Christian Seidel
Professor
Christian Seidel is a professor of philosophical anthropology in the Department of Philosophy at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). He is, together with Gregor Betz, co-head of CompPhil²MMAE.
Having studied philosophy, logic & philosophy of science, psychology, mathematics and economics at universities in Munich, Bologna, Berlin and London, he completed his PhD in philosophy in Bern and held postdoctoral positions in Zurich, Erlangen and Münster.
Christian’s research and teaching interests include moral theory, climate ethics, intergenerational justice, risk ethics, autonomy, as well as morality (and moralism) in public discourse. He also specialises in 19th-century British moral and social philosophy. His philosophical heroes are John Stuart & Harriet Taylor Mill, Henry Sidgwick and Derek Parfit.
Interests
- Fundamental questions of moral philosophy
- Applied ethics
- Norms of public discourse
- British moral and social philosophy of the 19th century
Education
Doctor of Philosophy
University of Bern
M.Phil. in Philosophy, Logic & Philosophy of Science,
pre-degree ("Vordiplom") in Psychology,
B.Sc. Mathematics & Economics
Munich, Bologna, Berlin, London
Publications
Books
Monographes & Edited Collections
(2026).
Besser um die Zukunft streiten (How to argue better about the future).
Munich:
Hanser Verlag.
(2022).
Was ist Moralismus? Über Zeigefinger und den Ort der Moral (What is moralism? About pointing fingers and the place of morality)
(Was bedeutet das alles? (What does all this mean?)).
Ditzingen:
Reclam.
(Eds.).
(2020).
Kritik des Moralismus (Critique of moralism)
(stw, 2328).
Berlin:
Suhrkamp.
https://www.suhrkamp.de/buch/kritik-des-moralismus-t-9783518299289
(Ed.).
(2019).
Consequentialism: New Directions, New Problems
(Oxford Moral Theory).
Oxford/New York:
Oxford University Press.
https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190270117.001.0001
(2016).
Climate Justice: An Introduction.
London/New York:
Routledge.
(2016).
Selbst bestimmen. Eine philosophische Untersuchung personaler Autonomie (Self-determination. A philosophical examination of personal autonomy)
(Ideen & Argumente (Ideas & arguments)).
Berlin/Boston:
de Gruyter.
(2015).
Ethik des Klimawandels. Eine Einführung (Ethics of climate change. An introduction)
(2nd, extended ed.).
Darmstadt:
Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft (Scientific Book Society).
(2013).
Ethik des Klimawandels. Eine Einführung (Ethics of climate change. An introduction).
Darmstadt:
Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft (Scientific Book Society).
Articles
in journals
(2026).
How to make progress in moral theory? The limits of Gradualist Dutilitarianism.
Asian Journal of Philosophy.
5
(42).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s44204-026-00404-0
(2024).
Werte und Wertvorstellungen in der Moral moralischer Rede. Einige Überlegungen zum Phänomen des Moralismus (Values and value concepts in the morality of moral speech. Some reflections on the phenomenon of moralism).
Zeitschrift für Didaktik der Philosophie und Ethik (Journal for Didactics of Philosophy and Ethics).
2024
(2), p. 35–45.
(2021).
The Deontic Transfer Principle.
Erkenntnis.
86
(5), p. 1185–1195.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10670-019-00149-8
(2020).
Die normative Grundlage intergenerationeller Unternehmensethik. Zwei Ansätze, zwei Schwierigkeiten (The normative basis of intergenerational business ethics. Two approaches, two difficulties).
Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Unternehmensethik (Journal of Business and Corporate Ethics).
21
(2), p. 128–164.
https://doi.org/10.5771/1439-880x-2020-2-128
(2020).
The Philosophical Biography of the Utilitarian Tradition: Is Sidgwick a Point of Culmination?.
Zeitschrift für philosophische Forschung (Journal of Philosophical Research).
74
(1), p. 124–140.
https://doi.org/10.3196/004433020828856908
(2019).
Zwei (mal zwei) Perspektiven in der Zukunftsethik (Two (times two) perspectives in future ethics).
Zeitschrift für philosophische Forschung (Journal of Philosophical Research).
73
(1), p. 138–143.
(2017).
Précis zu Selbst bestimmen. Eine philosophische Untersuchung personaler Autonomie (Précis on Determining the Self. A philosophical investigation of personal autonomy).
Zeitschrift für philosophische Forschung (Journal of Philosophical Research).
71
(2), p. 289–293.
https://doi.org/10.3196/004433017821280449
(2017).
Feasibility, normative heuristics and the proper place of historical responsibility — a reply to Ohndorf et al..
Climatic Change.
140
(2), p. 101–107.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-016-1861-4
(2017).
Repliken (Replicas).
Zeitschrift für philosophische Forschung (Journal of Philosophical Research).
71
(2), p. 305–313.
(2015).
Equality, justice and feasibility: an ethical analysis of the WBGU’s budget approach.
Climatic Change.
133
(3), p. 397–406.
