Hristo Petkov Todorov

Professor Hristo Petkov Todorov is a distinguished faculty member in the Department of Philosophy and Sociology at New Bulgarian University (NBU) in Sofia, Bulgaria. Born on August 8, 1958 in Sofia, he has established himself as a leading scholar in philosophical hermeneutics, history of philosophy, and political philosophy. Currently teaching Environmental Ethics (ESEB300) among other courses, he maintains regular office hours on Mondays and Wednesdays at Building I, Room 216.

His educational background includes:

• 1979-1984: Studied Philosophy at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" with thesis "The Problem of Time in Martin Heidegger's Philosophy"
• 1985-1992: Doctoral studies at Sofia University, earning his PhD in Philosophy in 1992 with dissertation "Contemporary Philosophical Hermeneutics in Germany"
• 1995: Achieved Associate Professor rank with habilitation work "Essays on Philosophy of History"
• 1990-1991 & 1998-2000: Specializations in Tübingen and Bochum, Germany as a Humboldt Fellow

Professor Todorov's research interests span philosophical hermeneutics, history of philosophy (particularly German philosophy), political philosophy, ethics, philosophy of language, and conceptual history. His scholarly work demonstrates a consistent focus on how historical and philosophical concepts develop and transform over time, with special attention to hermeneutical theory and its applications across various domains including political philosophy and ethics.

His recent publications reveal a strong engagement with contemporary philosophical challenges including truth in the post-truth era, European values, cosmopolitan democracy, and the philosophical foundations of civic education. His work consistently bridges historical philosophical traditions with contemporary issues, particularly examining how hermeneutical approaches can illuminate modern political and ethical dilemmas.

Award recognition:

• Humboldt Fellowship for research in Germany

Professor Todorov has played significant roles in academic administration, including serving as Deputy Director of the Institute for German Social and Humanities Sciences "Germanicum" at Sofia University (1996-2002). He has also held guest professorships at multiple institutions including Plovdiv University "Paisii Hilendarski" (1995-2001), the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt an der Oder, Germany (2001-2002), and has been a regular faculty member at NBU since 2003 when he was appointed Professor of Philosophy.

His academic leadership extends to editorial work, having served as scientific and language editor for numerous philosophical publications, including works by major thinkers like Husserl, Habermas, Gadamer, and Heidegger. He has also been instrumental in developing philosophical education programs at NBU.