John Broome giving the 2014 Wittgenstein Lecture at the Univsersity of Bayreuth

Wittgenstein Lectures

The Wittgenstein Lectures were inaugurated 1987. It was one of the first steps towards internationalization of teaching at the University. Traditionally we invite a renowned philosopher to hold a week of lectures and colloquia on themes central to our Philosophy & Economics programme.

All philosophy teaching stops for a week and the first lecture is usually followed by a reception. At the end of the series there is a short exam. Students get 2 ECTS for module CI1 (formerly V1). Sometimes we offer advanced seminar courses on the work of the Wittgenstein Lecturer.

The Wittgenstein Lectures are open to the public and all members of the University.

Wittgenstein Lectures 2024

Sally Haslanger (MIT):
Addressing Structural Injustice, Changing Social Systems

June 03 - June 07 2024 [Time-table]

Abstract: Societies are complex systems – or clusters of interacting systems – that reproduce themselves: their culture, their practices, and their structures, in ways that are unjust. One disadvantage of focusing on structures and systems is that it leaves it unclear how agents can promote social justice in ways that make a difference. In these lectures, I will sketch an approach to social systems that highlights our participation in ordinary social practices; I will then highlight some of the levers for social change that recognize the situated knowledge and agency of those most directly affected.

In addition to the regular program, we will have a special panel discussion on “The Ethics of Boycotts?” on Wednesday, June 05, at 5pm.

2023
The Normative Significance of Axioloy

Hilary Greaves
University of Oxford

2022
Labor's Self-Liberation from Capital

A. J. Julius
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

2021
The Grounds of Political Legitimacy

Fabienne Peter
Warwick

2020
Network Epistemology: What Economics and Philosophy Tell Us About Learning in Groups (unfortunately, this event had to be cancelled due to the corona pandemic)

Kevin Zollman
Carnegie Mellon University

2019
Blaming and Forgiving - The Work of Morality

Miranda Fricker
City University of New York Graduate Center

2018
Climate Change and Obligations for Future Generations

Joseph Heath
University of Toronto

2017
Markets and Morality

Debra Satz
Marta Sutton Weeks Professor of Ethics in Society (Stanford University)

2016
Preference, Prediction and Policy

Daniel M. Hausman
Herbert A. Simon and Hilldale Professor University of Wisconsin-Madison

2015
Left Libertarianism: Promise and Problems

Peter Vallentyne
Kline Chair in Philosophy University of Missouri-Columbia

2014
The Ethics and Economics of Climate Change

John Broome
Emeritus White’s Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of Oxford

2013
The Revolution in Just War Theory

Jeff McMahan
White’s Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of Oxford

2012
The Robust Demands of the Good

Philip Pettit
Laurance S. Rockefeller University Professor of Politics
and Human Values at Princeton University

2011
Ethics and Public Policy

Jonathan Wolff
Professor of Political Philosophy, University College London

2010
Values, Norms, Decisions

Wlodek Rabinowicz
Professor (emeritus) of Philosophy, Lund University

2009
Collective Actions and the Commons: What Have We Learned?

Elinor Ostrom
Professor (emeritus) of Political Science, Indiana University
(Nobel Prize in Economics, 2009; †2012)