Foto: Jac de Nijs/Anefo (1965), Nationaal Archief

Welcome to the Department of Philosophy


We are a lively, versatile institute that offers various study options and brings together diverse, overlapping research foci.

Here you can study a double major in Applied Philosophy, Philosophy/Practical Philosophy (GyGe) or Practical Philosophy (HRSGe) at Bachelor level. At Master's level, we offer the double major in Philosophy as well as the degree programmes MEd Philosophy/Practical Philosophy (GyGe) and Practical Philosophy (HRSGe). Finally, in conjunction with the Department of Sociology, we will offer the interdisciplinary MA Theory of the Social.

The basic structure of the Department includes two Professorships for Theoretical Philosophy, two Professorships for Practical Philosophy and one Professorship responsible for disciplines where the Theoretical and the Practical meet. In addition, three associate professors work here, covering further areas of practical philosophy, as well as philosophical didactics. As a result, we can offer an exceptionally comprehensive expertise in practical philosophy that integrates the Action Theory, Metaethics, Normative Ethics, Political Philosophy and Applied Ethics.

Institute Events Calendar

An institute-internal events calendar has been set up in Moodle. All professors and research assistants can enter and view their events and conferences there.
Please register in the Moodle room to receive the latest information. The password for this is “Kalender”. You can find the Moodle link here.

Events Calendar

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Information on the current situation at the University of Duisburg-Essen can be found here

Our Research Groups

Andreas Niederberger Political Philosophy

  • Political Philosophy
  • Philosophy of Law
  • Social Philosophy
More about this Research Group

Dirk Hartmann Theoretical Philosophy

  • Epistemology
  • Philosophy of Science
  • Logic
More about this Research Group

Raphael van Riel Theoretical Philosophy

  • Theory of the Social
  • General Theory of Science & Theory of the Social Sciences
  • Metaphysics
More about this Research Group

Substitute Professor for Didactics of Philosophy

Management Team

Visiting address

Universität Duisburg-Essen
Fakultät für Geisteswissenschaften
Institut für Philosophie
Universitätsstr. 12
45141 Essen

The Department of Philosophy is located on the Essen campus in building R12 on the 4th floor in the D corridor. Directions to the University

Postal address

Universität Duisburg-Essen
Fakultät für Geisteswissenschaften
Institut für Philosophie
45117 Essen