Knowledge, Spaces, and Media Faculty of Philosophy

Research Group "Voluntariness"

Jürgen Martschukat, Christiane Kuller, Sabine Schmolinsky, Iris Schröder: In this project, the researchers will examine voluntariness as a driving force of human practices in the past and present. The central question is how Western pre-modern and modern, but also non-European societies and subjects are governed through the principle of voluntariness. This includes, for example, religiously motivated voluntariness in medieval martyrdom as well as voluntary "participation" in dictatorships. The research interest is inspired by the current significance of voluntariness in neoliberal societies, yet explores its multifaceted historical and social embeddedness. As an interdisciplinary group it consists of members of the fields of history, political sociology and practical philosophy. Its analytical perspective is inspired by the cultural history of the political and aims to refine voluntariness as a principle of governmentality more precisely than has been the case to date.

Duration
10/2020 - 09/2023

Funding
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) :
1 920 551 Euro

Duration
04/2024 - 03/2027

Funding
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) :
2 200 000 Euro

Project management

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Martschukat
Speaker of the research group "Freiwilligkeit" (Historisches Seminar)

Subprojects

Team

+ 3 more project managers starting from 10/2020

Cooperation Partner

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