Prof. Dr. Marcin Adam Kilanowski LL.M. (Harvard)
Marcin Kilanowski, Visiting Researcher of the Research Department Global Governance, is Professor of law at Nicolas Copernicus University and a Visiting Professor at Sciences Po in Paris where he teaches on global governance and human rights. In 2024 he also was a member of the Steering Committee of the Human Rights and Business Program at the UN Global Compact Network Poland, which aims to support the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles in business activities.
Academic Appointments
from 2006 NICOLAUS COPERNICUS UNIVERSITY
University Professor – faculty of law and administration
2010-2012 HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Pre-Law Tutor – Harvard college – Adams House
IGLP Docent – Harvard Law School –
Institute of Global Law and Policy
2006-2007 HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Fellow in Philosophy (Postdoc) – Department of Philosophy (Spring)
Work on the project "Freedom as Responsibility"
Invitation: Professor Hilary Putnam.
Research in Academic Institutions
2023
HUMBOLT UNIVERSITÄT, Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung (April)
Visiting Professor – work on the project: Toward The Basis For The New Social Contract; Invitation: Professor Mathias Kumm
2021
THE SCIENCE-PO, Law School (August),
Visiting Professor – work on the project: Toward The Basis For The New Social Contract. Invitation: Professor Guillaume Tusseau
2018
OXFORD UNIVERSITY, Bodleian Library (September)
Visiting Professor – library query and work on the article "Radical Democracy and Revolutionary Reform: Looking for Solutions in Times of Democratic Disruption"
2017
OXFORD UNIVERSITY, Christ Church College Library (September)
Visiting Professor – library query and work on the article Human Rights is Our Business
2015
THE SCIENCE-PO, Law School (July)
Visiting Professor – work on the project (habilitation) "Toward new philosophical basis for the state and the law". Invitation: Professor Horatia Muir Watt
2013
FREIE UNIVERSITÄT BERLIN, John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies (February)
Visiting Scholar – work on the project and article "From Universality to Responsibility in International Human Rights". Invitation: Professor Margit Mayer
MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR COMPARATIVE & INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE LAW (August)
Visiting Scholar – library query and work on the article "The Questionable Role of Experts in Global Governance". Consultations: Professor Jürgen Basedow.
2012
THE SCIENCE-PO, law school (August)
Visiting Scholar – work on the project and article "Looking for a New Language for Human Rights". Invitation: Professor Mikhail Xifaras; Consultations: Professor Horatia Muir Watt; Professor Diego P. Fernández Arroyo
2010-2011
HARVARD UNIVERSITY, Department of Philosophy
Visiting Scholar – work on the project "Beyond Universalism". Invitation: Professor Hilary Putnam
2009
GOETHE-UNIVERSITÄT, The Institute of Social Research (July)
Visiting Scholar – work on the project Toward Social Solidarity and Civil Society. Invitation: Professor Axel Honneth; Consultations: Professor Jürgen Habermas
2006-2007
HARVARD UNIVERSITY, Department of Philosophy (Spring Semester)
Fellow in Philosophy (PostDoc) – Work on the project "Toward Freedom as Responsibility"; Invitation: Professor Hilary Putnam; Consultation: Professor Jane Mansbridge, Professor Duncan Kennedy, Professor Michael Sandel, Professor Roberto Mangabeira Unger, Professor Richard Rorty
2005-2006
FREIE UNIVERSITÄT BERLIN,John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies (December-January)
Research Fellow – Work on the project "Pragmatism and Its Role Today". Invitation: Professor Margit Mayer
2002
OXFORD UNIVERSITY (August-October)
Visiting Researcher – Work on the project (doctoral dissertation) Between American and Continental Pragmatism. From Dewey to Habermas. Invitation: Professor Zbigniew Pełczyński (Pembrok College).
1999
HARVARD UNIVERSITY, Department of Philosophy (November)
Visiting Student – Work on the master thesis "Individual and Community in John Dewey’s Political Thought". Invitation: Prof. Hilary Putnam.
