Hans Blumenberg Professorship for Religion and Politics

The “Hans Blumenberg Professorship for Religion and Politics” of the Cluster of Excellence is to contribute to bringing innovative stimuli from international research to Münster and deepening the interdisciplinary discussion at the Cluster of Excellence. 140 academics from 20 disciplines of the humanities and the social sciences conduct research in the Cluster. Since 2016, renowned researchers from varying disciplines are appointed to the professorship – named after the influential philosopher Hans Blumenberg (1920-1996).

The work of the members of the Cluster of Excellence spans cultures and epochs, is historical and related to the present, and denominational and non-denominational. Münster has thus become a nationally prominent place in size and diversity for interdisciplinary religious research.

The Hans Blumenberg Professorship is named after the influential Münster philosopher Hans Blumenberg (1920-1996). Hans Blumenberg was professor at the University of Münster from 1970 until his retirement in 1985 and significantly contributed to redefining the place of the modern age in the historico-scientific and philosophical discussion. He challenged the secularisation thesis predominant at that time, according to which theological patters of interpretation had been persisting since the Middle Ages across the changeover to the modern age and into the modern state. In his studies dealing with the history of concepts, of ideas, of philosophy and with anthropology, the philosopher also addressed the interpretation of myths and metaphors.