English

Main Fields of Research and Interest

  • Human dignity, Sanctity of Life
  • Kantian moral philosophy
  • Human bioethics
  • Nursing ethics
  • Interdisciplinary dialogue between humanities & sciences
  • Animal ethics
  • Research about Erich Wasmann SJ (1859-1931),
    internationally well-known entomologist, Thomistic animal psychologist,
    and an early clerical defender of Darwin´s theory of evolution
  • Food ethics
  • Interreligious aspects of these issues

Education and Qualifications

2003PhD in Theological Ethics at the University of Bonn
1989Examination (1. Staatsexamen Sekundarstufe II) in Catholic Theology and Chemistry at the University of Bonn
1980High school diploma

Grants / Scholarships

2011Project of an interdisciplinary research-week about “Dignity and Autonomy as Leading Concepts in Bioethics” (ELSA-program: Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects in the Life Sciences), sponsored by the Federal Ministry for Education and Sciences (BMBF), took place at the University of Bonn, in cooperation with Prof. Dr. iur. Gunnar Duttge (University of Goettingen) and Prof. Dr. phil. Peter Kunzmann (University of Jena)
1/2005 – 9/2006Postdoctoral Research Scientist in the Lise-Meitner-Program of the federal state North-Rhine-Westfalia, Germany (Research project: “Sanctity of Life“)
10/99 – 10/2001PhD Student in the DFG-Graduiertenkolleg “Ethics in the humanities and in the sciences” (a graduate program of the German National Science Foundation) at the University of Tuebingen (Research project: “Dignity of Creatures? The Idea of Dignity in the Horizon of Bioethics”; 2003 Prize of the Karl-Heim-Society)

English Papers

  • in coop. with Hans Werner Ingensiep: Sentientism – For Whose Sake? Ethics, Sciences, and Crypto-Teleological Fact-Value-Bridges, illustrated by the research about sentience in invertebrates. In: Animal (The International Journal for Animal Biosciences) vol. 17, Suppl. 4 (Animal welfare: An interdisciplinary analysis) (August 2023) 9 pps, ISSN 1751-7311      https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2023.100875  
  • in coop. with Thomas Kammertoens, Sarah Jeuthe, Antonina Klippert, Christa Thöne-Reineke: Breeding and Maintenance of Immunodeficient Mouse Lines under SPF Conditions – A Call for Individualized Severity Analyses and Approval Procedures. In: Animals 2021, 11, 1789, 8pps   https://doi.org/10.3390/anil1061789
  • Autonomy and Human Dignity in the Western Bio-Medico-Ethical Debate. Ethical Transformations – Cultural Diversities – Biomedical Challenges. In: The BETIM Journal for Medical Humanities (BJMH) vol. 1, 1/2020, 3–28 ISSN 2687-6116.
  • Do Animals Have a Natural Right to Life? Bioethical Challenges to Kant´s Indirect Duty Debate and the Question of Animal Killing. In: Franck L. B. Meijboom, Elsbeth N. Stassen (Ed.): The End of Animal Life: A Start for Ethical Debate. Ethical and Societal Considerations on Killing Animals. Wageningen Academic Publishers 2016, p. 61–77. ISBN 978-90-8686-260-3 
  • “Sanctity of Life” – A Bioethical Principle for a Right to Life? In: Ethical Theory and Moral Practice (ETMP), vol. 15, no. 3, 2012, p. 295–308. DOI 10.1007/s10677-012-9369-0 (online published May 22nd, 2012). open access 
  • Why Should We Make a Difference? How Dignity Can Work in Animal Ethics. In Bioethica Forum vol. 5, No. 1, 2012, p. 4–12. ISSN 1662–6001
  • in coop. with Gerhard Höver: Hospice and Palliative Care as a Paradigm for an Ethics of Pain Medicine: A European Perspective with Global Implications. In: James Giordano; M.V. Boswell (Eds.): Pain Medicine: Philosophy, Ethics, and Policy. Linton Atlantic Books, Ltd.: Louisville 2009, 75–83. ISBN 954-0-9817854-4-8
  • in coop. with H. W. Ingensiep, B. Skorupinski, M. Meinhardt: Consensus Conference – A Case Study: PubliForum in Switzerland. With Special Respect to the Role of Lay Persons and Ethics. In: Journal for Agricultural and Environmental Ethics (JAGE) 2007, no.1, 37–52. ISSN 1187-7863    http://springerlink.com/content/v681447q7223/?p=d58e19f64a73427fab7fa5b02cc3da8f&pi=18
  • in coop. with Volker Beekman et al.: Ethical Bio-Technology Assessment Tools for Agriculture and Food Production.Ethical Bio-TA Tools (QLG6-CT-2002-02594) The Hague, February 2006. 59p.  Ethical TA Tools _final_report_binnenwerk_59p
  • Does Beast Suffering Count for Kant? A Contextual Examination of § 17 in the Doctrine of Virtue. In: Essays in Philosophy. A Biannual Journal, Vol. 5, No. 2, 2004, 16 S. ISSN 1526-0569