Education and Degrees
2014-2019
LAW
NICOLAUS COPERNICUS UNIVERSITY – Faculty of law and administration
Program of independent research: Work on the habilitation thesis (the monograph), number of articles publishing in peer reviewed journals, conference speeches and research projects conducted in Poland and abroad (e.g. SCIENCES PO – Law School, HARVARD UNIVERSITY – Harvard Law School, OXFORD UNIVERSITY).
Reviewed by the academic committee composed of specialists in the field of philosophy of law, constitutional law and human rights selected by the Central State Commission for the recognition of academic titles as well by Nicolaus Copernicus University Faculty of Law and Administration Scientific Board.
Awarded the habilitated doctor in legal sciences in the field of law degree for scientific achievements and the habilitation thesis (the monograph).
HABILITATED DOCTOR IN LAW – DR HAB.
HABILITATION THESIS: "W obronie ludzkiej godności i solidarności. Erich Fromm i Isaiah Berlin ku nowym filozoficznym podstawom dla państwa i prawa" [Eng.: In defence of human dignity and solidarity. Erich Fromm and Isaiah Berlin toward a new philosophical basis for the state and the law].
2010-2011
LAW (1 year master degree program)
HARVARD UNIVERSITY– Harvard Law School
International human rights law concentration; program of studies: Constitutional Law – Fourteenth Amendment; Comparative Constitutional Law; Constitutionalism and Transnationalism; International Law and Global Governance; Human Rights; International Commercial Arbitration; Corporate Law; Progressive Alternatives.
Professors: Richard D. Parker, David Kennedy, Roberto M. Unger, Gerald L. Neuman, Jon Hanson, Vicky Jackson, Frank Michelman, Philip Alston, James Cavallaro, Michael Sandel.
Activities:
2010-2012 – Harvard College - Adams House: Pre-Law Tutor
2010-2011 – Institute of Global Law and Policy: Teaching Fellow
2010-2011 – Harvard European Law Association: Member
MASTER OF LAW – LL.M.
MASTER THESIS:"Toward a new language for international human rights: from universality to responsibility" (Honours). [115 pages]
Supervisor: Professor David Kennedy.
2001-2008 LAW: (5 years master degree program, study abroad + research)
NICOLAUS COPERNICUS UNIVERSITY – Faculty of Law
Program of studies: legal curriculum with extracurricular extensive program of study (2002-2008) in Theory of Law, Jurisprudence, International Law, European Union Law combined with research in Philosophy of Law; supervisor: Prof. dr hab. Lech Morawski.
Activities:
2003-2005 – Comparative law students association: President (two terms)
2002-2003 – European Law students Association: Head of Leadership Program
UTRECHT UNIVERSITY – Faculty of Law(Erasmus 2003-2004)
Program of studies: European Private Law, European Contract Law, Human Rights and Foreign Policies, Political and Legal Theory.
Professors: Ewoud Hondius, Adriann Dorresteijn, Christoph Jeloshek, P.Malcontent
HARVARD UNIVERSITY – Harvard Law School ( 2006-2007, spring term)
Program of research: Individual master thesis research and consultations with Professors: Robero M. Unger, Duncun Kennedy and Jane Mansbridge.
Auditing classes: Constitutional Law – First Amendment; Separation of Church and State, Democratic Theory, Legal Theory, Equality.
Professors: Martha Minow, Martha Nussbaum, Roberto M. Unger, Jane Mansbridge, Thomas Scanlon, Duncan Kennedy.
Activities:
2006-2007 – Harvard College, Adams House: Senior Common Room (SCR) Member responsible for mentoring and advising graduate and undergraduate Harvard University students on academic research in the field of legal philosophy and human rights.
MASTER OF LAW – MAGISTER (First Class)
MASTER THESIS: "Wolność słowa i jej granice". [Eng. trans.: "Freedom of Speech And its Limits".] (Summa cum laude – the best master thesis of the Department of Theory of Law and Theory of The State);
Supervisor: Prof. dr hab. Lech Morawski
2000-2005
PHILOSOPHY
5 years doctoral degree program + study abroad
NICOLAUS COPERNICUS UNIVERSITY – Faculty of Humanities
Program of studies: philosophical undergraduate curriculum with extraculicular extensive program of study in philosophy of law, philosophy of politics, jurisprudence and human rights.
