Eric Santner

Eric Santner is the Philip and Ida Romberg Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Germanic Studies at the University of Chicago. His work bridges literature, philosophy, psychoanalysis, political theory, and religious thought. He studied philosophy in Bonn (Kant, Heidegger) and Freiburg (Hegel, Heidegger), with key influences including Freud, Hölderlin, Kafka, Rilke, Schreber, Rosenzweig, Benjamin, and Sebald.

• Education: Studied philosophy at the Universities of Bonn and Freiburg, focusing on Kant, Hegel, and Heidegger.

His research explores intersections of existential philosophy, trauma, and cultural memory, with a focus on modern German literature and 20th-century continental philosophy. Themes include the politics of mourning, religious affect, and the unresolved legacies of historical violence. His interdisciplinary approach integrates psychoanalytic theory (Freud) with literary and political critique.

No specific grants or advising activities are detailed in the provided text. He is affiliated with the Department of Germanic Studies and contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives at the University of Chicago.