Current affairs

Publication in the Journal of Business Ethics (July 2025)

A research article by the chair has been published in the prestigious Journal of Business Ethics. Sebastian Krügel, Matthias Uhl, and Ingo Pies complement the intense normative debate on the moral limits of markets with a systematic investigation of attitudes among the general population. The results reveal a pronounced aversion to commodification in specific contexts. However, this aversion is mitigated when respondents are first asked to consider the general legitimacy of commodification. The results therefore highlight that reflection on general moral principles can weaken the aversion to commodification.

At the PPE Conference in London (July 2025)

At the PPE Conference in London (July 2025), Raphael Max participated as a panelist in the session “New Frontiers in PPE Pedagogy.” Together with Prof. Johanna Jauernig (Tulane University), Prof. Vaughn Baltzly (Texas State University), and Prof. Kobi Finestone (University of San Diego), he discussed innovative approaches and challenges in teaching Philosophy, Politics and Economics. The panelists explored new pedagogical concepts, interdisciplinary intersections, and the importance of fostering critical reflection in the education of future decision-makers.

Inaugural lectures Prof. Dr. Uhl und Prof. Dr. Graziotin (July 2025)

As part of the inaugural lectures at the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences, the focus was on humans and technology. Under the shared title “Human Factors in Technology – Implications for Software Engineering and Ethics,” Prof. Dr. Daniel Graziotin (Information Systems and Digital Technologies) and Prof. Dr. Matthias Uhl (Economic and Social Ethics) presented current perspectives from their research. Prof. Uhl addressed ethical questions at the intersection of technology and society, emphasizing how moral considerations are becoming increasingly relevant in evaluating technological developments. The evening concluded with a festive reception in the palace foyer, where many colleagues and guests from the faculty gathered.

Open day at the University of Hohenheim (July 2025)

During the Open Day at the University of Hohenheim, ethics and finance entered into a thought-provoking dialogue. Prof. Dr. Matthias Uhl and Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Burghof jointly hosted the event “Mammon vs. Morality: Reflections on the Ethics of Money,” which attracted a strong audience to the university's Balkonsaal despite the fine weather. Prof. Uhl opened with a philosophical-historical perspective on the love of money and the traditional prohibitions on usury and interest. Prof. Burghof followed with insights on money as a foundation of modern societies, its power, and the ethical significance of financial instruments such as derivatives. The event invited critical reflection on the moral dimensions of money and finance.

EBEN Conference 2025 (May 2025)

In May 2025, Prof. Dr. Matthias Uhl and Dr. Raphael Max participated in the EBEN Research Conference in Munich. Both scholars were invited speakers on separate panel discussions. Prof. Uhl presented recent empirical findings in the field of AI ethics, focusing on issues such as algorithmic fairness and societal responsibility. Dr. Max contributed to a panel on financial market ethics, addressing the moral implications of speculative investments and regulatory frameworks.

Transportation Research Symposium (May 2025)

In May 2025, Sebastian Krügel presented his research on the risk ethics of autonomous vehicles at the Transportation Research Symposium in Rotterdam. The conference was very well attended, with more than 1,300 participants from academia and industry. Sebastian Krügel presented the results of a large international study involving nearly 11,000 participants from eight countries on risk preferences in road traffic, which he conducted together with Matthias Uhl.