The Centre for Ethics as Study in Human Value is an international research centre based at the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Pardubice.
Founded in 2017, The Centre for Ethics as Study in Human Value focuses on issues surrounding the distinctive value of human life, and the ways in which this value may be either recognised or overlooked in both personal and political contexts. Our aim is to develop a conception of the nature and value of humanity and to apply it to a range of personal and political issues, including attitudes towards marginalised groups and issues surrounding populism, nationalism, religious conflict, migration and a changing European identity.
The Centre's mission is to conduct basic research that will inform and enliven debates on fundamental questions of value, both within specialised academic spheres and in public discourse. It forms an integral part of Pardubice's lively philosophical community, and brings together domestic and international researchers, graduate students and visiting researchers. The Centre's activities include regular seminars, workshops and conferences, as well as collaborations with a range of international partners. The Centre maintains a publically accessible library of key texts in ethical theory, and undertakes translation projects from English into Czech.
From 2017, the Centre runs a vibrant doctoral school and in 2022 it launched a new MA program in English "Ethics and Political Philosophy" in cooperation with the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies.
The Centre was originally funded by an "Support of Excellent Research Teams" grant "Centre for Ethics as Study in Human Value" of the Operational Programme Research, Development and Education. From 2022, its funding diversified to both national and European grant bodies and includes prestigious projects such as two MSCA IF and ERC CZ. For details see the Centre's webpage on Grants and Projects.