Research interests
- Socio-ecological transformation (knowledge, governance and values, justice)
- Environmental ethics (biodiversity, rights of nature)
- Political philosophy (human rights, intercultural and decolonial philosophy)
Dr. Stefan Knauß
SK : Dr. Stefan Knauß (Fellow)
Areas of responsibility
Junior research group leader in the JTC sub-project EdTech Area: Geography Education
Contact options (Knauß, Stefan)
Mail: stefan.knauss@geo.uni-halle.de | | Room: Reichardtstraße 6, 06114 Halle | Consultation hours: by appointment
Focus Areas:
Junior research group leader in the JTC sub-project EdTech
Research
Projects
Biography
since 2024
Junior research group leader at the Just Transition Centre (JTC), MLU Halle
since 2022
Postdoc, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv)
03/2023-06/2024
Research Associate, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Leipzig
2021-06/2024
Research Associate, Sustainable Landscape Development, MLU Halle
2019-2021
Associated Junior Fellow, Max Weber College, Erfurt
2017-2020
Research Associate, Philosophy, DFG position, Erfurt
2017-2018
Parental leave
2016-2017
Research Assistant, Philosophy, MLU Halle
2016-2019
Teaching degree, grammar school, ethics and social studies, MLU Halle
2015-2016
Research assistant, Philosophy, MLU Halle
2015
Doctorate MLU Halle-Wittenberg, Philosophy, grade: magna cum laude, (1.0)
2010-2014
PhD, Graduate School, Society and Culture in Motion, Halle
2010
Research Assistant, Political Science, MLU Halle
2003-2009
Magister Artium (M.A.), MLU Halle, Catania and Parma, Political Science, Media and Communication Studies and Philosophy, grade: good, (1.7)
Publications
Monographie
Knauß, S. (2016). Von der Conquista zur Responsibility while Protecting – Die Debatte der humanitär gerechtfertigten Kriegsführung aus lateinamerikanischer Perspektive. Reihe Treffpunkt Philosophie, Peter Lang. (Dissertation, 274 Seiten). DOI
Peer-Reviewed Articles
Mehring, M., Brietzke, A., Kleemann, J., Knauß, S.… (2024). Multiple ways to bend the curve of biodiversity loss: An analytical framework to support transformative change. People and Nature. [DOI]
Knauß, S. (2023). Decolonial ethics and the limits of freedom of speech – Enrique Dussel’s ethics of liberation and the obligation to critique material and discursive Exclusion. Zeitschrift für Praktische Philosophie. DOI
Knauß, S. (2020). Pachamama als Ökosystemintegrität – Die Rechte der Natur in der Verfassung von Ecuador und ihre umweltethische Rechtfertigung. Zeitschrift für Praktische Philosophie. DOI
Knauß, S. (2018). Conceptualizing Human Stewardship in the Anthropocene: The Rights of Nature in Ecuador, New Zealand and India. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics. DOI
Knauß, S. (2013). De la crítica a la normatividad? Materialidad y exterioridad como puntos de partida para una ética universal?. Astrolabio. Revista internacional de filosofia 2013. DOI
Knauß, S. (2012). ¿Hay una filosofía postcolonial en América Latina? Fuentes y argumentos de la contrahegemonia.Astrolabio. Revista internacional de filosofía. DOI
Knauß, S. (2011). Jesuit Engagement in Brazil between 1549 and 1609 – A legitimate support of Indians‘ emancipation or Eurocentric movement of conversion? Astrolabio. Revista internacional de filosofía. DOI
Herausgeberschaften
Knauß, S., Wolfradt, L., Eberhard, J., Hofmann, T. (2021). Anton Wilhelm Amo und die interkulturelle Philosophie. Transcript Verlag. DOI
Knauß, S. (2020). Special Issue: Ethik der Integrität. Zeitschrift für praktische Philosophie. DOI
Massa, M., Thompson, J, Knauß, S. & Kaufmann, M. (2020). Regelfolgen, Regelschaffen, Regeländern. Die Herausforderung für Auto-Nomie und Universalismus durch Ludwig Wittgenstein, Martin Heidegger und Carl Schmitt. Peter Lang. DOI