Activities:
2002-2005 – Scientific Board of Faculty of Humanities: Representative
2000-2005 – Scientific Board of Faculty of Humanities: Representative
UTRECHT UNIVERSITY – Faculty of Philosophy (Erasmus 2003-2004)
Program of studies: Political Theory; Professor: Professor Bert van den Brink.
OXFORD UNIVERSITY
Program of research: Doctoral dissertation research;
Supervisor: Professor Zbigniew Pełczyński (Pembroke College)
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY – Ph.D./DR (First Class)
DOCTORAL DISSERTATION: "Ku wolności jako odpowiedzialności. Pomiędzy amerykańskim i kontynentalnym pragmatyzmem". [Eng. trans.: Toward Freedom as Responsibility. Between American and Continental Pragmatism.] (Summa cum laude);supervisor: Prof. dr hab. Marek N. Jakubowski; reviewer: Prof. dr hab. Andrzej Szahaj, Prof. dr hab. Andrzej Kaniowski.
1995-2000
PHILOSOPHY: (5 years master program + individual research)
NICOLAUS COPERNICUS UNIVERSITY – Faculty of Humanities
Program of studies: philosophical undergraduate curriculum with extracurricular extensive program of study in philosophy of politics.
Activities:
2003-2005 – Philosophy Students Association: President
HARVARD UNIVERSITY – Faculty of Philosophy (1999-200 winter term)
Program of research: Individual master thesis research and consultations with Professor Hilary Putnam. Auditing classes: Justice; Moral Reasoning.
Professors: Michael Sandel, Robert Nozick.
MASTER OF ARTS IN PHILOSOPHY – MAGISTER (First Class)
MASTER THESIS: "Jednostka i wspólnota. Liberalna demokracja w myśli Johna Deweya". [Eng. trans.: Individual and Community. Liberal Democracy in the Thought of John Dewey.](Summa cum laude);supervisor: Prof. dr hab. Marek Jakubowski
Selected Publications
BOOKS
- Marcin Kilanowski, Ku wolności jako odpowiedzialności. Dewey, Rorty, Habermas o nowej jakości w demokracji [Eng.: Toward Freedom as Responsibility. Dewey, Rorty, Habermas on New Quality in Democracy], Nicolaus Copernicus University Press, Torun 2013, 300 pages. (Book reviewer: Prof. dr hab. Wojciech Sadurski – Faculty of Law, Sydney University).
- Marcin Kilanowski, W obronie ludzkiej godności i solidarności. Erich Fromm i Isaiah Berlin ku nowym filozoficznym podstawom dla państwa i prawa [Eng.: In defence of human dignity and solidarity. Erich Fromm and Isaiah Berlin toward a new philosophical basis for the state and the law], Nicolaus Copernicus University Press, Torun 2018, 505 pages. (Book reviewer: Prof. dr hab. Marek Zirk-Sadowski - Faculty of Law, Łódź University).
- Marcin Kilanowski, The Habermas-Rorty Debate. Toward Freedom as Responsibility, State University of New York Press, New York 2021. [Revised and expended edition of the book Ku wolności jako odpowiedzialności. Dewey, Rorty, Habermas o nowej jakości w demokracji.] (Book recommendations: Prof. David Estlund – Department of Philosophy, Brown University; Prof. Mathias Kumm – New York University School of Law, Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung (WZB) and Humboldt University in Berlin; Prof. Guillaume Tusseau – Sciences Po Law School, Paris; Prof. dr hab. Wojciech Sadurski – Faculty of Law, Sydney University).
- Marcin Kilanowski, In defence of human dignity and solidarity. Erich Fromm, Isaiah Berlin and new philosophical foundations of state and law. [review process] 330 pages.
EDITED BOOKS
- Marcin Kilanowski (ed.), Biznes i prawa człowieka. Czas globalnych przemian, United Nations Global Compact Network Poland, Warszawa, 2022, pp. 1-169.
