Dr. Francesco Ferrari

Coordinator, Jena Center of Reconciliation Studies
Dr. Francesco Ferrari Dr. Francesco Ferrari Image: Dr. Francesco Ferrari
  • Coordinator, Jena Center for Reconciliation Studies (JCRS)
  • Coordinator, Graduate Programme "Religion-Conflict-Reconciliation" (RCR)
  • Coordinator, Martin-Buber-Forschungsstelle
  • Post-Doc Research Fellow, Chair for Systematic Theology and Ethics
  • Editor, "Buber Korrespondenzen Digital" (cooperation between Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur Mainz, Goethe Universität Frankfurt und Friedrich Schiller Universität Jena)
  • Secretary, International Association for Reconciliation Studies (IARS)

francesco.ferrari@uni-jena.de

Research interests
  • Reconciliation Studies
  • Jewish Philosophy (20th Century)
  • Social and Political Philosophy
  • Philosophy of Religion
  • Holocaust Studies

More in detail, it means:

  • Topography of contemporary reconciliation research, e.g.: contextual, intercultural and transdisciplinary definition of reconciliation, also in relationship with theories of peace and conflict.
  • Phenomenology of reconciliatory processes, e.g.: reconciliation and time, focusing on the notion of irrevocable.
  • Philosophical theories of reconciliation from the 20th century, in relation to the concept of reconciliation after Auschwitz, e.g.: Adorno, Améry, Arendt, Buber, Derrida, Fackenheim, Jankélévitch, Lévinas.
  • Impact of various factors and proxies in reconciliatory processes, e.g..: Justice and/or forgiveness; trust; agency; social healing; best practices.
  • Case studies to reconciliation studies, e.g..: Israel-Germany; Israel-Palestine; South Africa; Rwanda; Colombia.
Teaching
  • WS 22-23             The Concept of Reconciliation after Auschwitz
  • WS 22-23             Reconciliation Studies: The Classical Authors
  • SS 2022               Zionismus, Sozialismus, Widerstand, Versöhnung: Martin Bubers politisches Denken
  • WS 21-22             Einführung in das Studium der Theologie
  • WS 21-22             Philosophie nach Auschwitz: Theodor W. Adorno und Hannah Arendt
  • SS 2021               Trust, Healing and Reconciliation
  • WS 20-21             Approaching Reconciliation Studies
  • SS 2020                Introduction to Reconciliation Studies
  • WS 19-20              Quest for Meaning and the Issue of Reconciliation with Oneself
  • SS 2018                “Making Home” in Reconciliatory Processes
  • WS 17-18              Vladimir Jankélévitch. A Moral Philosophy of Time
  • SS 2017                Philosophie und ethische Implikationen der Photographie
  • SS 2016                Is Reconciliation with Oneself Possible?
  • SS 2015                Verzeihen – das Unverzeihliche?
  • WS 14/15             Respekt. Eine ethische und soziale Frage
  • SS 2014                Martin Bubers Kritik und neue Bestimmung der Religion
Education
  • Since 05/2021: Post-Doc Research Fellow, Chair Jewish Philosophy of Religion, Goethe University Frankfurt
  • Since 01/2014: Post-Doc Research Fellow, Chair Systematic Theology and Ethics, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena
  • 04/04/2014: Defense of Ph.D. Title of the dissertation: Religione e religiosità. Germanicità, ebraismo, mistica nell’opera predialogica di Martin Buber [Religion and Religiosity. Germanness, Judaism and Mystics in Martin Buber’s Predialogical Writings]
  • From 01/2011 to 12/2013: Ph.D. in Philosophy. School of Human Sciences, University of Genoa
  • From 04/2012 to 09/2013: Visiting Scholar, Eberhard-Karls-University Tübingen
  • From 09/2008 to 07/2010: Master in Philosophical Methodologies, University of Genoa
  • From 09/2005 to 07/2008: Bachelor in Philosophy, University of Genoa
Functions and Memberships
Third Party Funds
  • „Buber-Korrespondenzen Digital“ (Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur Mainz) (383.000 Euro each year, 24 years)
  • Project “Hearts of Flesh-not Stone”, Phase II (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) (Tot: 3.000.000 Euro)
  • Programm zur Förderung des Wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses 2016, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena (Tot: 10.000 Euro)
Languages
  • Italian (first language)
  • English
  • German
  • French
  • Spanish
