Peter Gilgen

Peter Gilgen is an Associate Professor at Cornell University, affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences and the departments of Comparative Literature and German Studies. He serves as Director of the Institute for German Cultural Studies, focusing on eighteenth- to twentieth-century German literature and philosophy with specializations in aesthetics, systems theory, media theory, and lyric poetry. His work bridges Kantian philosophy with contemporary debates on ethics, memory, and posthumanism.

His research emphasizes interdisciplinary connections between literature, philosophy, and cultural studies. Recent publications explore Kantian aesthetics, German Idealism, and literary theory, often analyzing the intersection of historical context and media systems. He also contributes to cultural critique through translations and editions of thinkers like Niklas Luhmann and Oswald Egger.

• Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 10:45-11:35 AM & by appointment
• Email: pg33@cornell.edu