Valerij Zisman

Valerij Zisman is a Postdoc researcher at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law, Department of Criminal Law. Previously, he was a Researcher at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (2022) and Bielefeld University (2018–2019). He holds a Summa cum laude Ph.D. in Philosophy from Bielefeld University (2022) and advanced degrees in Philosophy from the same institution. His research integrates empirical and normative approaches to criminal law, ethics, and moral psychology.

Education:

• Ph.D. Philosophy, Bielefeld University (2018–2022)
• Master of Arts in Philosophy, Bielefeld University (2015–2018)
• Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and German Studies, Bielefeld University (2012–2015)
• Study Abroad: Georgia State University, Atlanta (2016–2017)

Research Focus: Zisman explores how punitive attitudes shape criminal law debates, emphasizing interdisciplinary methods in normative ethics and moral psychology. Key interests include punishment theories (retributivism vs. deterrence), the epistemic reliability of moral judgments, and the societal implications of abolishing punitive sanctions.

Projects:

• Head of "Data to Theory in Ethics": Examines normative theories through deontological and utilitarian lenses.
• Co-Head of "Citizenship and Fragmentation in Criminal Law": Investigates state-citizen relationships in legal foundations.
• Head of "Beyond Kant and Bentham": Analyzes punishment motives via moral psychology and legal theory integration.

Scientific Awards:

• Summa cum laude doctoral grade (June 2022)
• Scholarship from Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes (2019–2022)

Research Themes:** His work bridges philosophy, psychology, and law, focusing on punishment justification, victim-centric justice, and legal reform. Current projects emphasize empirical validation of normative theories and societal benefits of non-punitive legal frameworks.