IT-Skills
  • CMS - website development and maintenance
  • Digital Humanities - Oxygen, Transkribus
  • MS Office - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher
  • XML - programming and editing
  • Professional use of social networks
Select events
  • 09/22 - Talk: Agency, Forgiveness and Reconciliation
    • “Strengthening of National Research Capacity on Policy, Conflict Resolution, and Reconciliation”; Granada University, Erasmus+ Programme
  • 08/22 - Talk: The Ambiguities of Agency in Reconciliation Processes
    • “3rd IARS World Conference on Reconciliation”; Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, George Mason University
  • 04/22 - Talk: We Refugees – The Construction of a Social Identity
    • “Reconciliation and Refugees”; JCRS
  • 12/21 - Talk: Handlungsfähigkeit und Versöhnung. Überlegungen im Dialog mit Hannah Arendt
    • „Theorie und Praxis der Versöhnung - Digitales Dialogforum“; Universität Bonn
  • 12/21 - Talk: Resistance and Reconciliation. Martin Buber’s Stance towards Germany during NS time and After Auschwitz
    • “International Workshops in Collaboration Between CISMOR and Jena Center for Reconciliation Studies”; CISMOR, Doshisha University (Japan)
  • 10/21 - Talk: Martin Bubers Überwindung des Nationalismus zur Zeit seiner dialogischen Wende
    • „Die Austreibung des Anderen und seine Einbeziehung“; Martin-Buber Gesellschaft
  • 09/21 - Talk: Lieber Hans Rosenkranz... Stefan Zweig e la varietà come bellezza dell'essere;
    • „Festival Letteratura 2021“, Mantova
  • 08/21 - Talk: The Irrevocable as Cultural Trauma – and its Impact on Reconciliation
    • “2nd World Conference on Reconciliation”; International Association for Reconciliation Studies (IARS).
  • 03/21 -Talk: The Irrevocable as Cultural Trauma
    • “What does it all have to do with us? - Practices of commemoration and remembrance of the Holocaust in Germany and Italy”; GaRiWo, Hotel Silber e.V. Stuttgart
  • 11/20 - Talk: Four Diseases of Temporality
    • “Stories, Histories, Memories”; The Liberal Herald, University of Bratislava
  • 09/20 - Talk: How Emplotment and Meaning-Making Foster Reconciliation with Oneself
    • “Reconciliation in the Russian-Ukrainian Conflict”; IARS
  • 05/19 - Talk: Vladimir Jankélévitch’s „Diseases of Temporality” and Their Impact on Reconciliatory Processes
    • „Entlang den Grenzen des Dialogs. Literarische Interventionen im erinnerungskulturellen Versöhnungsdiskurs seit 1945“; Universität Oldenburg
  • 12/17 - Activity: Teaching the Holocaust in Buchenwald. Guided tour with lecture of passages from Jorge Semprún
    • “Winter School on Reconciliation and Frozen Conflicts”; JCRS and Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
  • 07/17 -Talk: Jean Amery and the Quest for Heimat
    • “Primo Levi and Jean Améry: Auschwitz and the Possibility of Enlightenment”; King’s College, London
  • 05/17 - Talk: Martin Buber as Thinker and Agent of Reconciliation between Israel, Palestine and Post-war Germany
    • “Reformation and Global Reconciliation”; JCRS and Georgetown University
  • 05/17 - Talk: JCRS Approach to Reconciliation. Studies and Practices
    • “Exploring the Role of Religion and Reconciliation in Political Transformation”; Union Theological Seminary (UTS), United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers, New York
  • 02/17 - Series of Lectures: Reconciliación: elementos básicos y casos de studio; Universidad de Antioquia (Medellin, Colombia)
  • 09/16 - Talk: Philosophical Perspectives on Forgiveness
    • “Transitional Justice. Contemporary Theories and Practices”; Ben Gurion University; Wasatia Academic Institute; FSU Jena
  • 04/16 - Talk: Umanesimo e politica in Martin Buber
    • “Tradizione religiosa e riflessione politica. Percorsi ebraici”; Università di Pisa
  • 05/15 - Talk: “Inventing Peace” – Martin Buber als Inspirationsquelle für Wim Wenders' und Mary Zounazis' Friedenskonzeption
    • „Dialog und Konflikt. Das dialogische Prinzip in Gesellschaft und Politik, Religion und Philosophie“; Martin Buber-Gesellschaft; Goethe-Universität Frankfurt
  • 05/15 - Paper: Archaeology and Teleology of Reconciliation. Perspectives from Paul Ricoeur
    • “Reconciliation and Justice”; Viennese Society for Intercultural Philosophy
Select publications

