Publications

Dr. Anna-Lena Hoffmann, Professor of Philosophy, Rheinwald Institute for Philosophy and Science
Dr. Jonathan Mercer, Professor of Philosophy of Science, Northbridge University

Abstract

This article examines the continued relevance of Aristotelian categories within contemporary philosophy and the natural and social sciences. It argues that, despite the apparent dominance of post-Cartesian and empiricist paradigms, key elements of Aristotelian thought persist in both explicit and implicit forms. Through a comparative analysis of concepts such as substance, causality, teleology, and classification, the study traces their transformation from classical formulations to modern reinterpretations in fields including metaphysics, biology, and philosophy of science.

The article further explores how Aristotelian frameworks have been adapted rather than abandoned, particularly in discussions of scientific explanation, the structure of living systems, and debates concerning realism and essentialism. Special attention is given to the resurgence of teleological language in contemporary biology and systems theory, as well as to the enduring utility of categorical distinctions in analytic philosophy.

Methodologically, the study combines historical analysis with systematic philosophical inquiry, demonstrating that Aristotelian categories continue to function as conceptual tools that shape both theoretical reflection and empirical investigation. The findings suggest that modern thought is less a departure from Aristotelianism than a reconfiguration of its core insights, thereby highlighting the philosopher's lasting influence on the intellectual architecture of the present.

Table of Contents

1. 1. Introduction: Aristotle in the Shadow of Modernity
   • 1.1. Scope and Research Questions
   • 1.2. Methodological Considerations
   • 1.3. The Problem of Intellectual Continuity
2. 2. Aristotelian Foundations
   • 2.1. Categories and Ontological Structure
   • 2.2. The Four Causes
   • 2.3. Teleology and Natural Explanation
3. 3. From Antiquity to Early Modernity
   • 3.1. Medieval Scholastic Transformations
   • 3.2. The Early Modern Rejection of Aristotelianism
   • 3.3. Persistence Beneath Critique
4. 4. Substance and Ontology in Contemporary Philosophy
   • 4.1. Substance Reconsidered
   • 4.2. Essentialism and Modal Metaphysics
   • 4.3. Analytic Ontology and Aristotelian Echoes
5. 5. Causality and Scientific Explanation
   • 5.1. From Four Causes to Efficient Causation
   • 5.2. Mechanism and Its Limits
   • 5.3. Renewed Interest in Formal and Final Causes
6. 6. Teleology in Modern Science
   • 6.1. Teleology after Darwin
   • 6.2. Function and Purpose in Biology
   • 6.3. Systems Theory and Goal-Directed Processes
7. 7. Classification, Logic, and Scientific Taxonomy
   • 7.1. Aristotelian Logic and Its Legacy
   • 7.2. Natural Kinds and Scientific Classification
   • 7.3. Conceptual Schemes in Contemporary Science
8. 8. Discussion: Transformation Rather than Displacement
   • 8.1. Conceptual Adaptation Across Disciplines
   • 8.2. Implications for Philosophy of Science
   • 8.3. Limits of the Aristotelian Framework
9. 9. Conclusion: The Enduring Architecture of Aristotelian Thought

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Dr. Sofia Markovic, Senior Research Fellow in Political Thought, Copernicus Academia
Dr. Thomas Ellery, Associate Professor of Classics and Political Theory, Northbridge University

Abstract

This article re-examines the origins and practices of democracy in ancient Greece, with particular focus on classical Athens, in order to reassess its relevance and contested legacy in modern political thought. Rather than treating Athenian democracy as a foundational model to be either celebrated or dismissed, the study approaches it as a historically situated system whose structures, assumptions, and limitations continue to shape contemporary debates about participation, representation, and political legitimacy.

Through a close analysis of key institutions such as the ekklesia, the boule, and the system of sortition, the article highlights both the radical inclusivity and the inherent exclusions embedded in Athenian democratic practice. Special attention is given to the tension between direct participation and practical governance, as well as to the role of rhetoric, civic identity, and public deliberation in sustaining the democratic process.

