The Secondary Project Hermeneutic Rationality serves to strengthen the philosophical dimension of Classical and Humanistic Studies at CECH. Its theoretical objective is to address the fundamental question of what constitutes reason, and how rationality manifests across various human domains such as language, myth, knowledge, history, corporeality, craftsmanship, and the social and ethical dimensions of human sociability.
The project adheres to a humanistic and hermeneutic orientation, rooted in the assumption that the enduring relevance and universality of the Classics define their main characteristics. It recognises that addressing classical questions in philosophy, along with their central problems in the modern era, necessitates a consideration of the reception and active transformation of ancient concepts. To this end, the project employs a methodology that encompasses both the philosophical interpretation of the Classics and their critical and historico-philosophical reinterpretation.
Historically, research conducted in this field utilises Ancient Philosophy as a model for addressing contemporary philosophical inquiries. Additionally, its primary theoretical interests encompass Hermeneutic Philosophy, Classical German Philosophy, Phenomenology, as well as contemporary issues in practical and environmental ethics.
Related activities include the regular organisation of conferences and publications focusing on the project’s theoretical inquiries and historico-philosophical goals. Additionally, a permanent seminar on the Critical History of Reason is held, and work is conducted within the Laboratory of Rationality and Applied Ethics. There, the theoretical and hermeneutic dimension of research inform the examination of questions pertaining to bioethics.