“Here I stand. I can do no other.” – Dimensions of Practical Necessity

Workshop: “Here I stand. I can do no other.” – Dimensions of Practical Necessity

June 20-21, 2014
Venue: Kulturwissenschaftliches Institut Essen, (KWI), Gartensaal (www.kulturwissenschaften.de)
Financed by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Hosts: Dr. Katharina Bauer and Prof. Dr. Corinna Mieth (Chair for Practical Philosophy),
Ruhr-Universität Bochum.


About the topic:

„Here I stand. I can do no other." „I (just) have to do this, I do not have a choice.“ – Such phrases imply a necessity of important decisions and actions. They refer to fundamental convictions or beliefs and can be regarded as existential expressions of a person’s character and identity. But they can also be considered as unjustified exculpations. One could ask: “Did you really have to do this? Did you consider all alternatives? Can you really know, what you have to do?”

How should expressions like “Here I stand, I can do no other” be interpreted? What is their
explanatory or exculpatory power? What does practical necessity mean, in how far is it really ‘necessary’ – and for whom? Which dimensions of practical necessity can be distinguished? And what does it mean for our self-understanding and for our responsibility, if we are necessitated by such necessities?

Different concepts of practical necessity imply different ideas about ethics, morality and about personhood and personality. The discussion about the dimensions of practical necessity will be related to discussions about the role of morality in human life, about the ideals of autonomy, authenticity and individuality, about freedom of the will and about different models of self-constitution, of personal identity and integrity.


Speakers (confirmed):

Dr. Kathi Baier (Universität Wien)
Dr. Christoph Bambauer (Ruhr-Universität Bochum)
Dr. Katharina Bauer (Ruhr-Universität Bochum)
Prof. Dr. Oliver Hallich (Universität Duisburg-Essen)
PD Dr. Michael Kühler (Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster / Universität Bern)
Prof. Dr. Corinna Mieth (Ruhr-Universität Bochum)
PD Dr. Arnd Pollmann (Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg / Universität Hamburg)
Prof. Dr. Beate Rössler (Universiteit van Amsterdam)
Prof. Dr. Marya Schechtman (University of Illinois at Chicago)

For further information or registration please contact: [email protected]

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