Philosopher Jeroen Hopster: “Philosophy is also driven by new societal challenges”
When it comes to the problems of our time, such as the climate crisis or the rise of new technologies, quick fixes soon prove inadequate. Who benefits from a technological solution, and who bears the burden? How are those benefits and burdens distributed, both globally and locally? “Societal change always has an ethical dimension,” argues philosopher Jeroen Hopster.
A new generation of philosophers is ready
Philosophers are sometimes criticised for not offering concrete solutions to urgent problems. Hopster does not fully agree with that critique. “A large part of philosophy is in fact highly practice-oriented. That is certainly true of the research we do at the Ethics Institute, sometimes in direct collaboration with societal partners.”
He also believes that “offering solutions” is not always the most relevant academic responsibility. “Every decision carries moral assumptions, often implicitly. One of the key tasks for ethicists is to raise awareness of those assumptions, and to critically reflect on them.”
Researching disrupted expectations in climate policy
Hopster studies how ethics can help us address today’s societal challenges, but also how those challenges in turn can advance ethical thinking. His research focuses in part on the ethical questions raised by technological change.
“The realisation that ethics of technology matters was sparked about ten years ago, when the first self-driving cars appeared. At least among engineers, who suddenly had to grapple with a version of the well-known trolley dilemma. What should a car do in the event of an unavoidable accident: sacrifice the driver, or hit three pedestrians on the pavement? That demands ethical reflection.”
Compensation for climate change measures?
Another topic Hopster is working on is the climate transition. In his , he is researching whether the expectations of those who stand to lose out in the transition carry moral weight.
“Take a farmer who, ten years ago, expected to be able to expand their business. An expectation encouraged by government policy at the time, but later revised, once investments had already been made. From a moral perspective, does the farmer have a right to compensation? That is a very timely question.”
Philosophy moves with the times
Philosophy evolves, and the central issues vary by generation, Hopster explains. “The philosophy of the late twentieth century is quite different from today’s philosophy. And the standards of what counts as ‘good philosophy’ also shift over time. New generations take the reins, and new questions appear on the agenda. That’s partly due to internal developments: we become aware of the blind spots of past thinkers, but also because of new demands coming from society.”
“I believe philosophy is largely driven by the new challenges that arise in society.” Hopster cites American philosopher John Dewey (1859-1952): ‘Moral conceptions and processes grow naturally out of the very conditions of human life.’ “Our values emerge from practical needs and concerns. And that applies to philosophy itself as well. It develops in interaction with a changing society.”
How do we interpret concepts such as “creativity” or “intelligence” in the age of AI?
Rethinking our concepts together
“How, for example, do we define concepts like ‘creativity’, ‘expertise’ or ‘intelligence’ in an age of artificial intelligence?” says Hopster. In the major , a collaboration between scholars from different universities, he investigates how such concepts are shifting due to technological developments, and how we might refine them as useful tools for thought.
“Emerging technologies change the way we think about our core concepts, and they also shape how we see ourselves,” Hopster explains. “That is a fascinating process to study: the way we think about these concepts tells us something about how our reality is changing. But it is also a process we can influence: a concept is not just descriptive, it can also be a tool for shaping reality.”
Today's philosopher opens his arms to academia and directs his gaze towards society.
KNAW Early Career Partnership
In order to connect scholars from different disciplines to discuss this topic, Hopster has been awarded an by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). He will use this to organise a meeting in January 2026 with precisely that aim in mind.
“Many scholars study “conceptual change” from their own field. I want to bring together insights from psychology, pedagogy, history, linguistics and cultural evolution on this subject. For me, that is also a characteristic of good philosophy: it builds on other sciences. Today's philosopher opens his arms to academia and directs his gaze towards society.”