For a while philosophy and empirical research used to go hand in hand. But around the time of the emancipation of individual disciplines of science, they arguably entered a stage of a formidable and by no means unambiguous relationship. This holds true in particular for questions of practical philosophy: In the last decades, different scientific disciplines began to show intensified interest in empirical endeavors on a descriptive understanding of morals. Nonetheless, up to this point, there is nearly no integration of classical normative theory on the one hand and this widening empirical research on the other hand.

This methodological and contentual separation, though established, does not have to be desirable. Moreover, a conjunction of the insights and methods of both approaches can seem fruitful. Contrary to the verdict of a strict segregation of is and ought there are various attempts of an integration of both approaches. This calls for a discourse on the definition of the relation of empirical research and normative theory. The course aims to discuss (both English and German) texts from a present discussion in academia. Course language will be German.