Social sciences and humanities, in particular, consider themselves?to be critical disciplines. In this context, “critical” refers not only to the evaluative examination of social and political conditions aimed at improvement. As a rule, it also implies that this critique is directed at one’s own state of knowledge and the methods of knowledge production—ideally, therefore, it accompanies one’s
work as a whole.
Even in ostensibly neutral research practice, assumptions must be made
and normative convictions are often unavoidable; however, these can be made explicit through self-critical reflection, examined for their legitimacy, and developed with regard to their possible consequences in theory and practice. At least, that is the ideal-typical self-description… for sometimes self-critical reflection is neglected or deliberately suppressed.
In this workshop, concrete experiences related to the pursuit of self-critical?scholarship will be presented and discussed, drawn from the DFG-funded Koselleck Project: "How to address racism, sexism, and antisemitism in works of Classical German philosophy?" Additionally, impressions from a working group of the DFG Senate on?issues of political resilience in the sciences.

Date: June 1, 2026
Location: Festsaal in the Goethe National Museum, Weimar, Am Frauenplan 1
The workshop is aimed at members and partners of the Cluster of Excellence

The workshop is open to members and partners of the Cluster of Excellence. Please register by April 15, 2026.