Experts & Expertise

• Heidegger
• Jacobi, F.H.
• Contemporary philosophy; history of
• Divinity, contemporary themes of
• Early romantics
• Hegel
• Images of god en men
• Metaphysics
• Modern philosophy; history of
• Philosophic and christian philosophy of life
• Philosophical anthropology
• Philosophy
• Philosophy
• Philosophy of culture
• Philosophy of culture
• Philosophy of religion
• Religious pluralism and identity
• Value pluralism
• Values

In 1982 I received my Ph.D. in philosophy, summa cum laude, at the Institute of Philosophy of the Catholic University Leuven (Belgium). The title of my dissertation was G.W.F. Hegel, Faith and Knowledge or the Reflexive Philosophy of Subjectivity (promotor: prof. dr. A. Wylleman). From 1976 till 1983 I worked as an assistant at the same university, preparing my dissertation, giving seminars and doing administrative work for the Center for Metaphysics and Philosophy of God. From 1972 I studied philosophy at the Institute of Philosophy and received in 1976 the degree of licentiate in philosophy, magna cum laude.

Since 2007 I work as full professor of philosophy at the Faculty of Catholic Theology, and since 2009 I combine this position with that of vice-dean for research. From 1991 till 2006 I was full professor of philosophy at the Catholic Theological University at Utrecht, an institution which merged with Tilburg University on July 1st 2006. From 1993 till 1996 and from 2003 till 2006 I served as the rector of the CTU. From 1997 till 2003 I was president of the Dutch Catholic School Council (a part-time function). From 1983 till 1991 I taught philosophy at the University of Theology and Pastoral Care at Heerlen, first as assistant professor and from 1989 as full professor.

Metaphysical questions concerning religious pluralism (2008-2012): The role of religions in pluralistic society has become an important topic in the public debate since the beginning of the new millennium. Partly as a consequence of this new interest contemporary philosophy has put religion (again) high on its agenda. My contribution to this field of research deals with some underlying, metaphysical questions, in particular: Does the notion of religious truth (still) make sense in a context of radical pluralism? Can philosophy contribute to translate religious ideas in such a way that they can be understood by a secular society, and thus prepare a common ground for discussing and evaluating diverging religious truth-claims? To what extent can philosophy of religion contribute to finding answers to various aspects of the malaise of modernity?

Hegel and his contemporaries (2008-2012): The philosophies of Hegel and his contemporaries are important research-domains both for historical and systematic reasons. From an historical perspective my main research-questions focus on the contribution of Jacobi to the intellectual debate of his time, on his influence on the development of Hegel?s thinking, as well as on specific aspects of their philosophies (especially as regards their concept of rationality, metaphysical questions and philosophy of religion). From a systematic point of view my research-questions concern the ways in which their ideas about rationality and religion offer new perspectives to the current debates in metaphysics and philosophy of religion

- Center for German Idealism (a cooperation between several Dutch and Belgian faculties of philosophy)

- Hegel-Archiv (Bochum)

- Internationale Hegel-Gesellschaft

- Noster (Dutch Researchschool for Theology and Religious Sciences)

- European Society for Philosophy of Religion

First prize winner of an essay competition, organised by the Redboudfoundation (1985)

- Promotor of: H. Clement, Antwort auf den Nihilismus? Die philosophische Theologie von Wilhelm Weischedel (14.11.06)

- Promotor of: R. Welten, Fenomenologie en beeldverbod bij Levinas en Marion (04.10.2001)

- Promotor of: R. Sneller, Het woord is schrift geworden. Derrida en de negatieve theologie (26.02.1998)

- Promotor of: A. Simons, Carnaval en terreur. De ethische betekenis van Bachtins Rable. (13.11.1996)

Member of the dissertation-committee of : A. Jansoone (2007, Catholic University Leuven), P. Bemelmans (2006, Radbouduniversity, Nijmegen), J. Geldof (2005, Catholic University Leuven), A. Markus (2004, Utrecht University),J. Drentje (2004, University of Amsterdam), M. Wisse (2003, Utrecht University), P. Raes (2002, Catholic University Leuven), D. Berendsen (2001, Free University, Amsterdam), E.O. Onnasch (1998, Radbouduniversity, Nijmegen), H. Stockmans (1997, Tilburg University), J. van Sluis (1997, Groningen State University), J.K. Abbes (1994, Utrecht Universiteit), W. Perreijn (1993, Tilburg University), J. Vis (1992, Free University, Amsterdam).

- Das Absolute als Substanz oder persönlicher Geist. Über eine radikale Wende in Hegels Jacobi-Verständnis. Paper at the congress of the Internationale Hegel Gesellschaft, Istanbul (Turkije), October 2012.

- Tradition, Religious Experience and Personal Commitment. Keynote paper for the Conference on Religious Experience and Tradition. Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas (Lituania), May 2012.

- An Intellectual Empowerment of Religious Traditions. The Relevance of Pope Benedict?s writings for Islam. Paper for the Departement International Studies van de American University of Sharjah (UAE), November 2011.

- Religion and the Truth. Paper for the Departement International Studies of the American University of Sharjah (UAE), November 2011.

- Redefining Religious Truth as a Challenge for Philosophy of Religion. Paper for the Central European Society for Philosophy of Religion. Krakow, Polen, June 2011

- The Death-defying Leap from Nihilism to Transcendence. Paper for a conference on Culture and Transcendence. VU, Amsterdam, October 2010.

- Das gespannte Verhältnis zwischen Religion und Politik in der Modernität. Versuch einer Aktualisierung der hegelschen Rechtsphilosophie. Paper for the Internationale Hegel-Gesellschaft, Sarajevo, September 2010.

- The Dialectics of Purity and Impurity. Paper for European Society for Philosophy of Religion. Merton College, Oxford, August 2010.

- Jacobi und die kahlen Reste der Metaphysik. Paper for a conference on Metaphysik und Metaphysikkritik in der deutschen klassischen Philosophie. Ruhr-Universität Bochum, December 2009.

- Can Freedom of Religion Replace the Virtue of Tolerance? Paper for a symposium on Religion and Democracy. Lutheran Theological University, Boedapest, December 2008.

- Justifying Sacrifice. Paper for the European Society for Philosophy of Religion, Oslo, August 2008

- Religious Truth in a Globalising World. Paper at a symposium on Religion in the New Century, Sydney University, June 2008.

P.H.A.I. (Peter) Jonkers teaches the following subjects:

• Systematic Philosophy (U10038) Further information
• Introduction to Systematic Philosophy (U20066) Further information
• Christian / Catholic Identity (U40012) Further information
• (U40038) Further information
• (U40059) Further information
• (T80010) Further information
• The God of the Philosophers (T80022) Further information

- Member of the Board of the European Society for Philosophy of Religion

- Member of the Scientific Board of AVEPRO, the Vatican agency that monitors the academic quality of the Catholic theological faculties in the EU.

- External member of Akast, the agency for quality assurance and accreditation of canonically recognized theological study-programs.

- Member of the editorial board of the Algemeen Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Wijsbegeerte

- President of the Dutch Catholic School Council (1997-2003)