Humanities (research)

Are you looking for in-depth discussions of current issues in epistemology and moral and political philosophy, as well as their historical roots? Do you want to hone your research skills for a possible future PhD? Are you ready to apply historically informed analysis of the foundations of knowledge and morality to topical issues like the nature of fake news and conspiracy theories, climate scepticism, the relationship between freedom and equality, individual responsibility for collective outcomes, and the morality of markets?
The Philosophy track prepares you for a career as a researcher in philosophy. It focuses on central questions concerning human knowledge and morality, and allows you to specialise in different areas. Key features of the programme include the combination of historical and contemporary perspectives; the programme’s connection to the department’s internationally renowned research projects; a strong focus on research skills and preparation for an academic career; an international opportunity to spend a semester abroad; and the fact that the programme is embedded in a humanities research and education environment.

This new interdisciplinary research master track focuses on the entanglements of nature and culture. In our international and interdisciplinary classroom, we interrelate perspectives from within and outside the Humanities to understand and responsibly inhabit the more-than-human world. The Environmental Humanities track is open to talented students from the Humanities as well as from related fields, who are looking for ways to analyze ecological questions in their full historical and cultural complexity. If questions of climate change, species extinction, pollution, or the exploitation of natural resources have in the past mainly been analyzed from the perspective of the Natural Sciences, it is becoming more and more clear that humans and their cultural, economic and political systems play a major role in these issues. The Humanities are therefore vital in making sense of these complex problems.

In the Global History track, you’ll learn to investigate the dynamics and long-term developments of the global interconnection of goods, ideas and people, and the role of power and religion. You’ll collaborate with renowned researchers and research groups in the fields of migration studies, history of capitalism, knowledge and religion, material culture and heritage, emotions and senses, and environmental humanities. The programme has an interdisciplinary perspective that includes concepts and methodologies from the social sciences, philosophy and law. It also offers you the opportunity to develop skills in digital analysis and reflect on the possibilities of emerging digital humanities techniques and e-Humanities approaches.
The track focuses on the study of politics, culture, religion, economy and daily life from a historical, theoretical and 'new' world history perspective. In a globalised and digital world, long-term perspectives are needed to analyse the complex phenomena of our time: perspectives sensitive to deep-rooted mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion. Disciplinary boundaries need to be questioned and challenged, and new methods explored. In order to rise to these challenges, we need researchers who are trained in finding and interpreting compelling source material, in critical reflection, and in detailed reporting. This track will give you these skills.