Ethics of Textual Cultures has a modular structure and leads to a Master’s degree after four semesters. Topics include the history and theory of ethics, normativity and narrativity, and aspects of linguistics, communication and media in the formation of norms. Students can choose to study the degree program at either FAU or Augsburg University. The two universities are linked through workshops and lecturer exchanges.

Module 1: History and theory of ethics

• Teaching the historical and systematic foundations of ethical questions in philosophy and theology
• Ethics and aesthetics
• Aspects of discourse analysis of the linguistic constitution of ethical processes.

Module 2: Hermeneutics and understanding the other

• The interdependency of understanding texts and cultures through contact with the other
• History of theological, philosophical and literary hermeneutics
• Theories of understanding in linguistic pragmatics
• Philosophy of alterity
• Theories of cultural transfer and interculturality.

Module 3: Narrativity and normativity

• The relationship between narration (in literature and theology) and ethical responsibility (narratological, historiographical, philosophical approaches)
• The history of narration as a normative cultural practice (e.g. narration as criticism, as imaginative counter-discourse, as reintegrative interdiscourse).

Module 4: Theories of canon and value formation

• Aspects of historical change in values in cultural setting, exclusions and discourse formations
• Norm and canon formation in cultural memory
• Theories of literary value and canon formation, decanonization and recanonization

Module 5: Aspects of linguistics, communication and media in the formation of norms

• Historical and linguistic pragmatics of the origin of meaning and effective strategies of texts
• Strategies of ethic setting in communicative and media contexts; performative aspects of oral communication
• Formation of norms against the background of media change (verbal/written form)

Module 6: Rhetoric of public writing and speaking

• The textuality of ethics in the light of rhetorical strategies; strategies of norm formation in the context of changing historical discourse formations
• Rhetoricity/mediality/performativity/discursivity: theoretical and systematic explanation of terms.

Module 7: Applied ethics

• For example, environmental ethics, sexual ethics
• Peace and conflict research
• Education and social policy
• Culture and intercultural communication

The degree program “Ethics of Textual Cultures” is aimed at committed students with an interest in ethical issues and a curiosity to transcend established subject boundaries.

It offers a challenging qualification for all those who want to deal with the interpretation and communication of texts or with ethical questions academically, who want to deal with questions of ethics in public life and who want to take on responsibility in our society.

At a time when ethical challenges within and between cultures are particularly pressing, the “Ethics of Textual Cultures” degree program aims to teach basic skills and knowledge for a differentiated approach to dealing with ethical problems.

Graduates of this degree program are employed in a wide range of professional fields, for example, science and academia, media, politics and publishing. An overview is available on our alumni page: Alumni*ae – Ethik der Textkulturen (ethik-der-textkulturen.de)