The study further traces how interpretations of Athenian democracy have been mobilized in modern political theory, from early modern republicanism to contemporary democratic innovations. By combining historical reconstruction with conceptual analysis, the article argues that the legacy of Athenian democracy is neither straightforwardly normative nor obsolete, but remains a dynamic and contested resource. Its enduring significance lies not in providing a fixed template, but in illuminating fundamental questions about the nature and limits of democratic rule.

Table of Contents

1. 1. Introduction: Democracy Before Democracy
   • 1.1. Framing the Question
   • 1.2. Sources and Methodological Approach
   • 1.3. The Problem of Democratic Origins
2. 2. The Emergence of Athenian Democracy
   • 2.1. From Aristocracy to Reform
   • 2.2. Solon, Cleisthenes, and Institutional Innovation
   • 2.3. Political Identity and the Citizen Body
3. 3. Institutions and Practices
   • 3.1. The Assembly (Ekklesia)
   • 3.2. The Council (Boule)
   • 3.3. Sortition and Office Holding
   • 3.4. Courts and Civic Participation
4. 4. Participation and Exclusion
   • 4.1. Citizenship and Its Boundaries
   • 4.2. Women, Slaves, and Foreigners
   • 4.3. Equality Among Citizens
5. 5. Rhetoric, Deliberation, and Power
   • 5.1. The Role of Public Speech
   • 5.2. Persuasion and Political Authority
   • 5.3. Critiques from Within: Plato and Aristotle
6. 6. The Limits of Direct Democracy
   • 6.1. Scale and Practical Constraints
   • 6.2. Stability and Volatility
   • 6.3. Democracy and Empire
7. 7. Reception and Reinterpretation
   • 7.1. Early Modern Republicanism
   • 7.2. Enlightenment Critiques
   • 7.3. Modern Democratic Theory
8. 8. Discussion: Legacy and Misappropriation
   • 8.1. The Myth of Origins
   • 8.2. Normative Uses of Athens
   • 8.3. Lessons Without Models
9. 9. Conclusion: Democracy as an Ongoing Question

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Dr. Miriam Kovač, Senior Research Fellow in Early Modern Political Thought, Copernicus Academia
Dr. Edward Langford, Associate Professor of Intellectual History, St. Alban's Institute for Historical Studies

Abstract

This article situates Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan within the religious and political upheavals of seventeenth-century England, arguing that the work is best understood as a systematic response to the crises of authority, conflict, and fragmentation that defined the period. Rather than reading Leviathan as an abstract contribution to political philosophy alone, the study interprets it as a contextually grounded intervention shaped by the English Civil War, the breakdown of ecclesiastical unity, and competing claims to sovereignty.

Through a close analysis of Hobbes' account of human nature, the state of nature, and the construction of political authority, the article demonstrates how his theory of absolute sovereignty emerges as a solution to the problem of disorder in a religiously divided society. Particular attention is given to Hobbes' treatment of religion, including his critique of clerical power and his attempt to subordinate religious interpretation to civil authority.

The study further explores Hobbes' engagement with contemporary debates about law, scripture, and obedience, highlighting the extent to which Leviathan seeks to neutralize the destabilizing potential of competing truth claims. By combining historical contextualization with philosophical analysis, the article argues that Hobbes' project is not merely authoritarian in intent, but fundamentally concerned with the conditions for peace in a fractured world.

