BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:Philosophy and Theology in Conversation METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20261001T100000 DTEND:20261001T130000 DTSTAMP:20261001T100000 UID:philosophy-and-theology-in-con@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260925T181129 LOCATION:VO Research Building, 1100, Spectrum 5, De Boelelaan, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam SUMMARY:Philosophy and Theology in Conversation X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Conference on the oc casion of the valedictory lecture of Dirk-Martin Grube

Philosophy and theology - how are they related to each other? Ho w can one be a full-fledged theologian and a responsible philosopher? The theologian/philosopher Paul Tillich famously worked at the ‘bo rder’ between philosophy and theology. The work of Dirk-Martin Grub e is also characterized by bringing theology into conversation with A nglo-American philosophy, particularly epistemology and ethics.

In advance of his valedictory lecture (1 October 2026, 3:45 p.m., au la, VU), this conference brings together colleagues and collaborators to discuss key themes from Grube’s work.

Speakers 

Prof. Dr. René van Woudenberg
Hoogleraar Epistemologie en Metafysica, Department of Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterda m (emeritus) | Head (wetenschappelijk directeur), School voor Religie en Theologie, VU | Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy (2007-2013) | D ean 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 o f the Humanities, Thomas Reid, common sense philosophy 

Prof. Dr. Dr. Werner Schüßler
Chair Philosophy, F aculty of Theology/University of Trier (emeritus) | Co-)author/(co-)e ditor of more than 400 publications (including 70 books) | Vice-Presi dent of “German Paul-Tillich-Society”.
Research areas: Paul Tillich, Karl Jaspers, Viktor E. Frankl, G. W. Leibniz , philosophical anthropology, existential philosophy, metaphysics, ph ilosophy of religion, theodicy, disability studies 

Prof. Dr. Gijsbert van den Brink
Professor of Theology and Science, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, VU | Extraord inary Researcher, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Head of Department Beliefs & Practices, Vrije Universiteit Amst erdam (2016-2021) | University Research Chair, Vrije Universiteit Ams terdam (2015 2020).
Research Areas: Christian dog matics, science & religion, Reformed theology, philosophy of scie nce, philosophy of religion 

Prof. Dr. Sami Pihlst röm
Professor of Philosophy of Religion, Faculty of Theo logy/University of Helsinki, Finland | Director of the Research Counc il of Finland Centre of Excellence, "Meliorist Philosophy of Sueering " (2026-2033) | President of the Philosophical Society of Finland (20 16-2024) | Vice-President of Institut International de Philosophie.Research areas: pragmatism, realism, ethics, metap hysics, philosophy of religion, transcendental philosophy, philosophi cal anthropology 

Prof. Dr. Jeroen de Ridder
University Research Chair, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | Prof essor of Political Epistemology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Human ities, VU | Vice-Dean of Research of the Faculty of Social Sciences a nd Humanities, VU | Chair of the revision committee for the Netherlan ds Code of Conduct for Research Integrity 2026.
Research a reas: Social and political epistemology, philosophy of scien ce, 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, S tellenbosch University | Research Fellow, Wesley House, Cambridge UK | President of the Global Network for Public Theology
Rese arch Areas: Public Theology, Theological Ethics, New Testame nt Ethics, African and Decolonial Thought  

Prof. Dr. Nicola Slee
Former Director of Research, The Queen’ s Foundation/Birmingham | Professor emerita, Feminist Practical Theol ogy, Faculty of Religion & Theology, VU | Honorary Professorial r esearch fellow, The Queen’s Foundation/Birmingham| Visiting profess or, University of Chester |Honorary Vice-President, WATCH (Women and the Church)
Research areas: feminist practical th eology, spirituality, poetics, aging


DESCRIPTION: Conference on the occasion of the valedictory lecture of Dirk-Martin Grube

Philosophy and theology - how are they rela ted to each other? How can one be a full-fledged theologian and a res ponsible philosopher? The theologian/philosopher Paul Tillich famousl y worked at the ‘border’ between philosophy and theology. The wor k of Dirk-Martin Grube is also characterized by bringing theology int o conversation with Anglo-American philosophy, particularly epistemol ogy 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.

Speakers 

Prof. Dr. René van Woudenberg
Hoogleraar Episte mologie en Metafysica, Department of Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit A msterdam (emeritus) | Head (wetenschappelijk directeur), School voor Religie en Theologie, VU | Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy (2007-20 13) | 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 are as: Epistemology, Metaphysics, Philosophy of Religion, Philo sophy of the Humanities, Thomas Reid, common sense philosophy Prof. Dr. Dr. Werner Schüßler
Chair Philosophy, F aculty of Theology/University of Trier (emeritus) | Co-)author/(co-)e ditor of more than 400 publications (including 70 books) | Vice-Presi dent of “German Paul-Tillich-Society”.
Research areas: Paul Tillich, Karl Jaspers, Viktor E. Frankl, G. W. Leibniz , philosophical anthropology, existential philosophy, metaphysics, ph ilosophy of religion, theodicy, disability studies Prof. Dr. Gijsbert van den Brink
Professor of Theology and Sci ence, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, VU | Extraordinary R esearcher, 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, ph ilosophy of religion Prof. Dr. Sami Pihlström< br>Professor of Philosophy of Religion, Faculty of Theology/Universit y 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) | Vic e-President of Institut International de Philosophie.
Rese arch areas: pragmatism, realism, ethics, metaphysics, philos ophy of religion, transcendental philosophy, philosophical anthropolo gy Prof. Dr. Jeroen de Ridder
University Res earch Chair, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | Professor of Political Ep istemology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, VU | Vice-Dean of Research of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, VU | C hair of the revision committee for the Netherlands Code of Conduct fo r Research Integrity 2026.
Research areas: Social and political epistemology, philosophy of science, philosophy of rel igion Prof. Dr. Dion Forster
University Rese arch Chair, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | Professor of Public Theolo gy and Ethics, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, VU | Extrao rdinary Professor, Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University | Res earch Fellow, Wesley House, Cambridge UK | President of the Global Ne twork for Public Theology
Research Areas: Public Theology, Theological Ethics, New Testament Ethics, African and Decol onial Thought  Prof. Dr. Nicola Slee
Former Director of Research, The Queen’s Foundation/Birmingham | Professor emerita, Feminist Practical Theology, Faculty of Religion & Theo logy, VU | Honorary Professorial research fellow, The Queen’s Found ation/Birmingham| Visiting professor, University of Chester |Honorary Vice-President, WATCH (Women and the Church)
Research are as: feminist practical theology, spirituality, poetics, agin g
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