(2014).
On “Imperfect” Imperfect Duties and the Epistemic Demands of Integrationist Approaches to Justice.
Ethics, Policy & Environment.
17
(1), p. 39–42.
https://doi.org/10.1080/21550085.2014.885164
(2011).
Personale Autonomie als praktische Autorität (Personal autonomy as practical authority).
Deutsche Zeitschrift für Philosophie (German Journal of Philosophy).
59
(6), p. 897–915.
https://doi.org/10.1524/dzph.2011.59.6.897
(2011).
Does leadership promote cooperation in climate change mitigation policy?.
Climate Policy.
11
(2), p. 901–921.
Articles
in collections
(2025).
Henry Sidgwick. Philosophische Biographie, Werk, Wirkung – und die Transformation des Utilitarismus (Henry Sidgwick. Philosophical biography, work, impact – and the transformation of utilitarianism).
In Vuko Andrić & Bernward Gesang (Ed.),
Handbuch Utilitarismus (Utilitarianism handbook)
(p. 289–300).
Berlin:
J.B. Metzler.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-71326-6_26
(2024).
Altruismus und Unparteilichkeit. Ein Explikationsvorschlag (Altruism and impartiality. A proposal for explication).
In Dagmar Kiesel, Sebastian Schmidt & Thomas Smettan (Ed.),
Altruismus. Interdisziplinäre Perspektiven (Altruism. Interdisciplinary perspectives
(p. 133–161).
Berlin, Heidelberg:
J.B. Metzler.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-69384-1_8
(2024).
Zukunftsvergessenheit. Ein Klärungsversuch (Forgetting the future. An attempt at clarification).
In Petra Gehring & Reinold Schmücker (Ed.),
Moral und Zeit (Moral and Time)
(Blaue Reihe (blue series),
p. –).
Hamburg:
Meiner.
[In publication]
(2024).
Hedonismus (Hedonism).
In Frauke Höntzsch (Ed.),
Mill-Handbuch. Leben – Werk – Wirkung (Mill Handbook. Life – Work – Impact)
(p. 273–281).
Berlin:
J.B. Metzler.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-476-05930-7_29
(2024).
Moralischer Intuitionismus (Moral intuitionism).
In Frauke Höntzsch (Ed.),
Mill-Handbuch. Leben – Werk – Wirkung (Mill Handbook. Life – Work – Impact)
(p. 63–77).
Stuttgart:
J.B. Metzler.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-476-05930-7_9
(Eds.).
(2020).
Kritik des Moralismus. Eine Landkarte zur Einleitung (Critique of Moralism. A map as an introduction).
In Christian Neuhäuser & christian.seidel (Ed.),
Kritik des Moralismus (Critique of Moralism)
(p. 9–34).
Berlin:
Suhrkamp.
https://www.suhrkamp.de/buch/kritik-des-moralismus-t-9783518299289
(2020).
Wie moralistisch dürfen wir sein? Moralismus als Herausforderung für eine ‚praktische‘ praktische Philosophie (How moralistic can we be? Moralism as a challenge for a ‘practical’ practical philosophy).
In Christian Neuhäuser & christian.seidel (Ed.),
Kritik des Moralismus (Critique of moralism)
(p. 206–240).
Berlin:
Suhrkamp.
(Ed.).
(2019).
New Wave Consequentialism. An Introduction.
In christian.seidel (Ed.),
Consequentialism: New Directions, New Problems
(Oxford Moral Theory,
p. 1–28).
Oxford/New York:
Oxford University Press.
https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190270117.003.0001
(2018).
Der Klimawandel als ethische Herausforderung (The ethical challenge of climate change).
In Christiane Meyer, Andreas Eberth & Barbara Warner (Ed.),
Diercke Weltaltlas: Klimawandel im Geographieunterricht. Bewusstseinsbildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung (Diercke World Atlas: Climate change in geography lessons. Raising awareness for sustainable development)
(p. 174–181).
Braunschweig:
Westermann.
(2016).
The Moral Problem.
In Michael Kühler & Markus Rüther (Ed.),
Handbuch Handlungstheorie (Handbook of action theory)
(p. 309–315).
Stuttgart:
J.B. Metzler.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-476-05359-6_35
(2016).
The Costs of Moralizing. How About a ‘Government House Climate Ethics’?.
In Clare Heyward & Dominic Roser (Ed.),
Climate Justice in a Non-Ideal World
(p. 277–295).
Oxford/New York:
Oxford University Press.
https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198744047.003.0014
(2013).
Two Problems with the Socio-Relational Critique of Distributive Egalitarianism.
In Miguel Hoeltje, Thomas Spitzley & Wolfgang Spohn (Ed.),
Was dürfen wir glauben? Was sollen wir tun? Sektionsbeiträge des achten internationalen Kongresses der Gesellschaft für Analytische Philosophie e.V. (What can we believe? What should we do? Section contributions of the eighth international congress of the Society for Analytic Philosophy e.V.)
(p. 525–535).
