We are pleased to welcome Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. Hans Joas (external link), one of the internationally most renowned sociologists and social philosophers of our time, as our guest speaker for this year’s Academy Lecture. The evening promises fascinating insights and new food for thought on key issues of our time. Look forward to a lecture that combines academic excellence with social relevance, and be sure to mark your calendars now – further information on the lecture topic and title will follow shortly.

Hans Joas is widely recognized for his pioneering work on the emergence of values, the sociology of religion, American pragmatism, and the study of violence. He is currently Ernst Troeltsch Honorary Professor at the Faculty of Theology at Humboldt University of Berlin. Previously, he held, among other positions, a Permanent Fellowship at the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS) and was Director of the Max Weber Centre for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies at the University of Erfurt. He is also Visiting Professor of Sociology and Social Thought and a member of the Committee on Social Thought at the University of Chicago, and is a member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities.

In recognition of his outstanding scholarly achievements, Hans Joas has received numerous awards, including the Max Planck Research Award, the Hans Kilian Award, and the Prix Paul Ricœur.