2018). Author of three individual books and approximately 30 articles in specialized journals in the areas of Modern Philosophy (with emphasis on Kant), Aesthetics, and Ethics and Politics. Holds a permanent position in the graduate programs in philosophy at UFPR and UFABC.
Prof. Dr. Maria de Lourdes Borges
Post-doctoral student at UFPR. She holds a bachelor's degree (2015) and a master's degree (2018) in Philosophy from the Federal University of Paraná. She was part of the Tripartite Master's program at the Federal University of Paraná, having studied at the Université de Rennes I (France) and the Université de Sherbrooke (Canada). He holds a PhD in philosophy from the State University of Campinas (2024), with a research internship at the University of Groningen (Netherlands). Member of the Brazilian Association for Eighteenth Century Studies, the Brazilian Kant Society and the UK Kant Society. Researcher in the History of Modern Philosophy, with an emphasis on moral and political philosophy in Kant.
Dr. Rômulo Eisinger Guimarães
Ph.D. in Philosophy (2020) from the Federal University of Santa Maria, with a sandwich period at Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Germany. Master's in Philosophy (2016) from UFSM. Bachelor's in Visual Arts - Drawing and Plastic Arts (2012) from UFSM, under the guidance of Prof. Ms. Alphonsus Benetti at Ateliê 1336 (academic exchange at the Universidad de la Republica, UdelaR, Uruguay). Areas of Interest: Visual Arts (history, theory, criticism, and reflection of Art; artistic creation and visual poetics), Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art, Normative Ethics, Metaethics and Applied Ethics, Semiotics and Hermeneutics, Transcendental Philosophy and Kantian critical philosophy (origin and historical reception; architecture, system, and foundation; Practical Philosophy, Aesthetics, and Teleology). Currently, Substitute Professor at the Department of Philosophy of the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) and a postdoctoral researcher in the Graduate Program in Philosophy at the Federal University of Paraná (PGFILOS/UFPR).
Dra. Sandra Markewitz
Prior studies in Philosophy/Literature and Sociology at Ruhr-Universität Bochum and University of Bielefeld; Doctoral scholarship from the Donors' Association for the Promotion of Sciences. Currently pursuing habilitation at the University of Vechta, teaching Philosophy there. Specializes in Wittgenstein, philosophy of language in the Vormärz era, ethics, aesthetics, and cultural philosophy. Mentor in the mentoring program DiVA at the University of Vechta, and a member of the scientific advisory board of the Forum Vormärz Forschung since (2018/19). Lecturer for special tasks in Philosophy at the University of Vechta since (10/2015). Completed a Ph.D. at the University of Bielefeld on the topic: "Das Schweigen. Kafka, Wittgenstein und die Tautologizität des Gegebenen" (2004).
Frank Rettweiler
Ph.D. student
Research Title: On Heidegger's Theory of Subjectivity in Relationship to Kant and Modern Theories.