Alexandre Bretel (Grenoble Alpes University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS)
- What makes AI ethics distinct from other areas of ethics?- What is required for the “responsible” use of AI?- How can the philosophies of Hans Jonas, GüntherAnders, and Hannah Arendt provide guidance in addressing the challenges of AI?
In this episode, Alexandre Bretel from the Grenoble Alpes University and participant in the Marsilius-Kolleg Summer School 2025 “AI and Human Values” joins us to explore the intersection of AI ethics and responsibility through the perspectives of Hans Jonas, Günther Anders, and Hannah Arendt. Together, we reflect on the philosophical foundations of AI ethics, the meaning of responsibility, and the so-called “responsibility gap” in AI systems. The conversation also turns to broader questions—how AI challenges human autonomy, the difference between innovation and progress, and the fine line between utopian promise and dystopian risk. We further discuss the ethical dimensions of surveillance, the importance of individual responsibility, and what policy approaches might guide the development of truly responsible AI.
Timeline(00:00) Intro(00:24) Introducing Alexandre Bretel and His Research Focus(03:11) Fundamentals of AI Ethics(06:48) The Perspectives of Hans Jonas, Günther Anders, and Hannah Arendt on Responsibility(09:18) Understanding the Concept of Responsibility in AI(10:43) The Responsibility Gap in AI Systems(13:09) Implications of AI on Human Autonomy(15:52) Innovation vs. Progress in Technology(19:36) Utopia, Anti-Utopia and Dystopia in the framework of AI Ethics(21:32) Surveillance and AI: Ethical Implications(24:35) Individual Responsibility in the Age of AI(27:02) Policy Recommendations for Responsible AI(29:13) The Blurring Lines between Private and Public Spheres(31:22) Personal Reflection: Importance of Philosophical Wanderings(33:36) Outro
KeywordsAI ethics, responsibility, Hans Jonas, Günther Anders, Hannah Arendt, technology, human autonomy, innovation, progress, surveillance, utopia, dystopia, anti-utopia, technology ethics, wandering, AI systems, environment, AI regulation, AI policy

PD Dr. Johannes Gerwien (Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS)
What are the functions of “inner speech” within the framework of cognitive science?What role does the linguistic relativism theory play in inner speech and the thinking process?Is language-free cognition even possible?
In this episode, PD Dr. Johannes Gerwien discusses the intricate relationship between language, thought, and cognition. He explores various aspects of language production, including inner speech, self-monitoring, executive control, and the nature of language encoding. The conversation delves into linguistic relativity theory, the impact of language acquisition on cognitive processes, and the challenges of studying inner speech. PD Dr. Gerwien also highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in cognitive science and the potential for overcoming language barriers through shared experiences and understanding the nature of these barriers.
Timeline00:00 Intro00:24 Introducing PD Dr. Johannes Gerwien04:45 Understanding Language Production09:02 Self-Monitoring and Executive Control in Language Production12:24 Incremental Language Encoding18:23 Linguistic Relativity Theory23:41 Thinking for Speaking Yourself Hypothesis25:58 Language Acquisition in Language and Thought31:28 Difference between Verbal and Nonverbal Tasks36:11 Methodological Challenges in Inner Speech Research37:12 Is Language-Free Cognition Possible?41:33 Generalizability Problem in Linguistic Research46:18 When We Talk to Ourselves, Who Are We Really Addressing? 50:51 Overcoming Language Barriers56:11 CAS Cognitive Science Program at Heidelberg University01:01:24 Outro
Keywordslinguistics, language production, inner speech, linguistic relativity, cognitive science, cognition, language and thought, language acquisition, language production, language encoding, psycholinguistics, thinking for speaking, self-monitoring executive control, attention, language barriers

