Philosophy, Ethics and Religion

Research on the history of Latvian philosophical thought and ideas

Research on the formation and development of Latvian professional philosophical thought, highlighting the Latvian cultural heritage and nurturing the Latvian history of ideas, revealing the forms of psychoanalysis, feminism and other philosophical movements in Latvia, creating new knowledge and contributing to research on the formation of Latvian national identities in comparison with the development of Western and Latvian intellectual traditions and the history of ideas.

Maija Kūle (philosophy research group)
(maija.kule@lu.lv; +371 67034861; https://www.fsi.lu.lv/)

Research on the history of Western philosophical thought and ideas

Translation of important works and qualitative, in-depth analysis and approbation of the ideas of ancient, Enlightenment and modern Western philosophy in comparison with issues, historical insights and similarities in Latvian culture and social spheres, thus contributing to the academic and public knowledge of other philosophical movements, introducing the research and applications of phenomenological and hermeneutic methodologies in contemporary contexts, the development and influences of life, analytic and feminist philosophies and ancient philosophy today.

Research on philosophy of religion and paradigms of contemporary religiosity

Research on the language of religion, the relationship between rationality and faith, Latvian traditional culture and religion, the relationship between state and church and its history, especially under totalitarian regimes, the history and traditions of subcultures created by particular religious organisations and movements (Old Believers, Russian Orthodox, Lutheran and Roman Catholic, Neopaganism, Charismatic and other non-traditional Christian churches, Eastern spiritual movements in the West, New Age and Esotericism). Expert opinion on a particular religious organisation or movement, including by offering philosophical generalisations and arguments that imply the exploration and analysis of a dialogue between individual and social experience.

Analysis of contemporary religious phenomena. 19th and 20th century studies of the history of Christianity, new religious movements, religion and politics.

Research on the history of Christianity, political theology, state-church relations, new religious movements, issues of gender and religion, opinions on the activities of religious organizations.