Dr. Michael Theunissen

Professor

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Biography

Michael Theunissen significantly shaped academic life at the Institute of Philosophy of the Free University of Berlin with his dedicated teaching and exceptional intellectual impact beyond Germany. He was born in Berlin and Hamburg, and studied Philosophy and German Studies in Bonn and Freiburg. At the age of 23, he obtained his doctorate with his dissertation on the concept of seriousness in Søren Kierkegaard. He held various academic positions, eventually becoming a professor, and played a crucial role in establishing the Institute for Philosophy at the Free University, which became one of the leading philosophy institutes in Germany. His philosophical work explored themes of negativity such as fear, death, and psychiatric diseases, alongside critiques of critical theory and studies in theology, culminating in a dialectical approach that merged rich hermeneutics with philosophical insights. Theunissen published extensively and gained international recognition for his translations and honorary doctorates. He passed away on April 18, 2015.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor

— Present

Free University of Berlin • Berlin, Germany

Taught and researched in the field of Philosophy, with a focus on themes of negativity and dialectic.

Requirements for Freie Universität Berlin

Master Program
Requirements
TOEFL
Total
Required:95
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree with 10 ECTS in Methods of Empirical Social Research 10 ECTS in International Relations 35 ECTS in Political and Administrative Sciences
Application Checklist
  • Bachelor's degree certificate
  • Transcript of Records
  • Proof of English proficiency (C1)
  • Proof of German proficiency (DSH-2)
  • Course descriptions for ECTS verification
Specialization Notes

Administered by the Department of Political and Social Sciences.