Maximilian Kathan (Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS) What is the impact of nationalism and antisemitism in the late Habsburg Monarchy?How did Karl Emil Franzos and Nathan Birnbaum contribute to the (re)construction of Jewish identity?What roles do language and literature play in defining national identity? In this episode, Maximilian Kathan from Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies discusses his research on Jewish identity constructions within the Habsburg Monarchy, focusing on the interplay of history, literature, and Jewish studies. He explores the impact of nationalism and antisemitism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the Habsburg Monarchy, in light of the diverse perspectives of Jewish writers Karl Emil Franzos and Nathan Birnbaum. The conversation delves into the complexities of identity, language, and cultural tensions in a rapidly changing empire, as well as the methodological challenges faced in historical literary studies. Timeline00:00 Intro00:24 Introducing Maximilian Kathan and His Research Topics03:12 Interdisciplinary Approaches in Historical Research05:04 Exploring the late Habsburg Monarchy: A Time of Change06:42 Comparative Analysis of Jewish Writers: Franzos and Birnbaum14:43 Nationalism and Its Impact on the Habsburg Empire20:17 Relationship between Language and National Identity in the Habsburg Empire21:11 Antisemitism and Its Effects on Jewish Writers23:58 Cultural Tensions: The Dichotomy of East and West26:07 Methodological Challenges in Historical Research29:44 Recommended Works of Franzos and Birnbaum31:52 Personal Reflections and Future Plans34:20 Outro  KeywordsJewish identity, Habsburg monarchy, nationalism, antisemitism, literary analysis, interdisciplinary research, historical context, cultural tensions, language, Jewish studies

Nadja Samira Fraenkel (Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS) How does the travel motif shape narratives in third-generation Jewish literature? What are the differences between physical and metaphorical journeys? Can language serve as a space for belonging and identity?In this conversation, Nadja Samira Fraenkel from Heidelberg University discusses her PhD research on comparative perspectives of literary travel motifs in contemporary Jewish literature from Germany, Israel, and the USA. She explores the complexities of identity, the role of travel in shaping experiences, and the search for belonging and utopia within these narratives. The discussion also highlights the significance of language, the challenges faced by third-generation Jewish authors, and the political dimensions of art and literature.
Timeline00:00 Intro00:28 Introducing Nadja Samira Fraenkel and Her Research05:29 Exploring the Concept of Travel in Literature08:51 Travel Motif and Identity Politics in Jewish Literature13:56 The Search for Utopia in Travel Narratives18:10 The Third Generation of Jewish Authors27:19 Methodology in Comparative Literary Studies31:17 Language as a Space for Belonging37:45 The Role of Social Challanges and Counter Narratives in Jewish Literature51:53 Art, Identity, and the Political Nature of Creativity59:11 Outro
KeywordsJewish literature, travel motives, identity politics, comparative literature, contemporary authors, diaspora, utopia, third generation, literary analysis, cultural studies

Conversation with Vanessa Márquez Vargas, Debby Avendaño Sánchez, and Adrián Navia Segovia (University of Los Andes, Venezuela)
Language of the Episode: Spanish

In this episode, Vanessa Márquez Vargas, Debby Avendaño Sánchez, and Adrián Navia Segovia, all from the University of Los Andes, Venezuela, present a hybrid theme combining text and image, with the goal of showing, from their perspective and experiences, how objects, walls, absences, and design shape social and spatial realities. For this, the cultural, urban, and architectural dimensions of belonging have been taken into consideration in order to foster a dialogue about the ‘Us’ & ‘Them’ dichotomy through three brief sections: 1) The Shoe as a Semiotic Object;2) The Absence of Feet: The Uninhabited Space;3) "Walking in Someone Else's Shoes": The Architect and the Community.

Description of the Theme by the Presenters
“For us, what we have been saying and observing here just scratches the surface of the complex dynamics of belonging and alterity in everyday life, dynamics we believe deserve greater attention. Within these often-overlooked details, assumed as normalized, there is fertile ground for reflection and social action. The shoe, as a semiotic object, encodes status and identity, and in doing so, exposes social fractures. The absence of feet in urban spaces signals alienation, compelling us to reclaim the city as a shared place. In architecture, empathy transforms design into a collaborative act, creating spaces that resonate with community aspirations. These narratives challenge us to inhabit with intention, to bridge distances, tear down walls, and to walk, both literally and metaphorically, in the shoes of the other, forging a more inclusive, participatory, and meaningful world. Yet the question persists: Can we truly feel what the other feels, or will there always be an insurmountable distance? Each of us must arrive at our own answer, one that may spark dialogue, internal monologue, or, better yet, conscious action toward those we label as 'other' and normalize as 'them' in the continuous present.” 