Aufsätze
Knauß, S. (2024). Intergenerational Justice, Right to Healthy Environment and Rights of Nature – The Role of German Civil Society in the Transition to Ecological Law. In G. Garver, Ecological Law in Practice: Case Studies for a Transformative Approach to Law. Routledge. DOI
Westerink, J., Nel, J., van Dam, R., Wortel, A., Renata, W., Orta Ortiz, M. S., Kelemen, E., Locher-Krause, K., Schroer, S., Adamescu, C. M., Korhonen-Kurki, K., Vandewalle, M., Dianoux, R., Knauß, S., Falco, E., & Rantala, S. (2023). A Framework for the Assessment of Transformative Potential of Networks. Zenodo. DOI
Knauß, S. (2023). Vom Wert der Natur und wie wir ihn als Hebel einsetzen. Ökologisches Wirtschaften-Fachzeitschrift, 38(4), 23-25. DOI
Knauß, S. (2023). Leben, Leid und Ganzheit – Physiozentrische Prinzipien der Ethik im deutschen Recht. Ökologische Transformation von Gesellschaft und Recht, 29-52. DOI
Knauß, S. (2022). The diversity of values – An ethical analysis of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030. In. International expert workshop on economic aspects of nature restoration. DOI
Knauß, S. (2022). Naturschutzbegründungen im Anthropozän: Die Rechte der Natur in Ecuador, Neuseeland und Indien. In R. Behrens, F. Beiler, & O. Sanders (Hg.) (2021), Zukunftsthemen der Bildungsphilosophie. Hamburger Dispute I. Hamburg 2021. DOI
Knauß, S., Wolfradt, L., Eberhard, J., & Hofmann, T. (2021). Anton Wilhelm Amo und die interkulturelle Philosophie – Einführende Überlegungen. DOI
Knauß, S. (2021). Öffentlichkeit als Quelle und Ereignis von Differenz – Akkulturation im Anschluss an Charles Taylor und Seyla Benhabib. In G. Magnano, & L. Ingaliso, L. (2021), Antropologia e potere. Modelli scientifici, filosofici e filologici dell’ acculturazione tra Otto e Novecento, 79-91. DOI
Knauß, S. (2021). Why the life of the other matters – The decolonial ethics of exteriority in Dussel, Quijano and Mignolo. In C. Haar, C. Müller, & M. Kaufmann (2021), Civilisation – Nature – Subjugation.
Knauß, S. (2020). Menschenrechte als Metacode. Von der Translation subjektiver Rechte. In A. Krause, & D. Simmermacher (Hg.) (2020), Denken und Handeln – Perspektiven der praktischen Philosophie und der Sprachphilosophie – Festschrift für Matthias Kaufmann zum 65- Geburtstag, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, 93-110.
Knauß, S. (2020). Planetarische Integrität – Was Umweltethik und interkulturelle Philosophie voneinander lernen können. In M. Kirloskar-Steinbach, & M. Diaconu (Hg) (2020), Environmental Ethics: Cross-cultural Explorations, Karl Alber, Freiburg / München, 171-186.
Massa, M., Thompson, J, Knauß, S. & Kaufmann, M. (2020). Einleitung. In M. Massa, J. Thompson, S. Knauß, & M. Kaufmann (2020), Regelfolgen, Regelschaffen, Regeländern – Die Herausforderung für Auto-Nomie und Universalismus durch Ludwig Wittgenstein, Martin Heidegger und Carl Schmitt.
Knauß, S. (2020). „Fakten, Fakten nochmals Fakten aber keine Ethik“ – Ludwig Wittgensteins Vortrag über Ethik. In M. Massa, J. Thompson, S. Knauß, & M. Kaufmann (2020), Regelfolgen, Regelschaffen, Regeländern – Die Herausforderung für Auto-Nomie und Universalismus durch Ludwig Wittgenstein, Martin Heidegger und Carl Schmitt, Frankfurt a. M..
Knauß, S. (2020). Vico zwischen Metaphysik und Geschichte – Seine Rechtslehre als Naturrecht oder Rechtspositivismus? In M. Kaufmann, F. Lomonaco, & G. Cacciatore (2020), Zwischen Sprache und Geschichte – Vicos Methode beim Umgang mit Recht und Naturrecht, Frankfurt a. M..
Knauß, S. (2013). Identity and the State – Critiques and Apologetics of the Liberal Model. In. Civiltá del Mediterraneo, Semestrale di ricerca e informazione, 23-24, Homelands in Translation, edited by Stefania De Lucia and Gabriella Sgambati.
