Research staff
Dr. phil. Leon-Philip Schäfer
PostDoc
Position Description
Research Associate in the Philosophy of Science
Profile on the Philosophy of Science page
Biography
Philosophical interests
I am currently particularly interested in the role of so-called ad hominem arguments in scientific discourse. Ad hominem arguments seem to be both epistemically and ethically problematic (especially in the context of scientific discussions) because, on the one hand, they have the potential to inhibit the progress of scientific knowledge and, on the other hand, their use expresses a disregard for certain basic moral values of rational discussion. Nonetheless, an examination of the literature raises a number of questions: (1) What exactly characterises ad hominem arguments? (2) What different subtypes of ad hominem arguments can be distinguished? (3) Are ad hominem arguments always fallacious or can valid ad hominem arguments also be identified? (4) How can we distinguish legitimate from illegitimate ad hominem accusations?
These and other questions make ad hominem arguments a thoroughly fascinating subject of philosophical reflection, which can prove fruitful not least for modern philosophy of science.
In addition, after a brief detour into bioethics, my dissertation focussed on the debates on realism in the philosophy of science and metaethics. Kantian philosophy also continues to exert its (somewhat peculiar) attraction on me.
Professional career
Since 04/2023: Research assistant (postdoc) at the Department of Philosophy at the University of Wuppertal, Chair: Professor Dr Anna Leuschner.
07/2021-03/2023: Research Assistant (Postdoc) at the Institute of Philosophy, Leibniz University Hannover.
01/2020-06/2020: Start-up funding as part of the DFG Research Training Group 2073 "Integrating Ethics and Epistemology of Scientific Research".
10/2017-12/2020: Research assistant (PhD student) within the DFG Research Training Group 2073 "Integrating Ethics and Epistemology of Scientific Research".
05/2017-09/2017: Research assistant in the REBIRTH Cluster of Excellence, research work in the field of bioethics and medical ethics
Academic education
2017-2021: Doctorate in philosophy as part of the DFG Research Training Group 2073 "Integrating Ethics and Epistemology of Scientific Research", disputation: 11 June 2021,
Title of dissertation: Scientific and moral realism, grade: summa cum laude.
2014-2017: Studied Philosophy of Science at Leibniz Universität Hannover, Master of Arts, graduated with honours.
2011-2015: Studied Philosophy and Physics at Leibniz University Hannover, Bachelor of Arts.
Publications
(2025): "Ethical intuitionism and moral fallibility." Journal of Philosophical Research 79(1): 47-73.
(2024): "How (Not) to Integrate Scientific and Moral Realism." Synthese 203, 57. doi.org/10.1007/s11229-023-04467-x
(2023): Scientific and Moral Realism. Brill | mentis, Paderborn.
(2019): "An Ambiguity in Habermas's Argument Against Liberal Eugenics." Bioethics 33:
1059-1064. doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12650
(2014): "Die partielle Bestimmung des transzendentalen Ideals - Eine Untersuchung zu Kants Gottesbegriff." Incipiens - Zeitschrift für Erstpublikationen aus der Philosophie und ihrer Geschichte 2(1): 29-55.