LÍNEA DEL TIEMPO
00:00   Intro
00:23   Presentación de Vanessa Márquez Vargas, Debby Avendaño Sánchez y Adrián Navia Segovia por Sinan Barış Yaşar
03:18   Presentación del tema en español por Vanessa Márquez Vargas “¿Dónde están los pies?” Narrativas de pertenencia y alteridad
04:47   Parte 1: “El Zapato como objeto semiótico” por Vanessa Márquez Vargas
09:39   Parte 2: “La ausencia de los pies: los espacios deshabitados” por Adrián Navia Segovia
21:43   Parte 3: “Caminando con los zapatos del otro: el Arquitecto y la Comunidad” por Debby Avendaño Sánchez
32:11   Reflexión integradora: dimensiones articuladas en un continuum semiótico
34:33   Cierre del tema, agradecimiento y despedida

TIMELINE
00:00   Intro
00:23   Presentation of Vanessa Márquez Vargas, Debby Avendaño Sánchez, and Adrián Navia Segovia by Sinan Barış Yaşar 
03:18   Topic introduction in Spanish by Vanessa Márquez Vargas: “Where Are the Feet?” Narratives of Belonging and Alterity
04:47   Part 1: “The Shoe as a Semiotic Object” by Vanessa Márquez Vargas 
09:39   Part 2: “The Absence of Feet: The Uninhabited Space” by Adrián Navia Segovia 
21:43   Part 3: “Walking in Someone Else’s Shoes: The Architect and the Community” by Debby Avendaño Sánchez 
32:11   Integrative Reflection: Dimensions Articulated in a Semiotic Continuum 
34:33   Closing of the Topic, Thanks, and Farewell

Marco Del Din in conversation with Laura Herges
Diamonds Are Forever is not only the title of a James Bond film, but also the name of a drag show in Kyoto. In today's episode, Marco Del Din, PhD candidate at Heidelberg University and Ca' Foscari University in Venice talks to us about drag queens that transform into monsters, aliens, animals, and freaks. How do the performers of the oldest and longest-running drag show in Japan construct identities that connect their gender and sexual identities and their art? Find out more by listening to Laura's interview with Marco.

Florence Wieder-Kinne in conversation with Laura Herges
In child protection, "Us and Them“ manifests itself in different ways: Social workers and families often encounter each other with different expectations, shaped by institutional structures, biographical experiences, societal narratives and cultural influences. One of the greatest challenges in this context is the encounter with the cultural other. Social workers often interact with families whose cultural backgrounds, norms and value systems are very different from their own. How can cultural expectations be overcome? In this interview, social anthropologist Florence Wieder-Kinne talks to us about her life as a social worker, her PhD project and how lived experience and theoretical research go hand in hand.

Alberto Carballo Soca in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar 
Group Cohesion, Digital Education, and AI Literacy: three distinct topics that come together in this episode through the lens of the „Us and Them“ dichotomy. Having dedicated his academic life to these fields, Alberto Carballo Soca from the Faculty of Psychology, University of Havana shares insights from his research and personal experiences, both within the Cuban context and on a global scale. Moving between individual and societal perspectives, this episode of the Podcast Series ‘Us and Them’ explores the challenges and opportunities in the fields of group cohesion, digital education, and AI literacy.

Isabella Gomez O’Keefe in conversation with Laura Herges
Polarization in the United States did not start when Donald Trump was elected President for the second time in 2024 – but it might be more visible now than ever, largely due to social media: the ‘enemy within,’ the un-American enemy image, has become a common denominator for right-wing politicians and alt-right influencers on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. In this interview, Isabella Gomez O’Keefe (University of Cambridge) explains how foreigners, academia, “woke” activists and left-wing politicians are turned into enemy images in contemporary political debates and on social media. Tune in if you want to learn more about the banning of books in American schools, the difference between the United States and other countries with regards to political polarization, and the alt-right’s fear of progressive women.

Tetyana Kasima in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar
As human beings, we are all embedded in time and space—but how does the space we inhabit shape our perspectives and experiences? Drawing on her research into Clarice Lispector’s The Besieged City and Virginia Woolf’s Solid Objects, Tetyana Kasima (University of Tartu) joins Sinan from HGGS to explore how literature reflects and reimagines urban life. The conversation touches on the concept of magical urbanism in literature and examines how philosophical concepts intersect with fictional worlds. Tetyana investigates the meaning of city life and the influence of urban environments on individuals, as portrayed in literary texts. Join us for Episode 5 of the HGGS Podcast Series Us and Them to discover how literature reshapes our understanding of the spaces we live in.