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, 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, this 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
    • 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
    • 11/23 - Talk: Resistance and Reconciliation. Martin Buber’s Stance towards Germany during NS time and After Auschwitz (Conference: Antisemitismus in zeitgenosisschen philosophischen Debatten, MBFS, JCRS Jena)  
    • 11/23 - Talk: Martin Buber: Il costruttore di ponti. Teoria e prassi della riconciliazione (Conference:Martin Buber e la riparazione dei conflitti. Nel centenario di Ich und Du. Università di Trento)
    • 11/23 - Talk: The Concept of Reconciliation after Auschwitz (Netzwerktreffen, Friedens & Versöhnungsforschung, Ruhr-Universität Bochum)
    • 07/23 - Talk: Martin Buber: The Builder of Bridges (Kolloquium, Chair Jewish Philosophy of Religion, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt)
    • 06/23 - Talk: Martin Buber (WikiradioExternal link, RAI Radio3)
    • 03/23 - Talk:  Die Wahlverwandtschaft zwischen Martin Buber und Gustav Landauer (Podiumsgespräch  "Gustav Landauer", Katholische Akademie Berlin)
    • 11/12 - Talk: Die Martin Buber Forschungsstelle. Ideen und Perspektiven (Conference "Versöhnung trotz Krieg", Albert Ludwigs Universität Freiburg)
    • 10/12 - Talk: Martin Buber als Akteur und Denker der Versöhnung im Spiegel seines Briefwechsels (Conference "Erföffnung der Martin Buber Forschungsstelle", FSU Jena)
    • 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)

    • Transdisciplinary Approaches on Reconciliation Research. Studies for Martin Leiner (mit L. Villanueva, D. Tacchini, B. Gurstein). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2024 (forth.)
    • 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.
    • Versöhnung: Theologische Perspektiven. Festschrift für Martin Leiner (mit S. Baumert, G. Schmolz, C. Karpouchtsis). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2023.

     

    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

    • 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, S. 89-106.
    • The Impact of Hannah Arendt’s “Ambiguities of Agency” on Reconciliatory Processes, in: Versöhnung. Theorie und Empirie, eds. E. Gardei, H.G. Soeffner, M. Schulz. Bonn University Press, Bonn 2023, S. 269-286.
    • Ermeneutica del tempo vissuto e fenomenologia dei sentimenti morali in V. Jankélévitch, in: Per la Filosofia, XXXIX/116, 2023, S. 49-64.
    • 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, S. 83-104.
    • 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, S. 27-44.
    • Encountering the Suffering of the Other. Introduction (mit 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, S. 9-26.
    • Vorwort (mit S. Baumert), in: Versöhnung: Theologische Perspektiven. Festschrift für Martin Leiner (mit S. Baumert, G. Schmolz, C. Karpouchtsis). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2023, S. 7-14.
    • “Mistica divenuta Ethos” e riconciliazione di sacro e profano: il chassidismo nell’interpretazione di Martin Buber, in: Nuovo Giornale di Filosofia della Religione 2, 2022, S. 343-359. 
    • Relation as Presence: On Martin Buber’s Lectures “Religion als Gegenwart”, Journal of the Interdisciplinary Study of Monotheistic Religions, 18, 2022, S. 3-15.
    • Autobiography as a Hermeneutic Practice of Reconciliation with Oneself, in: Reconciliation, Heritage, and Social Inclusion, eds. I. Aldajani, M. Leiner. Springer, Cham 2022, S. 47-64.
    • 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 2024 (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).