Table of Contents

1. 1. Introduction: Hobbes in a Time of Crisis
   • 1.1. Framing the Problem
   • 1.2. Method and Sources
   • 1.3. Leviathan as Intervention
2. 2. England in Turmoil
   • 2.1. The English Civil War
   • 2.2. Religious Fragmentation and Sectarian Conflict
   • 2.3. Competing Claims to Authority
3. 3. Human Nature and the State of Nature
   • 3.1. Anthropology and Motivation
   • 3.2. Fear, Equality, and Conflict
   • 3.3. The Logic of Insecurity
4. 4. The Construction of Sovereignty
   • 4.1. Covenant and Authorization
   • 4.2. The Artificial Person of the State
   • 4.3. Absolute Authority and Its Rationale
5. 5. Religion and Political Order
   • 5.1. Scripture and Interpretation
   • 5.2. Critique of Ecclesiastical Power
   • 5.3. Civil Sovereignty over Religion
6. 6. Law, Obedience, and Stability
   • 6.1. Natural Law and Civil Law
   • 6.2. Obligation and Compliance
   • 6.3. Peace as the Primary Political Good
7. 7. Contemporary Debates and Intellectual Context
   • 7.1. Hobbes and His Critics
   • 7.2. Royalism, Parliamentarianism, and Neutrality
   • 7.3. Scientific Method and Political Thought
8. 8. Discussion: Authority, Fear, and Modernity
   • 8.1. Is Hobbes an Authoritarian Thinker?
   • 8.2. The Problem of Religious Pluralism
   • 8.3. Relevance for Modern Political Theory
9. 9. Conclusion: Order in a World of Conflict

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Dr. Lucas Vermeer, Senior Research Fellow of Mathematics, Copernicus Academia

Abstract

This article explores the mathematical and conceptual significance of prime numbers, examining their role as fundamental building blocks within number theory and their broader implications across mathematics and the sciences. While primes are often introduced as simple numerical entities defined by indivisibility, the study argues that their true importance lies in the deep structural properties they reveal about the integers and the surprising patterns and irregularities that govern their distribution.

Beginning with the classical formulation of the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic, the article traces the development of key questions concerning primes, including their infinitude, density, and apparent unpredictability. Special attention is given to the Prime Number Theorem and the ongoing investigation of the Riemann Hypothesis, both of which illuminate the tension between order and randomness in the distribution of primes.

The study further considers modern applications, particularly in cryptography, where the computational properties of large primes underpin widely used security systems. By combining historical perspective with contemporary analysis, the article demonstrates that prime numbers occupy a unique position at the intersection of pure and applied mathematics.

Table of Contents

1. 1. Introduction: The Enigma of the Primes
   • 1.1. Why Prime Numbers Matter
   • 1.2. Scope and Approach
   • 1.3. From Simplicity to Complexity
2. 2. Foundations of Number Theory
   • 2.1. Definitions and Basic Properties
   • 2.2. The Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic
   • 2.3. Early Results and Classical Proofs
3. 3. The Infinitude of Primes
   • 3.1. Euclid's Proof
   • 3.2. Variations and Generalizations
   • 3.3. Conceptual Implications
4. 4. Patterns and Distribution
   • 4.1. Empirical Observations
   • 4.2. The Prime Number Theorem
   • 4.3. Regularity and Irregularity
5. 5. Deep Structures and Open Problems
   • 5.1. The Riemann Zeta Function
   • 5.2. The Riemann Hypothesis
   • 5.3. Randomness and Determinism
6. 6. Primes in Applied Contexts
   • 6.1. Cryptography and Security
   • 6.2. Computational Challenges
   • 6.3. Algorithms and Large Primes
7. 7. Discussion: Order at the Edge of Chaos
   • 7.1. Philosophical Reflections
   • 7.2. Limits of Current Knowledge
   • 7.3. Future Directions
8. 8. Conclusion: The Endless Frontier of the Integers

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Dr. Henrik Albers, Associate Professor of Modern European History, Norddeutsches Institut für Zeitgeschichte

Abstract

This article examines the long-term impact of the nineteenth-century Prussian wars on the formation of the German state and the political culture that ultimately shaped the emergence and fragility of the Weimar Republic. Rather than positing a direct causal line, the study investigates how the processes of state formation initiated through the wars of unification established institutional structures and normative assumptions that persisted into the twentieth century.

Focusing on the wars of 1864, 1866, and 1870–71, the article analyses how military success enabled the consolidation of a Prussian-dominated German Empire characterized by strong executive authority, limited parliamentary influence, and a deeply embedded militarized ethos. Particular attention is given to the relationship between state power, national identity, and patterns of political participation.

The study further explores how these inherited structures influenced the transition to the Weimar Republic following the collapse of imperial Germany in 1918. By combining historical analysis with concepts drawn from political sociology, the article argues that the challenges faced by Weimar democracy cannot be fully understood without reference to the institutional legacies and political mentalities shaped in the nineteenth century.

Table of Contents

1. 1. Introduction: War and the Making of Modern Germany
   • 1.1. Framing the Argument
   • 1.2. Historiographical Context
   • 1.3. Methodological Approach
2. 2. The Prussian Wars and State Formation
   • 2.1. The War of 1864 and the Question of Schleswig-Holstein
   • 2.2. The Austro-Prussian War and German Dualism
   • 2.3. The Franco-Prussian War and National Unification
3. 3. The Structure of the German Empire
   • 3.1. Constitutional Framework and Executive Power
   • 3.2. Federalism and Prussian Dominance
   • 3.3. Parliamentarism Without Parliamentary Government
4. 4. Political Culture and Social Integration
   • 4.1. Militarization and Civic Identity
   • 4.2. Elites, Bureaucracy, and Authority
   • 4.3. Inclusion, Exclusion, and Political Participation
5. 5. Continuity and Constraint
   • 5.1. Institutional Path Dependencies
   • 5.2. The Limits of Reform Before 1914
   • 5.3. War, Crisis, and Systemic Strain
6. 6. Collapse and Transition, 1918–1919
   • 6.1. Defeat and Revolution
   • 6.2. Constitutional Innovation in Weimar
   • 6.3. Break or Continuity?
7. 7. Weimar's Structural Challenges
   • 7.1. Executive Power and Democratic Legitimacy
   • 7.2. Political Fragmentation
   • 7.3. The Burden of the Past
8. 8. Discussion: Legacy and Fragility
   • 8.1. The Persistence of Authoritarian Patterns
   • 8.2. Competing Interpretations
   • 8.3. Rethinking Causality
9. 9. Conclusion: From Victory to Vulnerability

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Dr. Clara Weiss, Senior Lecturer in Constitutional Law, Rheinwald Faculty of Law

Abstract

This article examines the evolving role of constitutional courts in modern democracies, with particular attention to the tension between judicial review and democratic legitimacy. While constitutional courts are often regarded as guardians of fundamental rights and constitutional order, their expanding influence has raised persistent questions about the proper limits of judicial authority within systems grounded in popular sovereignty.

The study traces the historical emergence of constitutional review and analyses how courts have come to occupy a central position in the interpretation and development of constitutional norms. Through selected case studies, it explores how courts navigate conflicts between individual rights and legislative intent, as well as the increasing tendency to resolve politically contested issues through judicial means.

By combining doctrinal analysis with insights from legal theory and political science, the study argues that the authority of constitutional courts rests not only on formal competence, but also on their ability to maintain institutional credibility and restraint. Their long-term legitimacy depends on a careful calibration of power, in which the protection of rights is pursued without undermining the democratic foundations from which their authority ultimately derives.

Table of Contents

1. 1. Introduction: Courts at the Center of Constitutional Governance
   • 1.1. Framing the Problem
   • 1.2. Judicial Review and Democratic Tension
   • 1.3. Method and Scope
2. 2. The Emergence of Constitutional Review
   • 2.1. Early Models of Judicial Authority
   • 2.2. The Institutionalization of Constitutional Courts
   • 2.3. Diverging Legal Traditions
3. 3. Rights, Interpretation, and Authority
   • 3.1. Fundamental Rights as Legal Norms
   • 3.2. Methods of Constitutional Interpretation
   • 3.3. The Expanding Role of Courts
4. 4. Judicial Activism and Its Critics
   • 4.1. Defining Activism
   • 4.2. Arguments for Strong Judicial Review
   • 4.3. Concerns About Democratic Overreach
5. 5. Courts and Political Questions
   • 5.1. The Judicialization of Politics
   • 5.2. Strategic Litigation
   • 5.3. Limits of Adjudication
6. 6. Comparative Perspectives
   • 6.1. Centralized vs. Decentralized Review
   • 6.2. Civil Law and Common Law Approaches
   • 6.3. Transnational Influences
7. 7. Legitimacy and Institutional Trust
   • 7.1. Authority Beyond Formal Power
   • 7.2. Public Perception and Compliance
   • 7.3. Self-Restraint and Judicial Craft
8. 8. Discussion: Power, Limits, and Responsibility
   • 8.1. The Proper Scope of Judicial Authority
   • 8.2. Constitutionalism in Practice
   • 8.3. Future Challenges
9. 9. Conclusion: Guarding the Constitution Without Governing

