Research field: Ethics, culture, and society

Basic research in the humanities, social sciences, and cultural studies at KU makes an essential contribution to overcoming major societal challenges. The focus is on religion-related research, ethical reflection on cultural and social transformation processes, and the development of a culture of critical dialogue. Through method-driven analysis of cultural narratives, social structures, media practices, and historical contexts, these disciplines make a decisive contribution to deepening our understanding of complex global problems such as social inequality, cultural and religious conflicts, and environmental crises, including from a historical perspective. By developing differentiated perspectives, they enable innovative approaches to solutions and promote sustainable social dialogue. This field of research promotes discussion about the creation of an inclusive and just society by reflecting on and questioning human action in its historical and contemporary diversity.

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Participating disciplines:

Archaeology, History, Art History, Latin American Studies, Literary Studies, Philology, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Linguistics, Theology

Participating institutions:

Center for Advanced Studies "Dialogic Cultures. Scientific Reflection Spaces for Cultural and Social Sciences" 

• Contact: Prof. Dr. Nadin Burkhardt (Chair of Classical Archaeology), spokesperson for the research college

Center for Religion, Church, and Society in Transition (ZRKG)

• Contact: Prof. Dr. Martin Kirschner (Chair of Theology in Transformation) and Prof. Dr. Isabelle Stauffer (Chair of Modern German Literature), both directors of the ZRKG

Central Institute for Latin American Studies (ZILAS)

• Contact: Prof. Dr. Miriam Lay Brander (Chair of Romance Literature II), Director of the ZILAS

Contact for the research field:

• Prof. Dr. Jens Hogreve, Vice President for Research and Early Career Researchers