- Marcin Kilanowski (ed.), Biznes i prawa człowieka. 10 lat wdrażania wytycznych ONZ dotyczących biznesu i praw człowieka, United Nations Global Compact Network Poland, Warszawa, 2021, pp 1-144.
ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS
Articles
- Marcin Kilanowski, O teorii kategorii Ch.S.Peircea i o przezwyciężaniu trudności klasycznej filozofii, [Eng.: Ch.S.Peirce Theory of Cathegories], in: Komendziński T.(ed.), Filozofia amerykańska dziś, Tom II, UMK, Toruń 2003, pp. 67-96.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Liberalizm, pomiędzy starym i nowym indywidualizmem, [Eng.: Liberalism – Between Old And New Individualism], PhiloSophia, Nr.3/2003, Bydgoszcz, pp. 167-181.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Individual and Community. Rejecting sharp distinctions in social and political philosophy of John Dewey, in: Ryder J.(ed.) Reconstruction and Deconstruction, Value Inquiry Series, Rodopi Press 2003, pp.21-30.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Pomiędzy jednostką a wspólnotą – o pragmatycznej perspektywie Johna Deweya, [Eng.: Between Individual and Community in Pragmatism of J.Dewey]; Ruch Filozoficzny, Tom LXI, Nr. 4/2004, pp. 619-635.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Doświadczenie, Natura, Kultura. Wokół Experience and Nature Johna Deweya, [Eng.: Experience, Nature and Culture. Reflections on Experience and Nature of J.Dewey.], Ruch Filozoficzny, Nr. 4/2005, pp. 250-270.
- Marcin Kilanowski, O zbieżności perspektyw R.Rorty’ego i J.Habermasa, [Eng.: About Common Perspective in Rorty’s and Habermas’s Philosophy], Ruch Filozoficzny, Nr.2/2007, pp. 281-292.
- Marcin Kilanowski, O konieczności idealizacji, [Eng.: About the Need of Idealisations], Ruch Filozoficzny, Nr. 3/2008, pp. 513-523, (Errata Nr. 1/2009, p. 97).
- Marcin Kilanowski, Ku wolności jako odpowiedzialności, [Eng.: Toward Freedom as Responsibility], Przegląd Filozoficzny, Nr. 1/2009, pp. 87-102.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Metafizyka w filozofii Williama Jamesa?, [Eng.: Metaphysics in Philosophy of William James?], Przegląd Filozoficzny, Nr. 4/2010, pp.131-142.
- Marcin Kilanowski, O granicach wolności i groźbie tyranii. J.J.Rousseau i jego krytycy, [Eng.: On Limits of Freedom and Danger of Tyrany. J.J.Rousseau and His Critics], Przegląd Filozoficzny, Nr. 4/2012, pp. 335-349.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Tyrania opinii, albo ufać czy nie ufać drugiemu człowiekowi, [Eng. Tyranny of Opinions or Should We Trust Others], in: Res Publica Nowa, No. 18/2012, pp. 114-117.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Blaski i cienie heterointelektualizmu, [Eng.: Bright Sites and Dark Sites of Heterointelectual Approach], Pressje, teka 28/2012, pp. 250-260.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Pomiędzy lewicą a prawicą, lub czy bać się prawdy i wychwalać postmodernizm?, [Eng.: Between Left and Right, or Should We Fear The Truth and Worship Postmodernism?], Kultura i Edukacja/Culture and Education, Nr. 1/2013, pp.127-144.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Jakie prawo i jaka wolność? Nie dajmy się zwieść dychotomiom, [Eng.: What Law and What Freedom? Be Aware of Dichotomies], in: Prawo i Więź, No. 4/2013, pp. 113-119.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Looking for a New Language for Human Rights, in: Universal and Regional Systems of Human Rights Protection, J. Jaskiernia (ed.), Wydawnictwo Sejmowe, Warszawa 2014, Vol.1, pp. 68-77.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Prawda czy dialog? [Eng.: Truth or Dialog? Reflections on Richard’s Rorty Response], in: Kultura i Edukacja/Culture and Education, No. 3/2014, pp. 7-22.
