About Social Ethics

In contrast to individual ethics, social ethics is not primarily concerned with the actions of individuals, but with social structures and institutions. It asks how society can be shaped in a good and just way. Similar terms for the discipline are societal ethics, political ethics, political philosophy or (practical) social philosophy. As a theological discipline, social ethics is part of the tradition in which it’s also called Christian social ethics or Catholic Social Teaching. 

Mission statement

Research in social ethics is theologically based and interdisciplinary. Due to the complexity of modern societies, it requires the systematic inclusion of the findings of different disciplines relevant to social ethics (e.g. philosophy and political, social and economic sciences). At the Department of Social Ethics, research is nowadays conducted with reference to empirical social science, social theory and theology. Furthermore, methods of the Humanities and practical philosophyare applied. 

Main areas of research

In addition to research on fundamental questions of social ethics, the department further focuses on technology (digitality, “artificial intelligence”, automation) and society, media ethics, political ethics, peace ethics and economic ethics. You can find out more about our main areas of research here or on the profile pages of the respective staff members. 

History of the Department

The Department of Social Ethics at the Faculty of Catholic Theology of the University of Vienan can look back on a long tradition. In 1935 the chair of “Ethics and Christian Social Sciences” was established and held by Johannes Messner until 1962. With Rudolf Weiler, the chair was redesignated into an institute. In 1997, for the first time in the history of the faculty, a female professor, Ingeborg Gabriel, took over the chair and became director of the institute. In 1998 the institute was renamed “Institute for Social Ethics” and 2016 it was integrated as a department into the “Institute for Systematic Theology and Ethics”. Since February 2021, Alexander Filipović holds the chair. A detailed history of the department and its orientation throughout the years can be found here (link).