Knauß, S. (2013). Propriedad privada y humanidad: Algunas reflexiones sobre la relación entre derechos y economía el la colonia. In: Abdo Ferez, Cecilia; Ottonello, Rodrigo; Cantisani, Alejandro, La bifurcación entre pecado y delito. Crimen, justicia y filosofía política de la modernidad temprana.
Knauß, S. (2012). Europa aus lateinamerikanischer Sicht. In M, Kaufmann, & F. Lomonaco (Hrsg.), Geschichte und Gegenwart der europäischen Kultur / Storia e Presente della Cultura Europea. Pomigliano d’Arco, 77-93.
Knauß, S. (accepted) Resonance, Intercorporality and Attunement – Resonating Bodies and the corporal dimension of sociality. In. Störl, K. Embodiment and Representation.
Knauß, S. (accepted) Translation der Natur – Buen Vivir zwischen Deutschland und Lateinamerika. In. Störl, K.; Wolf, S. Berührungen zwischen Deutschland und Lateinamerika – ein interdisziplinärer Streifzug.
Blog-Beiträge
(2021) Die Rechte der Natur im deutschen Feuilleton. Eine Presseschau (with Andreas Gutmann, Jula Zenetti, Klaus Bosselmann), URL.
(2021) Coral Cultivation: Technosphere on the Edge (with Boris Wille), technosphere.blog, URL.
(2021) Integrität im Anthropozän. prae|faktisch – Ein Philosophieblog, URL.
Übersetzungen
Magnano San Lio, Giancarlo (2013) Biographie, Politik und Kulturgeschichte im Werk Rudolf Hayms, aus dem Italienischen von Stefan Knauß.
Magnano San Lio, Giancarlo (2013) „Philologie, Anthropologie und Geschichte: Dilthey und Usener“, 369-387. In: D’Anna, Giuseppe; Johach, Helmut; Nelson, Eric Sean (2013): Anthropologie und Geschichte: Studien zu Wilhelm Dilthey aus Anlass seines 100. Todestages, Würzburg.
Magnano San Lio, Giancarlo (2011) „Groce und Schleiermacher „, 45-55. In: Furnari Luvarà, Giusi; Di Bella, Santi (2011) Benedetto Croce und die Deutschen, Academia Verlag.
Talks
(2024) Rights and values of nature as a critical-emancipatory approach to education for sustainable development? (DGfE-BNE Commission Conference 2024, Bamberg, 18-20 September 2024)
(2024) (Un)common grounds for Rights of Nature – philosophical reflections Ecological Integrity and Indigenous Knowledge (GEIG 2024, From Colonialism to Cosmologies: Ecological Integrity and Indigenous Knowledge in Law, Policy, and Science, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências Jurídicas (CCJ), Florianópolis, Brazil, 25 – 28 June 2024) LINK
(2023) Introduction (The Roots of Rights – Transforming Biodiversity Governance and Values through Rights of Nature, 25 – 26 September 2023, Halle (Saale)) LINK
(2023) Geography and Coloniality: Colonial Themes in the Halle Geographical Society at the End of the 19th Century (62nd German Congress of Geography (DKG), 19-23 September 2023, Frankfurt am Main) LINK
(2023) Land Expansion, Scarcity, and Ethical Reconciliation: Exploring the Relevance of Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic in the European Modern Context (52nd Annual Conference of the Society for Ecology, 12-16 September 2023, Leipzig) LINK
(2023) Embodiment, Nature and Ecofeminism – Femininity as the Embodiment of Nature? (6th Autumn Conference of the Institute for Design Science, 08.09.-10.09.2023, Wittenberg) LINK
(2023) Ownership of Nature as Injustice: Transformative change, Rights of Nature and Jacques Rancière (GEIG 2023, Ecological Integrity, Earth Systems and the Crises of Democracy, 27 June – 1 July 2023, Potsdam) LINK
(2023) Life in Kant and in Environmental Ethics (International Conference: Life in Focus, 20-22 April 2023, Kiel) LINK
(2023) Rights of Nature and Strong Sustainability (Lecture series Building Sites of Sustainability, 17 April 2023, Leipzig) LINK
(2023) Biodiversity Loss and Eurocentrism – Ways out of the Double Crisis? (Conference on New Cultural Geography, 26-28 April 2023, Halle (Saale)) LINK
(2023) Living in harmony with nature? – Ethics and governance of biological diversity” (Event series Wissenschaft kompakt, 30 January 2023, Leipzig) LINK
(2022) The great transformation from a physiocentric perspective (Academia philosophia iuris, Summer Academy of Philosophy of Law, 05/09 – 09/09/2023, Halle (Saale) LINK