Duisburg-Essen:
DuEPublico.
https://duepublico2.uni-due.de/receive/duepublico_mods_00031200
(2012).
Eigene Gründe – wozu eigentlich? Einige Überlegungen in Richtung einer deflationären Auffassung (Own reasons – why actually? Some considerations in the direction of a deflationary view).
In Julian Nida-Rümelin & Elif Özmen (Ed.),
Welt der Gründe. Kolloquienbeiträge (The world of reasons. Colloquium contributions)
(Deutsches Jahrbuch Philosophie (German Yearbook of Philosophy), 4,
p. 986–1004).
Hamburg:
Meiner.
(2012).
Klimawandel, globale Gerechtigkeit und die Ethik globaler öffentlicher Güter – einige grundlegende begriffliche Fragen (Climate change, global justice and the ethics of global public goods – some fundamental conceptual questions).
In Matthias Maring (Ed.),
Globale öffentliche Güter in interdisziplinären Perspektiven (Global public goods in interdisciplinary perspectives)
(Schriftenreihe des Zentrums für Technik- und Wirtschaftsethik am Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (Publication series of the Center for Technology and Business Ethics at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology), 5,
p. 179–195).
Karlsruhe:
KIT Scientific Publishing.
(2011).
Die gute Ethikerin und der Platz der Moral: Zwischen Moralismus und Willensschwäche (The good ethicist and the place of morality: between moralism and weakness of will).
In Christoph Ammann, Barbara Bleisch & Anna Goppel (Ed.),
Müssen Ethiker moralisch sein? Essays über Philosophie und Lebensführung (Do ethicists have to be moral? Essays on philosophy and lifestyle)
(p. 85–100).
Frankfurt a. M./New York:
Campus.
(Ed.).
(2007).
Psychisch anders? Überlegungen zu Personsein und Identität (Psychologically different? Reflections on personhood and identity).
In Florian Steger (Ed.),
Was ist krank? Stigmatisierung und Diskriminierung in Medizin und Psychotherapie (What is sick? Stigmatization and discrimination in medicine and psychotherapy)
(p. 31–48).
Gießen:
Psychosozial Verlag.
Reviews
Bibliographies etc.
(2013).
Kommentierte Auswahlbibliographie (Annotated selected bibliography)
In Monika Betzler (Ed.),
Personale Autonomie (Personal autonomy), p. 221–226.
(mentis anthologien philosophie).
Münster:
Mentis.
(2010).
Rezension zu Norbert Anwander: Versprechen und Verpflichten (Review of Norbert Anwander: Promises and Obligations).
Ethical Theory and Moral Practice.
13
(1), p. 117–119.
(2008).
Rezension zu Stephen Darwall, The Second-Person Standpoint (Review on Rezension zu Stephen Darwall, The Second-Person Standpoint).
Zeitschrift für philosophische Forschung (Journal for philosophical research).
62
(4), p. 609–614.
Talks
Presentation at the conference Autonomy and its Challenges, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law
Talk in the Colloquium Fundamentale series of the MoWiKo project (Moralization in scientific communication – Causes, Forms and Effects) about Moral and Moralism in public debates from the perspective of moral philosophy. - talk in german
Zukunftsvergessenheit. Ein Explikationsvorschlag (Forgetting the future. A proposal for explication)
Lecture in the Research colloquium by Prof. Dr. Felicitas Krämer
News
The newly established, DFG funded project ‘The Ethics of State Mass Surveillance’ (Head: Peter Königs, Christian Neuhäuser, Christian Seidel) invites applications for three doctoral positions for a period of three years. Of these three positions, two will be at TU Dortmund (Department of Philosophy and Political Science) and one at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Department of Philosophy). Employment can begin at the earliest possible date. The remuneration will be according to pay group E 13 TV-L, with 65 % of the regular work time.
CompPhil²MMAE cooperates with alumnus Peter Königs and Christian Neuhäuser from TU Dortmund University in a research project funded by the DFG. In three sub-projects, we are investigating the question of how modern practices of state mass surveillance in liberal societies are to be ethically evaluated – with regard to (a) the monitored individual, (b) the democratic society in which surveillance takes place, and (c) the technology companies that participate in state surveillance.
Christian Seidel and Maike Albertzart will be chairs of the Normative Ethics section at the 12th Congress of the Society for Analytic Philosophy (GAP.12).
CompPhil²MMAE is involved in a scientific network on “Methods of Practical Ethics” funded by the DFG. The network will investigate moral philosophical methods in applied ethical contexts (such as AI, data protection, climate change, etc.) and reflect on the role of ethicists in the corresponding public discourses.
The Department of Philosophy is significantly involved in the Mill Handbook, edited by Frauke Höntzsch, with a total of seven contributions.
Christoph Schmidt-Petri has contributed articles on Mill’s biography, on Utilitarianism and on utility/happiness; Michael Schefczyk has written on freedom and on property and Christian Seidel the contributions on moral intuitionism and on hedonism.
