Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für die Erforschung der Europäischen Aufklärung

Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg Siegel
 

Interdisciplinary Centre for European Enlightenment Studies

The IZEA was founded in 1990 as a central scientific institution of the Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg. As a research institution for the history of culture and ideas, it explores the foundation of modern Western societies through the study of ideas and cultural patterns developed in the 18th century.

18th century studies

The research program includes research and publishing projects dedicated to a wide variety of themes, such as the history of universities, societies and communication; anthropology, aesthetics, culture and knowledge transfer, scholarly culture and literary forms of representation in the 18th century; the development of cultural patterns; the Enlightenment in global networks; and the Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz.

Connected with the region's research institutions

The IZEA is located in the Red School, built in 1896, which was formerly the Higher School for Girls of the Francke Foundations. The IZEA houses a public library containing primary sources and research literature related to the Enlightenment in regional and European contexts. The Alexander von Humboldt Chair of Modern Written Culture and European Knowledge Transfer and the Immanuel-Kant-Forum also have their offices in the building.

Enlightenment studies in international networks

Thanks to its outstanding library, its publishing projects, its geographic proximity to important historic sites related to the Enlightenment (including extensive archives, libraries and art collections), and its partnerships with major cultural and scientific institutions,  the IZEA is now one of the most important international research institutes dedicated to the study of the Enlightenment, and is an essential meeting point for scientists from around the world.

Events

Academic Natural Law: Halle, Kiel, Copenhagen. Workshop on current Projects. Workshop des International Network "Natural Law 1625-1850"

Tagung: Mediterraner Orient und deutsche (Früh-)Aufklärung. Zur Archäologie des ersten deutschen Orientdiskurses.

Tagung an der Philipps-Universität Marburg: Die Geschichtlichkeit des Briefs. Kontinuität und Wandel einer Kommunikationsform

further events

News

Bewerbungsfrist: 31.03.2020 - Stipendium für Aufklärungsforschung

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Call for Papers: Wolff’s German Ethics - New Approaches and Perspectives - 4.-6. November 2020, IZEA, Halle (Saale)

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Neuerscheinung Hallesche Beiträge zur Europäischen Aufklärung : Dr. Theresa Schön: A Cosmography of Man. Character Sketches in "The Tatler" and "The...

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further news

Fields of research

Ideas, Practices, Institutions

Cultural Patterns of the Enlightenment • Enlightenment Thought: Concepts, Arguments, Systems • Enlightenment between the Conflicting Priorities of Critique and Power

Structures of Knowledge

Forms of Representation and Epistemic Models • Academic Culture and the Politics of Knowledge

Enlightened Spaces

Enlightenment in Global Networks • Anhalt-Dessau: Model Land of the Enlightenment?

Critical Editions

Christian Thomasius • Christian Wolff and Ernst Christoph Graf von Manteuffel •  Jean-Pierre de Crousaz • The Halle Journals and Periodicals • Johann Georg Sulzer • Guillaume Thomas François Raynal • Immanuel Kant • F.D.E. Schleiermacher

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