Professor Robert Stern

MA, PhD (Cambridge)

School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities

Emeritus Professor of Philosophy

Bob Stern standing outside HRI building
Profile picture of Bob Stern standing outside HRI building
r.stern@sheffield.ac.uk

Full contact details

Professor Robert Stern
School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities
45 Victoria Street
Sheffield
S3 7QB
Profile

Robert Stern came to Sheffield in 1989, having been a graduate and Research Fellow at St John's College, Cambridge. He has been a Professor since 2000, and was Head of Department from 2004 to 2008. He was elected as a Fellow of the British Academy in 2019.

Research interests

His main interests in the history of philosophy are in nineteenth century post-Kantian German philosophy, especially Hegel. His interests in contemporary philosophy are in epistemology, metaphysics, ethics and political philosophy. He is currently working on the Danish philosopher and theologian K. E. Løgstrup, and also on the work of Martin Luther viewed from a philosophical perspective.

His first book was Hegel, Kant and the Structure of the Object (1990), and he has compiled and written introductions for a four-volume collection of articles offering a critical assessment of Hegel's philosophy. He has also written a commentary on Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit (2002), and a collection of his papers under the title Hegelian Metaphysics was published in 2009.

On contemporary philosophy, he has has published a book on the metaphysical and epistemological issues raised by transcendental arguments as used from Kant onwards (Transcendental Arguments and Scepticism, 2000). He has also edited a collection on this topic. He has published papers dealing with the work of McDowell, Rawls, Parfit, and MacIntyre, and retains an interest in questions relating to political philosophy, ethics and the philosophy of history.

Bob was awarded a Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship for 2008-10. His research was on 'Autonomy, Self-Legislation and Moral Realism', and has led to a recent book with Cambridge University Press, entitled Understanding Moral Obligation: Kant, Hegel, Kierkegaard. The book considers whether there is a coherent argument from autonomy to some form of antirealism or constructivism in ethics: if we are autonomous agents, does it follow that moral realism should be rejected?

Bob aims to establish that this argument from autonomy to anti-realism is mistaken, and shows (particularly by reference to Kant, Hegel and Kierkegaard) that its uncritical adoption has also distorted our understanding of the history of ethics. A collection of papers relating to this theme has recently been published by Oxford University Press, under the title Kantian Ethics: Value, Agency, and Obligation.

Most recently, Bob was awarded an AHRC Fellowship for 2015-17, for a project on 'The Ethical Demand: Løgstrup's Ethics and Its Implications', to work on the ethics of the Danish philosopher and theologian K. E. Løgstrup. He has just published a monograph on this topic, entitled The Radical Demand in Løgstrup's Ethics. Further information on this project can be found here.

Current Projects

  • The ethics of K. E. Løgstrup
  • Martin Luther
  • The connection between idealism and pragmatism
Publications

Books

Edited books

  • Fink H & Stern R (Ed.) (2017) What Is Ethically Demanded?: K. E. Løgstrup's Philosophy of Moral Life. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Cohen A & Stern R (Ed.) (2017) Thinking about the Emotions: A Philosophical History. Oxford: Oxford University Press. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brune JP, Stern R & Werner MH (Eds.) (2017) Transcendental Arguments in Moral Theory. Berlin: De Gruyter. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R & Gava G (Ed.) (2015) Pragmatism, Kant, and Transcendental Philosophy. Routledge. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (Ed.) (2015) Idealism and Pragmatism: Traditions in Dialogue. Routledge. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (Ed.) (1999) Transcendental Arguments: Problems and Prospects. Oxford: Oxford University Press. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (Ed.) (1993) G. W. F. Hegel: Critical Assessments. London: Routledge. RIS download Bibtex download

