Prof. Dr. Peter-Ulrich Merz-Benz, born in 1953, holds the title adjunct professor at the Institute of Sociology. In addition he chairs the Forum Philosophy of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Department of Philosophy. In 1996 he was awarded the Amalfi Special Price. He has worked twice as guest professor at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences in Paris. His research focus areas are: sociological theory and theory history, epistemological and methodological fundamentals of the social sciences, sociology of culture, society and religion.