Ruth Edith Hagengruber elected President of the German Philosophical Association

Here you can find R.E.Hagengruber’s CV.

Ruth Edith Hagengruber, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Paderborn, is the first woman to be elected President of the German Philosophical Association.

Germany has a rich philosophical tradition that has profoundly shaped Western thought: Notable figures such as Hildegard von Bingen, Elisabeth of Bohemia, Immanuel Kant, Karl Marx, Edith Stein and Hannah Arendt are among those who have contributed to this legacy. Germany has also been the birthplace of major philosophical movements, including German Idealism, Phenomenology, Existentialism. The present author’s research focuses on exploring the legacy of women philosophers.

Ruth Edith Hagengruber asserts that the critical examination of the philosophical tradition is furthered by the thought of women philosophers. The study of women philosophers, she asserts, serves as a conduit for the evolution of thought and the acquisition of novel perspectives on well-established subjects. The expansion of knowledge is a fundamental aspect of shaping the future.

In order to further expand upon this perspective, we inquired about her current views on the prevailing political climate. Is the attack on the principles of academic freedom also an attack on the emancipation of women?

‘This backlash follows a period of liberal politics that was both productive and long-lasting. This phase was characterised by the dissolution of boundaries and the overcoming of intellectual barriers, including continental and racial boundaries. This phenomenon of backlash has occurred repeatedly throughout history,’ says Hagengruber.  ‘We will refrain from involvement in political matters, yet we will articulate the philosophical insights with utmost clarity,’ asserts Hagengruber.

The president is supported in this endeavour by the vice president, Gerald Hartung, a cultural philosopher and professor at the University of Wuppertal, and by the business philosopher Ingeborg Becker from the University of St. Gallen. The school department is to be overseen by Kevin Dear, while Christian Barth has been appointed to the role of finance director.