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Dr. Elias Nordholm, Senior Research Fellow in History and Philosophy of Science, Copernicus Academia

Abstract

This article reconsiders the concept of scientific revolutions by examining the interplay between continuity and rupture in the historical development of scientific knowledge. Building on and critically engaging with the paradigm theory of Thomas Kuhn, the study challenges the sharp dichotomy between normal science and revolutionary change, arguing instead for a more nuanced understanding in which transformation emerges through layered processes of reinterpretation, extension, and occasional discontinuity.

Beginning with the Copernican Revolution, the article traces key episodes in the history of science, including the rise of classical mechanics and the transformations associated with modern physics. These cases are analysed not as isolated breaks, but as complex developments in which older conceptual frameworks are partially retained, reconfigured, and sometimes displaced.

By combining historical case analysis with systematic reflection, the article argues that scientific revolutions are best understood not as singular moments of rupture, but as extended processes in which continuity and transformation are deeply intertwined.

Table of Contents

1. 1. Introduction: Rethinking Scientific Change
   • 1.1. The Problem of Revolutions
   • 1.2. Kuhn and His Legacy
   • 1.3. Scope and Method
2. 2. Conceptual Frameworks
   • 2.1. Paradigms and Normal Science
   • 2.2. Incommensurability and Critique
   • 2.3. Continuity vs. Rupture
3. 3. The Copernican Transformation
   • 3.1. From Geocentrism to Heliocentrism
   • 3.2. Mathematical Simplicity and Physical Reality
   • 3.3. Gradual Acceptance and Conceptual Shift
4. 4. From Newton to Modern Physics
   • 4.1. The Consolidation of Classical Mechanics
   • 4.2. Crisis and the Limits of the Newtonian Framework
   • 4.3. Relativity and Quantum Theory
5. 5. Practices of Change
   • 5.1. Instruments and Observation
   • 5.2. Mathematical Formalism
   • 5.3. Models and Representation
6. 6. Philosophical Implications
   • 6.1. Scientific Realism
   • 6.2. Progress and Truth
   • 6.3. The Cumulative Dimension of Knowledge
7. 7. Discussion: Beyond the Revolution Metaphor
   • 7.1. Gradualism Reconsidered
   • 7.2. Hybrid Models of Change
   • 7.3. Implications for Contemporary Science
8. 8. Conclusion: Science as Evolving Practice

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Dr. Clara Weiss, Senior Lecturer in Constitutional Law, Rheinwald Faculty of Law

Abstract

This article re-examines the tradition of natural law theory from its classical formulation in Thomas Aquinas to its modern restatement in the work of John Finnis, with the aim of assessing its relevance for contemporary constitutional thought. Rather than treating natural law as a static doctrine, the study approaches it as a historically evolving framework for understanding the relationship between moral order and political authority.

Beginning with Aquinas' account of natural law as participation in a rational and universal order, the article traces the transformation of the tradition through early modern and modern contexts, highlighting shifts in the understanding of reason, normativity, and legal obligation. Particular attention is given to the revival of natural law in the twentieth century, especially in response to legal positivism and the crises of legitimacy associated with authoritarian regimes.