- Marcin Kilanowski, From Universality to Responsibility in International Human Rights, in: Europe at the Age of Pluralism, Legal Aspects of Diversity in Europe, eds. Gozdecka, D., Kmak, M., Intersentia, Cambridge 2015, pp. 57-68.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Towards a Responsible and Rational Ethical Discussion – A Critique of Putnam’s Pragmatic Approach, in: Philosophy of Hilary Putnam, LIBRARY OF LIVING PHILOSOPHERS, ed. R.E. Auxier, D.R., Hahn, L.E., Open Court Publishing Company, Chicago 2015, pp. 827-862.
- Marcin Kilanowski, How Much State When Protecting Rights? Do We Need a „Strong State”, in: Models of Protection of Human Rights: European and American. Axiology – Institutions – Effectiveness, ed. J. Jaskiernia, Wydawictwo Adam Marszałek, Toruń 2015, pp. 56-67.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Between Epistemology and Methaphysics in William James's Philosophy, in: Kultura i Edukacja/Culture and Education, No. 2/2015, pp. 10-18.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Przeciw pewności. Karla Poppera zmagania z koniecznością, [Eng.: Against certainty. Karl Popper’s struggle with necessity] in: Kultura i Edukacja/Culture and Education, No. 1/2016, pp. 34-48.
- Marcin Kilanowski, The Questionable Role of Experts in Global Governance. Beyond David Kennedy Approach, in: Economics and Law, Nr. 4/2016, pp. 481-491.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Deep Capture: The Hidden Role of Psychology, Ideology and Corporate Law, in: Economics and Law, No. 1/2017, pp. 47-57.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Ku społeczeństwu obywatelskiemu. Czego dziś może nas nauczyć pragmatyzm? [Eng.: Toward Civil Society. What Can we Learn from Pragmatism Today?], Kultura i Edukacja/ Culture and Education, Nr 1/2017, pp. 50-62.
- Marcin Kilanowski, What Kind of Politics Do We Need? Toward Freedom as Responsibility. w: Kultura i Edukacja/Culture and Education, No. 2/2017, pp. 50-68.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Deep Capture: The Hidden Role of Rationalizations, Psychology and Corporate Law, And What Philosophy Can Do About It, in: Philosophy in the Time of Economic Crisis, Pragmatism and Economy, Stikker K. W., Skowroński K. P. (eds.), Routledge, New York 2018, pp. 108-125. [Double length version of the article published in Economics and Law No 1/2017 extended by philosophical analysis]
- Marcin Kilanowski, Abandoning truth is not a solution. A discussion with Richard Rorty, in: Diametros 61/2019, pp. 34-50. Reprinted under the same title in: Beyond Rorty, Auxier D. R., Skowronski K. P. (eds.), Lexington Press 2019 (in print). [Early version of the article was published in Polish language: Marcin Kilanowski, Prawda czy dialog? in: Kultura i Edukacja, No. 3/2014, pp. 7-22].
- Marcin Kilanowski, Human rights should be our business, in: Economics and Law, 4/2019, pp. 459-473.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Radical Democracy and Revolutionary Reform: Looking for Solutions in Times of Democratic Disruption, in: Populist Constitutionalism and Illiberal Democracies, Martin Belov (ed.), Intersentia, Cambridge 2021, pp. 31-46.
- Marcin Kilanowski, The Questionable Role of Experts in Global Governance. Toward a More Democratic Approach, in: Democracy and Globalization, Legal and Political Analysis on the Eve of the 4th Industrial Revolution, Charlotte Sieber-Gasser and Alberto Ghibellini (eds.), Springer 2021, pp. 215-227. [Revised and expended version of the article published by Economics and Law, No. 4/2016].
