Conference on the occasion of the valedictory lecture of Dirk-Martin Grube
Philosophy and theology - how are they related to each other? How can one be a full-fledged theologian and a responsible philosopher? The theologian/philosopher Paul Tillich famously worked at the ‘border’ between philosophy and theology. The work of Dirk-Martin Grube is also characterized by bringing theology into conversation with Anglo-American philosophy, particularly epistemology and ethics.
In advance of his valedictory lecture (1 October 2026, 3:45 p.m., aula, VU), this conference brings together colleagues and collaborators to discuss key themes from Grube’s work.
- Please RSVP here for October 1st
- Livestream of the conference can me joined through this link.
Meeting ID: 366 919 913 874 823 | Passcode: LW9wG3hT
Speakers
Prof. Dr. René van Woudenberg
Hoogleraar Epistemologie en Metafysica, Department of Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (emeritus) | Head (wetenschappelijk directeur), School voor Religie en Theologie, VU | Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy (2007-2013) | Dean of the Faculty of Humanities (2024-2025) | PI in Templeton World Foundation projects on scientism, the epistemic responsibility of the university and on epistemic progress.
Research areas: Epistemology, Metaphysics, Philosophy of Religion, Philosophy of the Humanities, Thomas Reid, common sense philosophy
Prof. Dr. Dr. Werner Schüßler
Chair Philosophy, Faculty of Theology/University of Trier (emeritus) | Co-)author/(co-)editor of more than 400 publications (including 70 books) | Vice-President of “German Paul-Tillich-Society”.
Research areas: Paul Tillich, Karl Jaspers, Viktor E. Frankl, G. W. Leibniz, philosophical anthropology, existential philosophy, metaphysics, philosophy of religion, theodicy, disability studies
Prof. Dr. Gijsbert van den Brink
Professor of Theology and Science, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, VU | Extraordinary Researcher, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Head of Department Beliefs & Practices, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2016-2021) | University Research Chair, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2015 2020).
Research Areas: Christian dogmatics, science & religion, Reformed theology, philosophy of science, philosophy of religion
Prof. Dr. Sami Pihlström
Professor of Philosophy of Religion, Faculty of Theology/University of Helsinki, Finland | Director of the Research Council of Finland Centre of Excellence, "Meliorist Philosophy of Sueering" (2026-2033) | President of the Philosophical Society of Finland (2016-2024) | Vice-President of Institut International de Philosophie.
Research areas: pragmatism, realism, ethics, metaphysics, philosophy of religion, transcendental philosophy, philosophical anthropology
Prof. Dr. Jeroen de Ridder
University Research Chair, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | Professor of Political Epistemology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, VU | Vice-Dean of Research of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, VU | Chair of the revision committee for the Netherlands Code of Conduct for Research Integrity 2026.
Research areas: Social and political epistemology, philosophy of science, philosophy of religion
Prof. Dr. Dion Forster
University Research Chair, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | Professor of Public Theology and Ethics, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, VU | Extraordinary Professor, Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University | Research Fellow, Wesley House, Cambridge UK | President of the Global Network for Public Theology
Research Areas: Public Theology, Theological Ethics, New Testament Ethics, African and Decolonial Thought
Prof. Dr. Nicola Slee
Former Director of Research, The Queen’s Foundation/Birmingham | Professor emerita, Feminist Practical Theology, Faculty of Religion & Theology, VU | Honorary Professorial research fellow, The Queen’s Foundation/Birmingham| Visiting professor, University of Chester |Honorary Vice-President, WATCH (Women and the Church)
Research areas: feminist practical theology, spirituality, poetics, aging