The study further explores how natural law reasoning informs contemporary debates about constitutional interpretation, fundamental rights, and the limits of state authority. The article argues that natural law continues to offer a coherent framework for linking legal validity to moral reasoning.

Table of Contents

1. 1. Introduction: Law Beyond Positivism
   • 1.1. Framing the Problem
   • 1.2. Natural Law in Modern Context
   • 1.3. Methodological Approach
2. 2. Aquinas and the Classical Formulation
   • 2.1. Law and Participation in Reason
   • 2.2. Natural Law and Moral Order
   • 2.3. Human Law and Its Limits
3. 3. Transformation in Early Modern Thought
   • 3.1. From Theological to Secular Frameworks
   • 3.2. Grotius and the Autonomy of Natural Law
   • 3.3. Natural Law and Emerging Statehood
4. 4. The Challenge of Legal Positivism
   • 4.1. Law as Command
   • 4.2. Separation of Law and Morality
   • 4.3. Critiques and Limitations
5. 5. The Twentieth-Century Revival
   • 5.1. Natural Law After Crisis
   • 5.2. John Finnis and Practical Reason
   • 5.3. Basic Goods and Normativity
6. 6. Natural Law and Constitutional Thought
   • 6.1. Rights and Moral Foundations
   • 6.2. Interpretation and Judicial Reasoning
   • 6.3. Limits of State Authority
7. 7. Discussion: Normativity and Legitimacy
   • 7.1. Can Law Be Morally Neutral?
   • 7.2. Natural Law in Pluralist Societies
   • 7.3. Relevance and Critique
8. 8. Conclusion: Foundations of Constitutional Order

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Dr. Anna-Lena Hoffmann, Professor of Philosophy, Rheinwald Institute for Philosophy and Science

Abstract

This article examines the enduring influence of Stoic philosophy on the development of European ethical thought, focusing on its role in shaping the moral vocabulary of Christianity, Roman law, and Enlightenment natural rights theory. Rather than presenting Stoicism as a self-contained system, the study traces its transmission and transformation across distinct historical contexts.

Beginning with the core Stoic concepts of reason, natural order, and universal moral community, the article explores how these ideas were appropriated and reinterpreted in early Christian thought. It then considers the integration of Stoic principles into Roman legal traditions, particularly in the articulation of concepts such as equity, natural justice, and the universality of law.

Through a combination of intellectual history and philosophical analysis, the article demonstrates that the Stoic legacy is not merely historical, but continues to inform contemporary ethical and legal discourse. Its significance lies in the persistence of a moral language grounded in reason, universality, and the inherent worth of the individual.

Table of Contents

1. 1. Introduction: The Persistence of Stoic Thought
   • 1.1. Framing the Inquiry
   • 1.2. Stoicism as Intellectual Tradition
   • 1.3. Method and Scope
2. 2. Core Concepts of Stoic Ethics
   • 2.1. Reason and the Natural Order
   • 2.2. Virtue and Self-Mastery
   • 2.3. Cosmopolitanism and Moral Community
3. 3. Stoicism and Early Christianity
   • 3.1. Points of Convergence
   • 3.2. Transformation of Ethical Language
   • 3.3. Tensions and Divergences
4. 4. Stoic Elements in Roman Law
   • 4.1. Natural Law and Universal Justice
   • 4.2. Equity and Legal Reasoning
   • 4.3. Law Beyond the City
5. 5. From Antiquity to Enlightenment
   • 5.1. Transmission Through Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages
   • 5.2. Stoicism and Early Modern Thought
   • 5.3. Natural Rights and Human Dignity
6. 6. Conceptual Continuities
   • 6.1. Universality and Moral Equality
   • 6.2. Reason as Ethical Foundation
   • 6.3. The Language of Duty and Rights
7. 7. Discussion: Legacy and Reinterpretation
   • 7.1. Continuity or Reinvention?
   • 7.2. Stoicism in Modern Ethics
   • 7.3. Limits of the Tradition
8. 8. Conclusion: A Durable Moral Vocabulary

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