Since its emergence art history refers to various views about nature. Consequently, it has taken up and discussed theories from the sciences and technology. In our seminar, we want to analyse representative texts from art history as well as from the sciences ranging from the 19th century until today.

The seminar discusses central topics of Darwin's theory of evolution and sexual selection and his studies on the expression of emotions. Apart from the development of Darwin's thinkng we will focus on the connections between theory and biological and geological observations, breeding technics as well as the impact of Victorian virtues and the role of everyday life.

The colloquium is an essential part of the postgraduate programme "history of knowledge" dealing with the history of modern knowledge systems in a broad sense. In the analysis of the various systems of knowledge the programme seeks to combine approaches from the fields of Philosophy, History of Science and Technology as well as Social, Economic and Cultural History.

The concept of "sexuality", as it occurred in the 19th century, brought together biological, anatomical, psychic, and social factors. Darwin’s theory of "sexual selection" played a major role in this invention of sexuality. On the basis of primary texts, we wil explore this starting point of modern evolutionary biology as well as modern discourses of sex.

Darwin’s theory of evolution is one of the most influential scientific theories. At the same time it has been attacked from its beginnings to our present days. We will focus on the reception of Darwin’s theory, its reformulation and the debates it provoked in the 20th century. This discusson will range from social darwinism and synthetic theory of evolution to so called creationist theories.

Climate change is also forcing the humanities to rethink: What does history mean when geophysical processes are also taken into account? How should we imagine the future when part of the planet is in danger of becoming uninhabitable? Dipesh Chakrabarty develops new concepts to answer Immanuel Kant's old questions: What can I know? What shall I do? What may I hope?

Errors, deceptions and lies are phenomena, which are part of science, its application and interpretation. This lecture-course of the lecturers of Knowledge-section of DGESS discusses these phenomena in different scientific disciplines, and different times and in different political contexts.

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The philosopher Günther Anders characterized his monograph "Die Antiquiertheit ds Menschen" as a "philosophical anthropology in the age of technocracy". Anders had written his book under the impression of the atom bomb, the computer and visual mass media. Today, the book is more relevant than ever: What is the role of human beings in the Anthropocene?

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What is knowledge? What is scientific knowledge? How can knowledge be examined historically and epistemologically in order to achieve something like knowledge justice? These questions have recently triggered debates about the contemporary status of knowledge, especially in the context of ideological strategies of manipulation. These questions will be discussed on the basis of relevant texts.

The lecture discusses recent developments in history of science, especially the turn from a history of ideas and concepts to a better understanding of the practical aspects of science and scientific research. Thus, we will focus on instrumental and experimental conditions of research as well as techniques of ordering and classifiying scientific objects.

The seminar deals with fundamental theoretical, instititutional and technical developments of physical research from the 17th century to debates in contemporary history of science. We will focus on central topics such as: relations between “nature and culture”, “experiment and theory”, “science and the public” or “history and mythology”.

In recent years the role of perception in scientific practice became more and more important. Images are everywhere and often they are used in a naive manner so that scientists already pleaded for a more critical use. The lecture acts on this suggestion and dicusses various historical techniques and instruments of image making as well their physiological, psychological and cultural conditions.

Today the life sciences are considered as the leading discipline of the 21th century. However, important scientific and social issues of life and death are only to be understood in a broader historical perspective. Therefore, we will explore central topics of research on life and living beings from antiquity to present times. Our main focus will be on modern biology from the 19th century onwards.

Today, the life sciences are considered the leading discipline of the 21th century. However, important scientific and social issues of life and death are only to be understood in a broader historical perspective. Therefore, we will explore central topics of research on life and living beings from antiquity to the present. Our main focus will be on modern biology from the 19th century onwards.