The center for “Ethics in Antiquity and Christianity” was established in 2009 and provides a forum for scholars in the disciplines of Old Testament, New Testament, Church History/Patristics, and Systematic Theology/Ethics to engage in a focused exchange of ideas with researchers in other areas of antiquity (Jewish Studies, Classics, ancient Near Eastern studies, ancient philosophy, and ancient history) as well as in contemporary ethics and moral philosophy.
The goal of the center is to establish an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the grounds of and justification for ethics in antiquity (especially in early Christianity) with a view towards its relevance for contemporary ethical discourse and practical application (e.g., ethics and sports, bioethics).
In this approach, the center focuses particular attention on the consideration of non-rational, literary forms of ethical reflection, as found, for instance, in narratival or metaphorical ethics along with the present focus upon the study of the connection between ethics and time.

For further information concerning the center or the possibility of pursuing doctoral studies or participating in a post-doctoral project, please contact us.

  • International Conference on the Ethics of Old Age
    An international conference on “The Ethics of Old Age in Graeco-Roman Antiquity and Beyond” will take place on May 26-28, 2025. It is part of the DFG research project “The Ancient Fable Tradition and Early Christian Literature” and is being … Read more
  • New MMM cycle
    The new cycle of the Mainz Moral Meetings is entitled: “Satis est. Maß und Zufriedenheit in der Ethik” This cycle will be opened by the 17th MMM on May 20, 2026, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., on the JGU campus.The … Read more
  • Lecture and conference on climate ethics on March 4-5, 2024
    PD Dr. Raphaela Meyer zu Hörste-Bührer and Prof. Dr. Ruben Zimmermann (Mainz) from the steering committee of the research center “Ethics in Antiquity and Christianity” invite experts and interested people to an ecumenical conference on 4/5 March 2024 under the … Read more
  • Registration for the 16th MMM is now possible
    Registration for the 16th Mainz Moral Meeting (MMM) is now possible. The program with all additional information is available here.
  • Ethics of responsibility in the context of the climate crisis
    As part of the lecture series “Verantwortung” at TH Aschaffenburg and in the context of ‘mainprojects. Wissenstransferprojekt des Europäischen Sozialfonds (ESF),’ Prof. Dr. Ruben Zimmermann gave a lecture on Nov. 6, 2023 on the topic “Why is a person (un)responsible? … Read more
  • e/αc-Lecture on Ethics in the Early Church
    The following lecture by e/αc member Prof. Dr. Ulrich Volp is now available digitally (simply click on the link below): „So soll Eurer Seele Entscheidung sein“. Der Mensch als ethisches Subjekt im Denken antiker Christen
  • e/αc Guest lecture by Professor Morwenna Ludlow
    June 1, 2023, 10:15 a.m., T3 (Theologicum): Public lecture by Professor Morwenna Ludlow (Exeter University), “What is good speech? Paraklesis as a biblical model for public discourse in late ancient Greek theology.” All are cordially invited – no registration is … Read more
  • MMM 15: Ethik des Essensverzichts (The ethics of abstaining from food)
    The 15th MMM in the series “To eat or not to eat. Ethik der Esskulturen” took place on May 10, 2023 in the Atrium Maximum of Johannes Gutenberg University. This time the focus was on the ethics of abstaining from … Read more

The scholarly dialogue and exchange of ideas in e/αc takes place in conferences, not only in individual conferences focusing on one particular discipline and topic (e.g., ethics and sports), but also in regularly occurring conferences with broader thematic foci, such as the Mainz Moral Meetings (MMM).

The Mainz Moral Meetings are a series of conferences that began in 2009. In cycles of four conferences, individual questions related to ethics are examined from interdisciplinary and international perspective(s). The first cycle of conferences (MMM 1–4) dealt with norms in early Christian ethics and the ethics of antiquity, whereas the second cycle (MMM 5–8) considered the forms employed for explaining ethics, with a particular interest in literary and non-argumentative approaches to ethical reflection (such as, e.g., narrative ethics or doxological ethics). The third cycle of conferences (MMM 9–13) investigated questions concerning “Ethics and Time.” The most recent cycle (MMM 14ff.) explores the theme “To eat or not to eat. Ethics of Food-Cultures,” focusing particularly on food and guilt, food and power, life and death, taboos related to food, and abstinence from food.

Conference attendance for interested guests is possible. Please contact the leadership Team for further information.

The work of the e/αc takes place in close collaboration with the following institutes and projects: