The Center for Contemporary European Philosophy (CCEP) is the leading Dutch research centre for contemporary continental philosophy. The centre focuses on the development of post-Kantian European philosophy in metaphysics and philosophical anthropology, prioritizing critical, existential, and exegetical depth. The focus on systematic and ontological approaches fosters critical engagement with the history of philosophy, cultural productions, literature, art, and the sciences, while additionally exploring and proposing alternative worldviews as responses to contemporary crises.
Center for Contemporary European Philosophy
Highlights
Main lines of research
- Ontology: rethinking the interrelation of being, experience, reality, and transcendence in contemporary continental metaphysics.
- Philosophical anthropology: considers the human as they exist in the contemporary world, with a special focus on embodiment, biological dynamics, and psychoanalytic insights into mental and social health.
- Eco-continental philosophy: deep ecology, eco-hermeneutics, and eco-phenomenology.
- Past and new worldview formation: fundamental power structures and the origins of racial and gender dynamics, with a special focus on critical analysis and proposals for alternatives.
Radboud Annual Continental Philosophy Conference
Learn more about the 2026 edition of RACPC
Collaborate and stay in touch
Register for our mailing list to stay informed about our events, workshops, and conferences: CCEP [at] ftr.ru.nl.
If you are interested in collaborating on research or outreach projects, please ccep [at] ftr.ru.nl (contact us via email), we welcome new partnerships and initiatives.
What makes the CCEP unique?
The Centre for Contemporary European Philosophy (CCEP) is one of the leading hubs for continental philosophy in the Netherlands and internationally, building on Radboud University’s long-standing post-Kantian European philosophical tradition. With a diverse team of experts whose complementary skills enable high-quality research across the full spectrum of the field, the centre maintains a high-profile presence through conferences, workshops, and outreach initiatives, while cultivating active ties with colleagues and institutions in the English-, French-, and German-speaking worlds, as well as in countries including China, Brazil, South Africa, Turkey, and Russia. Every year the centre organizes the 'New Academic year Colloquium : current research at the CCEP' (October) and The Radboud Annual Continental Philosophy Conference (March).
With its expertise and engagement with continental philosophy’s international networks, the CCEP is uniquely positioned to engage with contemporary debates on subjectivity, technology, politics, ecology, and social life. Continental philosophy, spanning German Idealism to contemporary critical philosophy, phenomenology, hermeneutics, psychoanalysis, actor-network theory, and new realism, has developed conceptual frameworks that are instrumental in these debates by addressing meaning, embodiment, power, and historical situatedness. Building on these frameworks, the CCEP offers a unique contribution to understanding our world by clarifying the conceptual foundations of contemporary debates, challenging prevailing assumptions, and developing rigorous alternatives.
Students interested in continental philosophy can join our Master’s programmes that directly connect teaching and research: the one-year Dutch-language Master in Continentale Filosofie, and the two-year international Research Master in Metaphysics and Philosophical Anthropology. Both immerse students in the core debates of continental philosophy, combining close exegetical study of influential thinkers with training in conceptual analysis and independent research. The programmes also introduce students to the CCEP’s broader societal engagement, showing how continental philosophy contributes to public debates and contemporary challenges.
Contact information
Location
Visiting address
Erasmusplein 16525HT Nijmegen
Contact person
Prof. A. Dufourcq (Annabelle)