Academic Inquiry
The 'Faces of Vulnerability' project explores the intersections of moral and political philosophy, challenging traditional perceptions of frailty. In academic discourse, vulnerability is frequently dismissed as a state of passive exposure; our research reclaims it as a foundational moral condition that informs our shared obligations. We analyze how theoretical frameworks can better accommodate the precarious nature of human existence, ensuring that political systems respond ethically to the diverse faces of human vulnerability. By integrating rigorous theoretical inquiry with contemporary social challenges, we aim to provide a sophisticated re-evaluation of justice and responsibility in an inherently fragile world.
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Virtual Workshop: May 2026
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The "Faces of Vulnerability" project invites established scholars and doctoral students to contribute to our academic enquiry. Engage with our research network and participate in collaborative efforts that examine the intersections of fragility and justice within contemporary political theory.
PREVIOUS PROJECT
Title: COVID-19 Pandemic and the Role of Emotions in Normative Behaviors.
Project Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Evandro Barbosa – Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), Brazil
Funding Source: National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq)
Funding Call: CNPq/MCTI/FNDCT Nº 18/2021 (Faixa A - Grupos Emergentes)
Project Description
This project aims to establish the role that the physiological constitution of social mammals, especially humans, plays in the expression of basic social emotions in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The social relevance of emotions within relationships formed in small groups will be investigated both on conceptual grounds and from an empirical-experimental perspective, with a particular focus on the role of expressive movements in communicating social approval and disapproval in canids and social primates. Recent research has explored how extreme conditions act as triggers for certain emotions. The problem arises when phenomena such as a pandemic create extreme conditions in which our moral judgments are distorted by a range of factors—such as biases, anxieties, and concern with one’s own circumstances—thereby hindering the manifestation of our moral agency. These moral failures are compounded by the limits of our natural condition—namely, deficiencies in knowledge, reasoning, and judgment—making our choices more difficult. With regard to the study of emotional expressions, the project will draw on Darwin’s (2000) general principles of emotional expression, in combination with contemporary analyses developed in experimental psychology and behavioral biology. Based on Ekman’s (1999) work on basic emotions, the research will develop studies aimed at mapping the expressive movements of social mammals in relation to basic emotions. The hypothesis is that, if these principles are homologous across different species, this will strengthen the evolutionary explanation of the relationship between emotions and social behavior, offering an empirically grounded framework for understanding the dynamics of social cohesion within family units under the pressures generated by the pandemic context.
Most relevant publication:
“Moral Challenges in a Pandemic Age” – Routledge