The “Freedom and Punishment” network is an interdisciplinary collaboration between criminal law scholarship and fundamental philosophical issues in theology. The research network brings together both established and emerging legal scholars and philosophers to explore the topic of ‘Freedom and Punishment – The Relevance of the Philosophy of Law of German Idealism to the Foundations and Contemporary Problems of Criminal Law’.
Originally founded at the University of Regensburg by Prof. Dr Katrin Gierhake (Faculty of Law) and Prof. Dr Stefan Schick (Faculty of Philosophy), the network has since been further expanded. There is currently ongoing collaboration with the universities of Bonn, Hagen, Leipzig and Hamburg.
Furthermore, a stable yet constantly growing circle of additional research participants has formed, who exchange views on current research issues at regular meetings. In doing so, the group not only reflects on the liberal foundations of current issues in social and criminal policy (e.g. artificial intelligence and human autonomy, criminal justice in the law of sanctions, law and religion in a pluralistic society), but also works on an in-depth interpretation and reception of classical philosophical texts.
Conferences
Planned for March 2027
The concept of recognition in Fichte’s legal theory
Hamburg – February 2026
A literary tour of Hamburg:
Constitutional Law in Immanuel Kant’s philosophy of law
Organised by:
Jun.-Prof. Dr Luna Rösinger, University of Bonn, and Dr Florian Sander, University of Hamburg
Venue: Faculty of Law, Rothenbaumchaussee 33, 20148 Hamburg
Programme ( link (opens in a new window). (This PDF is not accessible))
Leipzig – January 2025
Seminar on the state of emergency based on Kant’s philosophy of law:
Is it possible to conceive of ‘justifying necessity’ as a legal concept?
Organised by:
Dr Gunnar Helmers, Assistant Professor Dr Luna Rösinger, Professor Dr Diethelm Klesczewski
Programme ( link (opens in a new window). (This PDF is not accessible))
Leipzig – September 2024
Meeting of the “Freedom and Punishment” network from 26 to 29 September 2024 in Leipzig
Collaboration with Barbara Santini (University of Padua, Italy) and Stefan Schick (Leipzig University), funded by the DAAD.
Topic: The relevance of classical German fundamental philosophical issues in theology in the context of the interplay between state, law and religion
Programmes and further information at: https://www.sozphil.uni-leipzig.de/institut-fuer-philosophie/veranstaltungsdetail/termin/das-recht-religioeser-gemeinschaften (external link, opens in a new window)
To register, please contact Lehrstuhl.gierhake(at)ur.de (opens your email program) or visit stefan.schick(at)uni-leipzig.de (opens your email program)
Bonn – March 2024
Annual Meeting 2023/2024
in collaboration with Assistant Professor Luna Rösinger (University of Bonn)
Topic: “Liberal Criminal Theory and the Law of Sanctions”
University of Bonn, 7 March 2024 to 9 March 2024
Topics:
I. Requirements for a just punishment, liberal justification of punishment
II. Consequences of criminal offences and their assessment
III. Types of punishment
Regensburg – September 2022
Topic: Autonomy as a legal principle and the question of ‘artificial intelligence’
28 September 2022 – 29 September 2022 in Regensburg
Topics/Divisions/Reading
- On the relationship between freedom and the moral law
- “The concept of freedom is the key to explaining the autonomy of the will” (Kant)
- “There is only one innate right.” (Kant)
- AI as technology vs. self-legislation by human beings
Regensburg – September 2021 (founding meeting)
2021 Founding Conference of the ‘Freedom and Punishment’ Network
Theme: Immanuel Kant: Freedom, Law and Punishment
16 September 2021 – 18 September 2021 in Regensburg
Reading and discussion:
- Freedom and Law:
- Kant’s Concept of Freedom
- The concept of law in Kant’s *Critique of Practical Reason*
- Crime and Punishment
- The concept of crime, Kant, *MdS*, Note E
- The concept of punishment, Kant, *MdS*, Note E