24.2.1956              Born in Ratingen (near Düsseldorf), Germany.

10.1974-12.80       Studies of sociology, philosophy and history at the universities of Münster (Germany) and Bologna (Italy);

15.12.1980            Master’s degree („Magister Artium“) in sociology with a master’s thesis on „Political ecology“ and phi­losophy and ancient history as minor subjects from the University of Münster.

1.1981-4.1982       Alternative service in a social institution for elder and handicapped people (Mobiler Sozialer Hilfsdienst in Münster).

5.1982-7.1986       Graduate studies in philosophy and so­ciology at the universities of Münster (Germany) and Berlin (Freie Universität, Germany) and preparation of a dissertation.

10.1985-6.1986     Scientific assistant at the institute of philosophy at the University of Mün­ster; working field: tutoring of courses in formal logic.

14.7.1986              Ph. D. („Doktor der Philosophie“) in philosophy at the University of Münster with a dissertation „Practical Theory of Argumenta­tion – Theoretical Foundations, Praktical Justification and Rules of Some Important Types of Argument“ („Praktische Argumentationstheorie – Theo­retische Grundlagen, praktische Begründung und Regeln wichtiger Argu­mentationsarten“) and sociology and ancient history as minor subjects; grade: summa cum laude.

10.1986-2.87         Teaching classes in philosophy at the University of Oldenburg (Germany); subjects: philosophy of language, philosophy of science.

1.1987-4.93           Assistant professor („Hochschulassistent“) of philosophy at the University of Osna­brück (Germany).

3.-6.1990               Visiting professor at the Istituto di Filosofia dell‘ Uni­versità degli studi di Urbino (Italy).

11.2.1993              Habilitation („Habilitation“) for philosophy at the University of Osna­brück with a habilitation thesis „Rational Altruism – A Prudentialist Theory of Rationality and Altruism“ („Rationaler Altruismus – Eine prudenti­elle Theorie der Ra­tionalität und des Altruis­mus“).

10.1993-10.1999   Associate professor („Hochschuldozent“) of philosophy at the University of Os­nabrück.

9.-12.1994             Visiting Scholar at the Department of Philosophy of the University of Mi­chigan in Ann Arbor (USA).

26.4.1995              Nomination as an extra-budgetary professor („Außerplanmäßiger Profes­sor“) at the University of Osnabrück.

11.1999-3.2002     Contract professor („Professore a contratto“) at the University of Siena (Italy) and, alternating, leading researcher in the research project „How good is life?“, financed by the German National Research Council (DFG) at the University of Osnabrück.

4.2002-10.2016     Associate professor (“professore associato”) of Moral Philosophy at the University of Siena.

since 11.2016        Full professor (“professore ordinario”) of Moral Philosophy at the University of Siena.

I am married to Dr. med. Eleonore Lumer. We have two children.