Lectures
"Ad Hominem Arguments, Scientific Discourse and Critical Rationality". XXVI German Congress of Philosophy (DKPhil). 22-26 September 2024 in Münster, 24 September 2024
"Epistemic Privileges and Critical Rationality". XI. Conference for Practical Philosophy. 19 & 20 September 2024 in Passau, 19 September 2024
"Ad Hominem Arguments and Conceptions of Scientific Rationality". Colloquium of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Science and Technology Studies (IZWT). 13 December 2023 in Wuppertal
"Das argumentum ad hominem und seine Brisanz für die Theorie und Ethik des Argumentierens". X. Conference for Practical Philosophy. 28 & 29 September 2023 in Salzburg, 29 September 2023
"Ad Hominem Arguments in Scientific Discourses." Philosophy of Science Network Meeting. 6 & 7 July 2023 in Munich, 7 July 2023
"Epistemic Intimidation - Closing Panel". (Together with Jeremias Düring & Juliana Gutierrez Valderrama) Workshop on Epistemic Intimidation, 25 & 26 May 2023 in Wuppertal, 26 May 2023
"How (Not) to Integrate Scientific and Moral Realism". 7th Panhellenic Conference on Philosophy of Science. 1-3 December 2022 in Athens
"Ethical Intuitionism and Moral Fallibility". IX. Conference on Practical Philosophy. 29 & 30 September 2022 in Salzburg
"The truth-theoretical analogy of moral and scientific realism". XXV Congress of the German Philosophical Society (DGPhil), 5-9 September 2021 in Erlangen (online)
"Moral and Scientific Realism" VII Conference on Practical Philosophy, 26 & 27 September 2019 in Salzburg, 27 September 2019
"Mind-Independence as the Metaphysical Core Thesis of Scientific and Moral Realism". 7th Biennial Conference of the European Philosophy of Science Association (EPSA), 11-14 September 2019 in Geneva, 11 September 2019
"Objectivity as Mind-Independence - Integrating Scientific and Moral Realism". 16th International Congress on Logic, Methodology and Philosophy of Science and Technology (CLMPST), 5-10 August 2019 in Prague, 6 August 2019
"Kantian Ethics in the Framework of Ethical Intuitionism" VI Conference on Practical Philosophy, 27 & 28 September 2018 in Salzburg, 28 September 2018
Former scientific employees
Dr Florian Boge
Position title
Research Assistant / Professorship Representative Philosophy of Science
Staff member at the IZWT
1/2017-3/2023
Dr Julia Ellinghaus
Position title
Research assistant in the history of science and technology / research project"Iconography on scientific instruments of the early modern period"
Employee at the IZWT
4/2018-1/2024
Dr Enno Fischer
Position title
Research Associate Philosophy of Science / Research Project"The Epistemology of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)"
Staff member at the IZWT
10/2020-3/2022
Dr Sören Flachowsky
Position title
Research assistant in the research project "History of the authorities subordinate to the BMWi (BGR, BAM and PTB) during the Nazi era and the post-war period"
Employee at the IZWT
10/2020-12/2024
Dr James Fraser
Position title
Research Associate Philosophy of Science / Research Project"The Epistemology of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)"
Staff member at the IZWT
7/2022-6/2023
Ron-David Heinen
Position title
Research assistant in the research project "UMPOBERE"
Employee at the IZWT
10/2020-6/2023
Dr Björn Hofmeister
Position title
Research assistant in the research project "History of the authorities subordinate to the BMWi (BGR, BAM and PTB) during the Nazi era and the post-war period"
Employee at the IZWT
10/2020-9/2024
Elisabeth Kölmel
Position title
Research assistant in the research project "History of the authorities subordinate to the BMWi (BGR, BAM and PTB) during the Nazi era and the post-war period"
Employee at the IZWT
10/2020-9/2024
Dr Fabian Link
Position title
Research Assistant / Professorship Representative History of Science and Technology
Employee at the IZWT
10/2019-3/2023
and 10/2023-3/2024
Tobias Nolteklocke
Position title
Research assistant in the research project "Steel (composite) prefabricated houses in the innovation system of the steel industry (1920s-1970s)"
Employee at the IZWT
6/2021-5/2024
Antina Scholz
Position title
Research assistant in the history of science and technology
Employee at the IZWT
2/2016-12/2021
Maria Sojka
Position title
Research Associate Philosophy of Science
Employee at the IZWT
11/2021-5/2023
Malte Stöcken
Position title
Research assistant in the research project "History of the authorities subordinate to the BMWi (BGR, BAM and PTB) during the Nazi era and the post-war period"
Employee at the IZWT
10/2020-9/2024
Dr Jens Thiel
Position title
Research assistant in the research project "History of the authorities subordinate to the BMWi (BGR, BAM and PTB) during the Nazi era and the post-war period"
Employee at the IZWT
10/2020-9/2024
Bianka Trötschel-Daniels
Position title
Research assistant in the research project "UMPOBERE"
Employee at the IZWT
10/2020-6/2022
Dr Marij van Strien
Position title
Research Associate Philosophy of Science / Research Project "The Epistemology of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)"
Staff member at the IZWT
10/2015-3/2023
Vivian Yurdakul
Position title
Research assistant in the research project "History of the authorities subordinate to the BMWi (BGR, BAM and PTB) during the Nazi era and the post-war period"
Employee at the IZWT
11/2020-9/2024
