Martin Hartmann

Prof. Dr. Martin Hartmann serves as Rector of the University of Lucerne since August 2024 and Professor of Philosophy with a focus on Practical Philosophy at the University of Lucerne since February 2011. His academic home is the Philosophical Seminar within the Faculty of Cultural and Social Sciences.

Education:

• Studied philosophy, comparative literature, and sociology at University of Konstanz, London School of Economics, and Free University of Berlin
• Doctorate from Goethe University Frankfurt (2001) with dissertation "The Creativity of Habit: Fundamentals of a Pragmatist Theory of Democracy"
• Habilitation on trust at Goethe University (2009)

Hartmann's research centers on Practical Philosophy with emphasis on political philosophy, ethics, and democracy theory. His doctoral work explored habit's creative potential in democratic societies while his habilitation examined philosophical foundations of trust in social systems. His scholarship bridges continental and pragmatist traditions with practical implications for democratic theory.

Academic Leadership:

• Academic director of Executive MAS "Philosophy + Management"
• Dean of Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (February 2020-January 2024)
• Rector of University of Lucerne (since August 2024)

Hartmann has held research positions at Goethe University's Philosophical Institute and Frankfurt Institute for Social Research. His international experience includes research visits to University of Chicago and Maison des Sciences de l'Homme in Paris, visiting professorships at German universities, and fellowship at Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton (2018-2019).