Journal articles

Chapters

  • Stern R (2023) “A Good Doctor But a Bad Person?” A Puzzle for Role Ethics from Løgstrup In Barber A & Cordell S (Ed.), The Ethics of Social Roles (pp. 87-103). Oxford: Oxford University Press. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R & Rabjerg B (2023) Løgstrup, Knud Ejler (1905–81), Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy Routledge RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2023) Freedom, radical evil and 'ought implies can': A problem for Kant, FREEDOM AFTER KANT (pp. 11-26). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2022) “This Is the Very Essence of the Reformation: Man in His Very Nature Is Destined to be Free”, Hegel's Philosophy of Right (pp. 45-65). Routledge RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2022) Murdoch and K. E. Løgstrup In Panizza SC & Hopwood M (Ed.), The Murdochian Mind (pp. 331-344). London: Routledge. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Lewis JHP & Stern R (2019) Commanding, Giving, Vulnerable: What Is The Normative Standing Of The Other In Levinas? In Fagenblat M & Erdur M (Ed.), Levinas and Analytic Philosophy: Second-Person Normativity and the Moral Life (pp. 101-121). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2019) Levinas, Darwall, and Løgstrup on Second-Personal Ethics: Command or Responsibility? In Morgan M (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Levinas (pp. 303-320). Oxford: Oxford University Press. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Williams NW & Stern R (2019) James and Hegel: Looking for a Home In Klein A (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook to William James Oxford University Press RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2017) Hegel’s Vorbegriff to the Encyclopedia Logic and Its Context Oxford University Press View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2017) ‘'Duty and Virtue Are Moral Introversions": On Løgstrup’s Critique of Morality In Fink H & Stern R (Ed.), What is Ethically Demanded? K. E. Løgstrup’s Philosophy of Moral Life (pp. 300-324). Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • (2017) The Philosophy of Trust Oxford University Press View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2017) Silencing the Sceptic? The Prospects for Transcendental Arguments in Practical Philosophy In Brune JP, Stern R & Werner MH (Ed.), Transcendental Arguments in Moral Theory (pp. 9-23). Berlin: De Gruyter. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2017) A Gift or a Given? On the Role of Life in Løgstrup's Ethics In Keogh G (Ed.), The Ethics of Nature and the Nature of Ethics (pp. 53-70). Lexington Books View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2017) British Idealism In Golob S & Timmermann J (Ed.), The Cambridge History of Moral Philosophy (pp. 535-548). Cambridge University Press View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2017) Freedom, Norms, and Nature in Hegel: Self-Legislation or Self-Realization? In Zuckert R & Kreines J (Ed.), Hegel on Philosophy in History (pp. 88-105). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2016) Does Hegelian Ethics Rest on a Mistake? In Testa I & Ruggiu L (Ed.), ‘I That Is We, We That Is I’: Perspectives on Contemporary Hegel: Social Ontology, Recognition, Naturalism, and the Critique of Kantian Constructivism (pp. 109-206). Leiden: Brill. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2016) Others as the Ground of Our Existence In Kim H & Hoeltzel S (Ed.), Transcendental Inquiry: Its History, Methods and Critiques (pp. 181-208). Palgrave Macmillan View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2016) Introduction to Hegel In Crowe BD (Ed.), The Nineteenth Century Philosophy Reader (pp. 151-160). Routledge View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Gava G & Stern R (2016) Pragmatism, Kant, and Transcendental Philosophy Introduction, PRAGMATISM, KANT, AND TRANSCENDENTAL PHILOSOPHY (pp. 1-21). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2015) Round Kant or Through Him? On James's Arguments for Freedom and Their Relation to Kant's In Stern R & Gava G (Ed.), Pragmatism, Kant, and Transcendental Philosophy (pp. 152-176). Abingdon: Routledge. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2015) Why Does Ought Imply Can? In van Ackeren M & Kuhler M (Ed.), The Limits of Moral Obligation: Moral Demandingness and Ought Implies Can (pp. 100-115). Abingdon: Routledge. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2013) Kant, Moral Obligation, and the Holy Will In Timmons M & Baiasu S (Ed.), Kant on Practical Justification (pp. 125-152). OUP USA RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2013) Moral Skepticism, Constructivism, and the Value of Humanity In Bagnoli C (Ed.), Constructivism in Ethics (pp. 22-40). View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2013) 'My Station and its Duties': Social Role Accounts of Obligation in Green and Bradley In Boyle N, Disley L & Ameriks K (Ed.), The Impact of Idealism: Volume 1 Philosophy and Natural Science (pp. 299-322). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2012) Constructivism and the Argument from Autonomy In Lenman J & Shemmer Y (Ed.), Constructivism in Practical Philosophy (pp. 119-137). OUP Oxford RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2012) On Hegel's Critique of Kant's Ethics: Beyond the Empty Formalism Objection In Brooks T (Ed.), Hegel's Philosophy of Right (pp. 73-99). Wiley-Blackwell RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2011) The Value of Humanity: Reflections on Korsgaard's Transcendental Argument In Smith J & Sullivan P (Ed.), Transcendental Philosophy and Naturalism (pp. 74-95). View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2011) Moral Scepticism and Agency: Kant and Korsgaard, Agents and their Actions (pp. 99-120). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2011) Hegel and Pragmatism In Houlgate S & Baur M (Ed.), A Companion to Hegel (pp. 556-575). Wiley-Blackwell RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2009) Hegel and Pragmatism In Stern R (Ed.), Hegelian Metaphysics (pp. 209-238). Oxford: Oxford University Press. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2008) Kant's Response to Skepticism In Greco J (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Skepticism (pp. 265-286). Oxford University Press, USA RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2008) Hegel's Idealism In Beiser FC (Ed.), The Cambridge companion to Hegel and nineteenth-century philosophy (pp. 135-173). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2007) Individual Existence and the Philosophy of Difference In Leiter B & Rosen M (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Continental Philosophy (pp. 379-408). Oxford University Press, USA RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2007) Freedom, Self-Legislation and Morality in Kant and Hegel: Constructivist vs Realist Accounts In Hammer E (Ed.), German Idealism: Contemporary Perspectives (pp. 246-266). London: Routledge. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2005) Nineteenth Century Philosophy In Craig E (Ed.), The Shorter Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy (pp. 742-747). London: Routledge. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2003) On Strawson's Naturalistic Turn In Glock H (Ed.), Strawson and Kant Oxford University Press, USA RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (1999) On Kant's Reply to Hume: The Second Analogy as Transcendental Argument In Stern R (Ed.), Transcendental Arguments: Problems and Prospects (pp. 47-66). Oxford University Press, USA RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R & Walker N (1998) Hegelianism In Craig E (Ed.), Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy (pp. 280-302). London: Routledge. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (1996) Hegel, Scepticism and Transcendental Arguments In Fulda HF & Horstmann R (Ed.), Skeptizismus und spekulatives Denken in der Philosophie Hegels (pp. 206-225). Stuttgart: Klett-Cotta. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (1995) Søren Kierkegaard In Teichmann J & White G (Ed.), An Introduction to European Philosophy (pp. 18-37). Basingstoke: Macmillan. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (1995) G. W. F. Hegel In Teichman J & White G (Ed.), An Introduction to modern European philosophy (pp. 18-37). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (1994) MacIntyre and Historicism In Horton J & Mendus S (Ed.), After MacIntyre (pp. 146-160). Cambridge: Polity. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (1993) Introduction In Stern R (Ed.), G. W. F. Hegel: Critical Assessments (pp. 1-19). London: Routledge. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (1993) Introduction In Stern R (Ed.), G. W. F. Hegel: Critical Assessments (pp. 21-31). London: Routledge. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (1988) Introduction In von Schelling FWJ, Harris EE & Heath P (Ed.), Ideas for a Philosophy of Nature (pp. ix-xxiii). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. RIS download Bibtex download

Book reviews

Website content

  • Lomholt E (2015) The Secularisation of Spiritual Life. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Løgstrup KE (2015) ‘Existence Theology and Its Distinction Between Faith and World-View’. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Løgstrup KE (2015) Humanism and Christianity. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Sløk J (2015) Three Kierkegaard Interpretations. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R Løgstrup's Ethical Demand. RIS download Bibtex download

Dictionary/encyclopaedia entries

  • Stern R (2020) Luther's Influence on Philosophy. In Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2020) Martin Luther. In Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stern R (2011) Transcendental Arguments. In Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. RIS download Bibtex download

Other

Professional activities and memberships
  • Chair of Philosophy sub-panel for REF2021
  • Fellow of the British Academy
  • Former President of the British Philosophical Association.
  • Formerly the editor of the journal European Journal of Philosophy and of Bulletin of the Hegel Society of Great Britain, and President of the HSGB.
  • 'Hegel's Doppelsatz: A Neutral Reading' was awarded the Journal of the History of Philosophy Board of Directors annual prize for the best article of 2006.
  • Awarded a Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship for 2008-10, and a Leverhulme Network Grant for 2012-15, for a project on 'Idealism and Pragmatism: Convergence or Contestation?'
  • Awarded an AHRC Fellowship for 2015-17