Monographies

  • Comunità postsociale. Azione e pensiero politico di Martin Buber. Vorwort von Siegbert Wolf; Castelvecchi, Rom 2018, 144 Seiten.
  • Religione e religiosità. Germanicità, ebraismo, mistica nell’opera predialogica di Martin Buber. Vorwort von Martin Leiner; Mimesis, Mailand 2014, VI-378 Seiten.
  • Presenza e relazione nel pensiero di Martin Buber. Vorwort von Silvano Zucal; Edizioni dell'Orso, Alessandria 2012, X-306 Seiten.

 

Collective Volumes (Editions)

  • Encountering the Suffering of the Other. Reconciliation Studies amid the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (mit M. Leiner, Z. Barakat, M. Sternberg, B. Hameiri). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2023 (forth.)
  • Theologische Perspektiven über Versöhnung. Festschrift für Martin Leiner (mit S. Baumert, G. Schmolz, C. Karpouchtsis). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2023 (forth.)
  • Transdisciplinary Approaches on Reconciliation Research. Studies for Martin Leiner (mit L. Villanueva, D. Tacchini, B. Gurstein). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2023 (forth.)

 

Critical Editions

  • Stefan Zweig, Lettere a Hans Rosenkranz. Briefe an Hans Rosenkranz (mit S. Baumert). Giuntina, Florenz 2020.
  • Martin Buber Werkausgabe. Band 11: Schriften zur politischen Philosophie und zur Sozialphilosophie (mit S. Franchini, M. De Villa), Gütersloher Verlagshaus, Gütersloh 2019. Einleitung: S. 15-100.
  • Martin Buber, Niccolò Cusano e Jakob Böhme. Per la storia del problema dell'individuazione. Einleitung: S. 7-38; Il Melangolo, Genua 2013.

 

Papers

  • Ermeneutica del tempo vissuto e fenomenologia dei sentimenti morali in V. Jankélévitch, in: Per la filosofia, XXXIX/116, 2023 (forth.)
  • The Ambiguities of Agency. A Philosophical Inquiry in Dialogue with Hannah Arendt, in: Erinnerungspolitik im Zeichen der Ambiguitätstoleranz, eds. H.G. Soeffner, B. Zabel, E. Gardei. Wallstein, Göttingen 2023 (forth.)
  • The Impact of Hannah Arendt’s “Ambiguities of Agency” on Reconciliatory Processes, in: Versöhnungstheorien, eds. H.G. Soeffner, M. Schulz. E. Gardei. Bonn University Press, Bonn 2023 (forth.)
  • Resistance and Reconciliation. Martin Buber’s Stance towards Nazi and Post-War Germany, in: Literarische Interventionen im deutsch-jüdischen Versöhnungsdiskurs seit 1945, eds. R. Forkel, B. P. Pick. Transcript Verlag, Bielefeld 2023 (forth).
  • The Concept of Reconciliation after Auschwitz. Hermeneutic Phenomenology of the Irrevocable, in: Encountering the Suffering of the Other. Reconciliation Studies amid the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, eds. F. Ferrari, M. Leiner, Z. Barakat, M. Sternberg, B. Hameiri. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2023 (forth.)
  • Encountering the Suffering of the Other. Introduction (with M. Leiner), in: Encountering the Suffering of the Other. Reconciliation Studies amid the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, eds. F. Ferrari, M. Leiner, Z. Barakat, M. Sternberg, B. Hameiri. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2023 (forth.)
  • Autobiography as a Hermeneutic Practice of Reconciliation with Oneself, in: Reconciliation, Heritage, and Social Inclusion, eds. I. Aldajani, M. Leiner. Springer, Cham 2022.
  • Relation as Presence: On Martin Buber’s Lectures “Religion als Gegenwart”, Journal of the Interdisciplinary Study of Monotheistic Religions, 18, 2022.
  • Between Quest for a Heimat and Alienation. Jean Améry’s Journey after Auschwitz, in: Remembering the Holocaust in Germany, Austria, Italy and Israel: "Vergangenheitsbewältigung" as a Historical Quest, ed. V. Pinto, Brill, Leiden 2022, S. 89-98. Also in: Reconciliation and Refugees, eds. Tacchini, Z. M. Barakat, I. Aldajani, M. Leiner. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2021, S. 51-60.
  • Vladimir Jankélévitch’s “Diseases of Temporality” and Their Impact on Reconciliatory Processes, in: Contemporary Perspectives on Vladimir Jankélévitch, eds. M. La Caze, M. Zolkos. Rowman & Littlefield, London 2019, S. 95-116.
  • Frieden als Ars Videndi. »Inventing Peace« mit Martin Buber, in: Martin Buber Studien, III, 2018, S. 263-274.
  • Der Ort der Mystik in Bubers Frühdenken, in: Im Gespräch. Zeitschrift der Martin Buber-Gesellschaft, XVII, 2018, S. 14-25.
  • Der ewige Fremde. Jean Améry e la ricerca della Heimat dopo Auschwitz, in: Auschwitz dopo Auschwitz, eds. Latini, E. S. Storace. Meltemi, Rom 2017, S. 49-65.
  • Memory, Identity, Forgiveness. Archaeological and Teleological Perspectives of Reconciliation from Paul Ricoeur, in: Polylog. Forum for Intercultural Philosophy, XXXIV, 2016, S. 151-167.
  • Gustav Landauer. Fisiopatologia della rivoluzione, in: La salute della filosofia, eds. S. Baranzoni, P. Vignola. Aracne, Rom 2014, S. 65-79.
  • Individuum und Individuation. Eine Auslegung der Dissertation Martin Bubers, in: Martin Buber Studien, I, 2013, S. 419-426.
  • Martin Buber in Italien. Ein Überblick über die Rezeption seiner Werke, in: Judaica. Beiträge zum Verstehen des Judentums, LXVIII/4, 2012, S. 388-399.
  • Jakob Böhme: il primo incontro di Martin Buber con la mistica tedesca, in: Rivista di Ascetica e mistica, XXXVII/3, 2012, S. 573-597.

