Stefan Rinner

Dr. Stefan Rinner is an Assistant Professor (Akademischer Rat a.Z.) in Theoretical Philosophy at the University of Duisburg-Essen, affiliated with Prof. Raphael van Riel's research group. His work bridges foundational and applied philosophy, focusing on language semantics/pragmatics (especially slurs, derogatory speech, and psychotherapy language), propositional attitudes, and interdisciplinary topics like freedom of speech limits and interpersonal communication. He has held visiting positions at the University of Hamburg and LMU Munich.

• Academic Background: PhD in Philosophy (University of Salzburg, 2016), Postdoc at LMU Munich's MCMP (2017-2021)
• Teaching Certifications: Bavarian University Teaching Certificate (2024), Leadership & Pedagogy Programs (LMU Munich)

Research interests span language theory, metaphysics, epistemology, and applied ethics. Recent work examines the therapeutic potential of language games and moral implications of derogatory speech. Public engagement includes media contributions (Salzburger Nachrichten, NDR, APA blog) and science communication initiatives.

• Key Achievements: 2024 Kulturfonds Prize for language research, 2024 Fritz Thyssen Foundation Project Leadership
• Current Project: 'The Therapeutic Game' (2024-2026) exploring linguistic mechanisms in psychotherapy