Department of the History of Philosophy

Chair: Dr. H.T. (Han Thomas) Adriaenssen
Secretary: Dr. C.M.A. (Corijn) van Mazijk

Our research covers the whole history of philosophy, from Antiquity to contemporary philosophy. Philosophy was traditionally closely connected to science and religion; hence, in our research we often pay close attention to these backgrounds and intersections. But philosophy has also a history of its own, so that it it is often fruitful to compare ideas and concepts from the past with current ones. We share the conviction that the study of philosophical arguments must rest on a sound textual basis, while, on the other hand, the study and editing of texts always needs an interpretative framework.

Since October 2015, the Department hosts the Groningen Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Thought . The Centre promotes research able to uncover the multifaceted nature of medieval and early modern philosophical debates, their interconnections with other areas of the history of philosophy and science, and how their legacy might still affect today’s philosophical debates.