Research Project
Kantian Perspectives on Social Irrationality
Chamada CNPq/MCTI/FNDCT Nº 22/2024 – Programa Conhecimento Brasil
Apoio a Projetos em Rede com Pesquisadores Brasileiros no Exterior | 2025-2028
The collaborative research project aims to analyze, problematize, and evaluate various aspects of human nature with respect to the sources of social irrationality and their possible solutions, as presented in the philosophy of Kant and the Kantian heritage (especially Rawls and Habermas). At first glance, it may seem that Kantian philosophy has no relevance to social rationality, a field dedicated to defining the most appropriate means to achieve social ends and the realization of certain values. It is within the scope of social rationality to investigate obstacles and define a systematically appropriate organization to overcome them. However, if the relationship between ends and means is not the central element of Kantian ethics, it does not follow that pragmatic rationality does not play an indispensable role for both social and moral ends. This was clearly emphasized by John Rawls, who, in constructing his liberal theory of the principles of justice for the fundamental structure of society, emphasized the role of social rationality and reasonableness. Also in Kant's Anthropology from a Pragmatic Point of View, numerous elements for a systematic analysis of social irrationality can be found. They clarify different dimensions of social irrationality, which are usually treated independently of each other, but when brought together and systematically linked, they constitute a radical critique of social irrationality and an alternative to methodological (epistemological, logical, and moral) egoism.
Group Members
Prof. Dr. Cristina Foroni Consani
Cristina Foroni Consani holds a degree in Law from the State University of Maringá and earned her master's degree in Law and Ph.D. in Philosophy from the Federal University of Santa Catarina. She conducted a doctoral sandwich program at the Department of Political Science at Columbia University (USA). Her research focuses on modern and contemporary political philosophy, philosophy of law, and theories of democracy. Currently, her research explores the theme of conflict in modern and contemporary political philosophy, emphasizing the relationship between consensus and conflict in the realm of international politics, particularly in the works of Jürgen Habermas and Chantal Mouffe.
Prof. Dr. Joel Thiago Klein
Degree and Master in Philosophy from the Federal University of Santa Maria (2008) and Doctorate in Philosophy from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (2012), with a doctoral internship at the Humboldt University of Berlin. Professor of Modern Philosophy, Ethics and Political Philosophy at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), where he teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses. He is also a permanent member of the Graduate Course in Philosophy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). He completed his postdoctoral studies at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich with a CAPES/Alexander von Humboldt fellowship for experienced researchers. Editor of Studia Kantiana (journal of the Brazilian Kant Society since 08/2015, qualis A2). Member of the Board of the Brazilian Kant Society (2014-2018; 2018-2022; 2023-2026). Sustaining member of the Kant Working Group of ANPOF. Associate member of the Philosophy Center of the University of Lisbon. CNPq Productivity Fellow since 2016. Former CAPES and DAAD fellow. His publications include the book Kant and the Idea of a Universal History (Loyola, 2016) and articles published in the main Brazilian philosophy journals (such as Ethic@, Analytica, Kriterion, Veritas, Discurso, Transformação, Dois Pontos, Cadernos de Filosofia Alemã, Dissertatio, Studia Kantiana and Manuscrito) and in important international journals (such as Kant-Studien, Kant Yearbook, Kantian Review, Revista Portuguesa de Filosofia, Revista Latinoamericana de Filosofia, Philosophica, among others). He also has several publications in international collective volumes from publishers such as OLMS, De Gruyter, Palgrave Macmillan, Cambridge Schollars, Duncker & Humblot, and Routledge. He has edited 34 journal volumes (Studia Kantiana, Ethic@, Dois Pontos, and Princípios). In addition to his research on Kant's theoretical and practical philosophy (from a historical and systematic perspective), he works on epistemology, democracy, philosophy of law, philosophy of history, and theories of justice. He has supervised 15 master's theses and is currently supervising 6 graduate students (3 master's and 3 Ph.D. students) and 2 postdocs.
Profa. Dra. Soraya Nour Sckell
Degree and Master in Philosophy from the Federal University of Santa Maria (2008) and Doctorate in Philosophy from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (2012), with a doctoral internship at the Humboldt University of Berlin. Professor of Modern Philosophy, Ethics and Political Philosophy at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), where he teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses. He is also a permanent member of the Graduate Course in Philosophy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). He completed his postdoctoral studies at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich with a CAPES/Alexander von Humboldt fellowship for experienced researchers. Editor of Studia Kantiana (journal of the Brazilian Kant Society since 08/2015, qualis A2). Member of the Board of the Brazilian Kant Society (2014-2018; 2018-2022; 2023-2026). Sustaining member of the Kant Working Group of ANPOF. Associate member of the Philosophy Center of the University of Lisbon. CNPq Productivity Fellow since 2016. Former CAPES and DAAD fellow. His publications include the book Kant and the Idea of a Universal History (Loyola, 2016) and articles published in the main Brazilian philosophy journals (such as Ethic@, Analytica, Kriterion, Veritas, Discurso, Transformação, Dois Pontos, Cadernos de Filosofia Alemã, Dissertatio, Studia Kantiana and Manuscrito) and in important international journals (such as Kant-Studien, Kant Yearbook, Kantian Review, Revista Portuguesa de Filosofia, Revista Latinoamericana de Filosofia, Philosophica, among others). He also has several publications in international collective volumes from publishers such as OLMS, De Gruyter, Palgrave Macmillan, Cambridge Schollars, Duncker & Humblot, and Routledge. He has edited 34 journal volumes (Studia Kantiana, Ethic@, Dois Pontos, and Princípios). In addition to his research on Kant's theoretical and practical philosophy (from a historical and systematic perspective), he works on epistemology, democracy, philosophy of law, philosophy of history, and theories of justice. He has supervised 15 master's theses and is currently supervising 6 graduate students (3 master's and 3 Ph.D. students) and 2 postdocs.