Research

We research moral philosophical questions in the environment of digitalisation and artificial intelligence. Other areas of focus are migration ethics and global justice. In the field of general ethics, we work in particular on theories of trust, responsibility and duty as well as supererogation.

Projects

New phenomena of digitalization from a philosophical perspective

Together with PD Dr. Jörg Noller, Prof. Dr. Karoline Reinhardt has launched a new academic network funded by the DFG. The network will analyse and systematize phenomena of digitalization - the Internet, artificial intelligence, computer games and virtual reality - in terms of their significance for our lives.

BMBF Project DiversPrivat: Diversity-friendly privacy in digital environments

A lack of background knowledge in digital privacy can have structural or personal reasons. The BMBF project DiversPrivat has set out to develop mechanisms to improve data protection competence among digital service users.

BMBF project PASSAUtonomy: Rediscovering freedom according to Immanuel Kant

The Passau project PASSAUtonomy is one of the winners of the Science Year 2024 university challenge which has "Freedom" as its theme. It revisits the old idea posited by the philosopher Immanuel Kant – we are free when we are able to give ourselves our own laws.

Using people well, treating people badly: Towards a Kantian Realm of Ends and Means

This project will develop a Kantian account of mistreating persons alongside an account of treating persons well. According to a well-known principle of Kant's ethics, we should never use people merely as means.

StMWK-funded project AIEP : Ethical issues in artificial intelligence in everyday work life

An interdisciplinary team at the University of Passau, led by Professor of Ethics Prof Dr Karoline Reinhardt, is developing a university certificate that will provide employees from the technical and engineering fields with further training on the ethical challenges of using AI.

Expired projects

AITE

The project “Artificial Intelligence, Trustworthiness and Explainability” (AITE) investigates which epistemological and scientific standards AI must meet so that it can be considered explainable on the one side and on the other side, which ethical norms it has to fulfill in order to be called trustworthy.

Villa Vigoni Talks "Rethinking Migration"

Professor Karoline Reinhardt (University of Passau) and Professor Roberta Picardi (Università del Molise) have invited German and Italian early career researchers to Villa Vigoni on the banks of Lake Como for extensive talks to develop new political and philosophical approaches to the issue of migration.

Professorship of Applied Ethics (tenure-track professorship)