On May 8 and 9, 2025, Der Divan – The Arab Cultural House in Berlin hosted a forum on contemporary Arab-Islamic philosophy.
At the heart of the event was a critical engagement with the development, currents, and challenges of Arab philosophy in modern times. Particular emphasis was placed on the tensions between philosophical heritage, Western modernity, and current sociopolitical realities in the Arab world.
The event consisted of several lectures and panel discussions, in which the following renowned scholars from Germany and abroad reflected on key themes of Arab and Islamic philosophy:
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Rudolph (University of Zurich) is considered a leading scholar in the history of classical philosophy. Dr. Nils Riecken (Ruhr University Bochum) and Dr. Mohammed Hashas (Luiss University, Rome) focus on modern Arab intellectual traditions, critical theory, and political thought in the Maghreb. Dr. Haider Saeed (Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, Doha) analyzed in his lecture contemporary Arab philosophers’ conceptions of the state, using Mohammed Abed Al Jabri as a case study. Prof. Dr. Kata Moser (University of Göttingen) and Jun.-Prof. Dr. Feriel Bouhafa (University of Würzburg) explored questions of religion, modernity, and theology, especially in the works of Ibn Rushd. Dr. Sarhan Dhouib (University of Hildesheim) focuses his research on topics such as human rights and intercultural philosophy.
Conference Program