(2022) Nature, Environment and Biodiversity – Plurality and Discrimination in Judgemental Human-Nature Relations (Conference Language and Discrimination – Language against Discrimination, 11-14 October 2022, Halle (Saale)) LINK
(2022) Living in harmony with nature? – Governance of biodiversity and its value foundation in the mirror of political theory (IÖR Annual Conference, 21-23 September 2022, Dresden) LINK
(2022) Living in harmony with nature? – Theorising political approaches of Biodiversity Governance and Values (IX Conference on Practical Philosophy, 09.2023, Salzburg) LINK
(2022) The Earth of the Wretched (Struggling for the Rights of Nature, Social movements, subjective rights and the emancipatory potential of law, 20-22 July 2023, Bremen) LINK
(2022) Indigenous knowledge, Citizen Science and Rights of Nature – Social-Science Perspectives on Biodiversity (Joint Presentation with Thora Herrmann, iDiv Seminar Series, 29 June 2022)
(2022) Language, History and Culture in Vico’s Scienza Nuova (The Actuality of Vico: Society and Human Nature in Transition. International and interdisciplinary conference at Villa Vigoni, 19-23 May 2022)
(2022)The rights of nature as a concept of strong sustainability?(24.03.2022, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Halle-Leipzig-Jena)
(2022)The rights of nature as a concept of strong sustainability?(09.03.2022, Leibniz-Sozietät, Berlin)
(2021) Das Eigentum der Natur (03.12. 2021, Workshop: Die Rechte der Natur. On sustainable property, Max-Weber-Kolleg, University of Erfurt)
(2021)The rights of nature as a concept of strong sustainability?(01.10.2021, VIII, Conference for Practical Philosophy, University of Salzburg, Austria)
(2021) Pachamama as Ecosystem Integrity – The Rights of Nature in the Constitution of Ecuador and their environmental ethical justification (07.-09.09.2021, Bratislava Conference on Earth System Governance)
(2021)Pachamama as Ecosystem-Integrity – The Rights of Nature in Ecuador(03.08.2021, Conservation concepts and human-nature relationships: philosophical perspectives, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Leipzig)
(2021)The rights of nature as a concept of strong sustainability?(29.06.2021, Lecture series: Philosophy of law and ecological sustainability, Leipzig University.
(2020) Rights of Nature and Planetary Integrity – Case Studies from Ecuador, New Zealand and India,(08.07.2020, Environmental Rights in Cultural Context (ERCC), Digital Talk, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Halle (Saale))
(2019) Decolonial Authorship in the Rights of Nature(“The Americas 2019” (12 -14 June 2019, University of Bonn)
(2019) Die Rechte der Natur und umweltethische Rechtfertigungsstrategien(05 June 2019, Research Colloquium on Economic Philosophy and Environmental Ethics, Prof. Dr Ludger Heidbrink and Prof. Dr Konrad Ott, Kiel).
(2019) Is climate change a lie? Objective strategies to defend the integrity of Planet Earth(Conference of the Association for Philosophy and Literature (APL) 2019: “Truth, Fiction, Illusion – Worlds & Experience”, 29 May – 2 June, Klagenfurt, Austria).
(2019) The Rights of Nature – Planetary Integrity in Translation,(10 April 2019, Guest Lecture, Max-Weber-Kolleg Erfurt)
(2019)Is climate change a lie? Objective strategies to defend the integrity of Planet Earth(XV Political Philosophy Conference: Nominalist Deviations and the New Shapes of Political Control, November 21-23rd 2018, Barcelona, Spain).
(2018) Coloniality in Dussel, Quijano and Mignolo – a transmodern justification of human rights.Conference “Civilisation – Nature – Subjugation”, Halle (Saale).
(2018) Digesting Humanity – Plastic Continents, PVC- Ecosystems and the concept of Integrity,International Society for Environmental Ethics (ISEE), Pacific Division Meeting of the American Philosophical Association (APA), San Diego.
(2018) Eine physiozentrische Grundlegung des Rechts- Mit dem lateinamerikanischen Buen Vivir auf dem Weg zu einer Allgemeinen Erklärung der Rechte der Natur?, II. Vienna Forum of Intercultural Philosophising.