- Marcin Kilanowski, Od krajowego planu działania na rzecz wdrażania Wytycznych ONZ dotyczących biznesu i praw człowieka Polska lata 2017-2020 do nowej wizji ekonomii opartej na człowieku, in: 10 lat wdrażania Wytycznych ONZ dotyczących biznesu i praw człowieka, Marcin Kilanowski (ed.), UN Global Compact Poland, Warszawa 2021, pp. 30-42.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Potrzebujemy nowego modelu rozwoju. Od ubóstwa i zmian klimatu do poszanowania praw człowieka, in: Biznes i Prawa Człowieka. Czas globalnych przemian, Marcin Kilanowski (ed.), UN Global Compact Poland, Warszawa 2022, pp. 44-53.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Evaluating the Polish NAPs. Lessons for the Future Implementation of UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, in: Business and Human Rights Journal, Vol. 1/2023, pp. 1-6.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Right to Truth? Between Right to Information and Right to Privacy, in: Democracy-Affirming Technologies. Aligning Technology with Public Interest and Social Good, Manuel Muniz (ed.), IE University Initiative in Partnership with the U.S. Department of State , Madrid 2023, pp. 70-80.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Wolność i odpowiedzialność czy wolność jako odpowiedzialność?Prawo i Więź, nr 2/2023, pp. 32-51.
Expert Contributions - Application of Scientific Knowledge
- Marcin Kilanowski, Dialog kluczem do ochrony praw człowieka i rozwoju gospodarczego, in: Biznes i Prawa Człowieka, UN Global Compact Poland, Warszawa 2015, pp. 134-135.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Wzajemny szacunek i zaufanie dla zrównoważonego rozwoju, in: Global Compact Yearbook 2016/17. Sustainable Development Goals for Poland, UN Global Compact Poland, Warszawa 2016, pp. 272-273.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Biznes z ludzką twarzą, in: Biznes i prawa człowieka, Standard Minimum Programu Etycznego, UN Global Compact Poland, Warszawa 2016, pp. 126-127.
- Marcin Kilanowski, W drodze do ekonomicznego równouprawnienia, in: Polityki compliance, różnorodność i równouprawnienie w miejscu pracy, UN Global Compact Poland, Warszawa 2017, pp. 19-21.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Dialog i współpraca etyczną powinnością organizacji branżowych, w: Organizacje branżowe a etyka biznesu, Robert Sroka (ed.), Ministerstwo Inwestycji i Rozwoju 2018, Warszawa, pp. 87-89.
- Marcin Kilanowski et al., Standard of The Ethics Program, Business Self-Regulation With The 2nd Pillar of UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, UN Global Compact Poland, 2019, pp.1-29.
- Marcin Kilanowski et al., Praca przymusowa. Poradnik: jak ją rozpoznać i jej przeciwdziałać, Ministerstwo Funduszy i Polityki Regionalnej, Warszawa 2020, p. 1-114.
- Marcin Kilanowski et al, Przewodnik CSR po bezpiecznym i zrównoważonym miejscu pracy, Ministerstwo Funduszy i Polityki Regionalnej, Warszawa 2021, pp. 1-91.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Współpraca na rzecz zrównoważonego i globalnego rozwoju, in: Global Compact Yearbook 2021, UN Global Compact Poland, Warszawa 2021, pp. 22-24.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Od Wytycznych ONZ do zrównowazonego i zhumanizowanego rozwoju, in: 10 lat wdrażania Wytycznych ONZ dotyczących biznesu i praw człowieka, Marcin Kilanowski (ed.), UN Global Compact Poland, Warszawa 2021, pp. 23-25.
- Marcin Kilanowski, Czas globalnych przemian, in: Biznes i Prawa Człowieka. Czas globalnych przemian, Marcin Kilanowski (ed.), UN Global Compact Poland, Warszawa 2022, pp. 21-22.
Encyclopedic Entries
- Marcin Kilanowski, Freedom, in: Encyclopedia of American Philosophy, Routledge, Taylor and Francis Books, New York & London 2008, pp. 300-303 (2400 words)
- Marcin Kilanowski, Responsibility, in: Encyclopedia of American Philosophy, Routledge, Taylor and Francis Books, New York & London 2008, pp. 667-669 (1800 words).