 

Translations

  • Stefan Zweig, Lettere sull’ebraismo, Giuntina, Florenz 2023 (forth.). Orig.: Briefe zum Judentum.
  • Jacques Derrida, Confessare l’impossibile. «Ritorni», pentimento e riconciliazione, Cronopio, Neapel 2018. : Avouer l’impossible. 'Retours,' repentir et réconcilation. Nachwort: S. 81-94.
  • Gustav Landauer, Per la storia dell’evoluzione dell’individuo, Castelvecchi, Rom 2017. : Zur Entwicklungsgeschichte des Individuums. Einleitung: S. 5-11.
  • Hannah Arendt, L’ebreo come paria. Una tradizione nascosta, Giuntina, Florenz 2017. : The Jew as Pariah. A Hidden Tradition. Einleitung: S. 5-12.
  • Martin Buber, Umanesimo ebraico, Il Melangolo, Genua 2015. : Der Mensch von heute und die jüdische Bibel; Monologisches und dialogisches Leben; Drei Sätze eines religiösen Sozialismus; Bemerkungen zur Gemeinschaftsidee; Die Mächtigkeit des Geistes; Das Ende der deutsch-jüdischen Symbiose; Hebräischer Humanismus; Hoffnung für diese Stunde; Gläubiger Humanismus. Einleitung: S. 5-11.
  • Gershom Scholem, Martin Buber interprete dell’ebraismo, Giuntina, Florenz 2015. Orig.: Martin Buber Auffassung des Judentums. Einleitung: S. 5-14.
  • Martin Buber, L'insegnamento del Tao. Scritti tra Oriente e Occidente, Il Melangolo, Genua 2013. : Die Lehre vom Tao; Buddha; Chinesische Geister- und Liebesgeschichten (Vorwort); China und wir; Dem Gemeinschaftlichen folgen. Einleitung: S. 5-14.
  • Martin Buber, In relazione con Dio. L'insegnamento del Baal Shem Tov, Giuntina, Florenz 2013. : Des Baal-Schem-Tow Unterweisung im Umgang mit Gott. Einleitung, S. 5-11.
  • Martin Buber, Il messaggio del chassidismo, Giuntina, Florenz 2012. : Die chassidische Botschaft. Einleitung: S. 7-25.
  • Martin Buber, Il chassidismo e l’uomo occidentale, Il Melangolo, Genua 2012. Orig.: Der Chassidismus und der abendländische Mensch; Aus Einer Philosophischen Rechenschaft. Einleitung: S. 5-20.
  • Martin Buber, Religione come presenza, Morcelliana, Brescia 2012. Orig.: Religion als Gegenwart. Einleitung: S. 5-36.