(2017) Mother Earth as a legal subject. Buen Vivir und die ecuadorianische Verfassung,Vortrag & Diskussion “Das Konzept der Personität im andinen Raum”, Veranstaltung im Rahmen der Lange Nacht der Wissenschaft, MLU Halle-Wittenberg.
(2017) Symmetry of Nature and Human – With Latin American Buen Vivir on the way to a Universal Declaration of the Rights of Nature?, (ISEE, 14th Annual Meeting & Conference on Environmental Philosophy, Allenspark, Colorado, USA).
(2017) Nature as a Person – With Latin American Buen Vivir on the way to a Universal Declaration of the Rights of Nature?, (14th International Conference on Persons, University of Calabria, Italy).
(2017) From being-in-the-world to being-as-powerful-as-the-world – Contemporary readings of Violence and Law in Environmental Ethics, (Spring School “Deconstructing the Concept of Violence. Law and Power in Heidegger, Benjamin, Derrida and Foucault”, Halle (Saale). Germany).
(2016) Wittgenstein’s “Lecture on Ethics”, (International Conference: Rule Following, Rule Creation, Rule Change. Challenge for Autonomy and Universalism by Ludwig Wittgenstein, Martin Heidegger and Carl Schmitt, Halle (Saale), Germany).
(2016) A physio centric foundation of law – with Latin American Buen Vivir on the way to a Universal Declaration of the Rights of Nature?, (THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PHILOSOPHY, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA).
(2016) Buen Vivir vs. Sumak Kawsay? – Theoretical and political challenges of a Latin American approach to Good Life and a closer relationship between community and nature, (The 8th International Conference CEISAL 2016, A Post-Hegemonic Era: Society, Culture and Politics in Latin America, Salamanca, Spain).
(2015) BUEN VIVIR UND DIE RECHTE DER NATUR – Philosophische Betrachtungen zweier Konzepte, (Cyclic Lecture, Bioethics, Halle (Saale), Germany).
(2015) Postcolonial Cosmopolitanism – A Philosophical Perspective on the Rights of Others, (Lecture Series Justice and Law in Latin America, Solidaridad e.V., Halle (Saale), Germany).
(2015) Vico zwischen Metaphysik und Geschichte – seine Rechtslehre: Naturrecht oder Rechtspositivismus?, (German-Italian conference in cooperation with the Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Halle (Saale), Germany).
(2014) Dekolonialität, Materialität und das Gute Leben – Lateinamerikanische Perspektiven, (Material Matters in Times of Crisis Capitalism: Transnational Feminist and Decolonial Approaches, International Conference, 13th – 15th November 2014 Institute of Sociology, Justus- Liebig University, Giessen, Germany).
(2014) Latin America and human rights, a difficult relationship? Historical and Systematic Reflections, (Politics and Perspectives of Human Rights in Latin America, Solidaridad e.V. Halle, Halle (Saale), Germany).
(2014) Finding the new man? – Remarks on some difficulties of intercultural communication in connection with Vilem Flusser,(“The Dynamics of Transcultural Management and Governance in Latin America”, XI Workshop: “Understanding Transnationalisation”, Graduate Institute, Maison de la Paix, Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2, Geneva, Switzerland).
(2013) Buen Vivir vs. the Good Life? Philosophical reflections on two concepts, (Living sustainability anew – Buen Vivir? The Good Life in Research, School and Everyday Life, Symposium, Halle (Saale), Germany).
(2012) De la crítica a la normatividad, Materialidad y exterioridad como puntos de partida para una ética universal?(9th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY 2012, “Political Philosophy: Between Normativism and Criticism”, Barcelona, Spain).
(2011)Der Blick auf die europäische Kultur aus südamerikanischer Perspektive, (Erasmus Conference, Geschichte und Gegenwart der europäischen Kultur/ Storia a Presente della cultura europea, Halle (Saale), Germany).
(2011) ¿Hay una filosofía postcolonial en América Latina? Fuentes y argumentos de la contra-hegemonia, (8th NTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY 2011, “Figures of Domination”, Barcelona, Spain).
(2011) ¿Hay una filosofía postcolonial en América Latina? Notas sobre el discurso de la identidad y del saber, (Encuentro de discusión sobre decolonialismo en América Latina, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina).
(2010) Jesuit Engagement in Brazil between 1549 and 1609 – A Legitimate support of Indians’ emancipation or Eurocentric movement of conversion?,(7th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY 2010, Barcelona, Spain).
(2010) National Identity and the State, (Summer School HOMELANDS IN TRANSLATION, Naples, Italy).