 

Book Reviews

  • Pumla Gobodo Madikizela (Ed.), History, Trauma and Shame. Engaging the Past through Second Generation Dialogue, Routledge, London 2021 (in: GaRiWo Books).
  • Giorgio Fazio, Ritorno a Francoforte. Le avventure della nuova teoria critica, Castelvecchi, Roma 2020 (in: La Librellula).
  • Gustav Landauer, Esilio e Anarchia, Castelvecchi, Roma 2019 (in: Filosofia Italiana)
  • Vladimir Jankélévitch, Philosophie morale, ed. Françoise Schwab, Flammarion, Paris 2019 (in: Pardes, XXV).
  • Sam Berrin Shonkoff (Ed.), Martin Buber. His Intellectual and Scholarly Legacy, Brill, Leiden 2018 (in: Free Ebrei).
  • Martin Buber, Antica e nuova comunità, Diabasis, Reggio Emilia 2018 (in: La società degli individui, XXI/63).
  • Jack Jacobs (Ed.), Jews and Leftist Politics: Judaism, Israel, Antisemitism, and Gender, Cambridge Univesity Press, Cambridge 2017 (in: Free Ebrei).
  • Caterina Resta, La passione dell'impossibile. Saggi su Jacques Derrida, Il Melangolo, Genua 2016. (in: FilosoficaMente).
  • Paul Mendes-Flohr (Ed.), Dialogue as a Trans-disciplinary Concept. Martin Buber's Philosophy of Dialogue and its Contemporary Reception, De Gruyter, Berlin 2015 (in: Theologische Literaturzeitung, CXLII/5).
  • Martin Buber, Israele e i popoli. Per una teologia politica ebraica, Morcelliana, Brescia 2015 (in: Free Ebrei).
  • Igor Pelgreffi, La scrittura dell’autos. Derrida e l’autobiografia, Galaad, Giulianova 2015 (in: Discipline Filosofiche).
  • Nunzio Bombaci, Per una medicina dialogica. Juan Rof Carballo, scienziato e filosofo, Orthotes, Napoli-Salerno 2015 (in: Discipline Filosofiche).
  • Andrea Poma, Note filosofiche per la postmodernità, Mimesis, Milano 2014 (in: Giornale dell’Associazione Italiana di Filosofia della Religione).
  • Ulf Diederichs, Eugen Diederichs und sein Verlag, Wallstein, Göttingen 2014 (in: Giornale dell’Associazione Italiana di Filosofia della Religione).
  • Donatella Di Cesare, Heidegger e gli ebrei. I quaderni neri, Bollati Boringhieri, Torino 2014 (in: Giornale dell’Associazione Italiana di Filosofia della Religione).
  • Ephraim Meir, Dialogical Thought and Identity. Trans-different Religiosity in Present Day Societies, De Gruyter-Magnes, Berlin-Boston 2014 (in: Theologische Literaturzeitung, CXXXIX/12).
  • Martin Buber, Mythos und Mystik. Frühe Religionswissenschaftliche Schriften. MBW, Band 2.1, Gütersloher Verlagshaus, Gütersloh 2013 (in: Judaica. Beiträge zum Verstehen des Judentums, 1/2014).
  • Ilaria Bertone, La parola parlata. Martin Buber interprete e traduttore della Bibbia, Trauben, Torino 2012 (in: Giornale dell’Associazione Italiana di Filosofia della Religione).
  • Roberto Celada Ballanti, Filosofia e religione. Studi su Karl Jaspers, Le Lettere, Florenz 2012 (in: Humanitas, 4/2013).
  • Francesco Ghia, Ascesi politica e gabbia d'acciaio. La teologia politica di Max Weber, Rubbettino, Soveria Mannelli 2010 (in: Humanitas, 2-3/2011).
  • Agostino Cera, Io con Tu. Karl Löwith e la possibilità di una Mitanthropologie, Guida, Napoli 2010 (in: Rivista di Storia della Filosofia, 2/2011).
  • Roberto Celada Ballanti, Pensiero religioso liberale. Lineamenti, figure prospettive, Morcelliana, Brescia 2009 (in: Giornale di Metafisica, 1/2010).