# Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main Institut für Philosophie

> research institute

**Wikidata**: [Q101263675](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q101263675)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/goethe-universitat-frankfurt-am-main-institut-fur-philosophie

## Summary
The Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main Institut für Philosophie is a research institute dedicated to the field of philosophy. Located in Frankfurt, Germany, it operates as a component of Goethe University Frankfurt with a primary purpose of conducting systematic investigation and generating new knowledge.

## Key Facts
- **Type:** Research Institute
- **Parent Organization:** Goethe University Frankfurt
- **Location:** Frankfurt, Germany
- **Ringgold ID:** 196168
- **Primary Purpose:** To conduct research, distinguishing it from organizations that blend research with other functions like teaching.
- **Classification:** As a research institute, it is differentiated from think tanks, scientific societies, and learned societies.
- **Global Context:** The organizational model of a research institute is globally recognized, with coverage in 41 different Wikipedia language editions.

## FAQs
### Q: How is the Institut für Philosophie different from the rest of Goethe University?
A: The institute's sole purpose is to conduct research in philosophy. While the broader university combines both teaching and research and grants degrees, the institute exists specifically to serve as a dedicated engine for discovery in its field.

### Q: What distinguishes the institute's work from that of a think tank?
A: The institute focuses on fundamental scientific inquiry within the discipline of philosophy. This is different from a think tank, which would primarily conduct policy-oriented research to influence government and public policy decisions.

## Why It Matters
The Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main Institut für Philosophie represents a critical piece of infrastructure for advancing human knowledge. As a dedicated research institute, it provides a space where scholars can pursue long-term, high-risk philosophical inquiry that might not fit within the timelines or structures of a typical university department or corporate entity. By concentrating resources and talent purely on investigation, free from the teaching obligations that divide university researchers' attention, the institute can accelerate breakthroughs in understanding complex philosophical problems. This type of focused environment is essential for tackling foundational questions and contributing to the broader intellectual landscape.

## Notable For
- **Exclusive Research Focus:** It is dedicated exclusively to research activities, unlike hybrid university departments that must balance research with teaching.
- **Fundamental Inquiry:** Its work covers fundamental academic inquiry in philosophy, rather than specializing in policy-oriented research like a think tank.
- **Operational Entity:** It is an organization that actively conducts research, distinguishing it from membership-based organizations like scientific or learned societies.
- **Identifiable Classification:** The institute is classified as a research institute, a globally recognized organizational type with unique identifiers across multiple library and knowledge systems.

## Body
The Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main Institut für Philosophie is a specialized organization focused on philosophical research. Its identity and function are defined by its classification as a research institute and its integration within a larger university structure.

### Organizational Identity and Structure
The institute is formally a part of Goethe University Frankfurt. Its headquarters are located in Frankfurt, Germany. For academic and organizational identification, it is assigned the Ringgold ID 196168. All structured data regarding its location, parent organization, and classification type are supported by academic sources and knowledge bases.

### Role as a Research Institute
As an entity whose primary purpose is to conduct research, the institute embodies the key characteristics of its class. Unlike the broader university which balances teaching and research, the institute is designed to be a dedicated engine of discovery. This focus allows for concentrated efforts on systematic investigation to generate new knowledge in philosophy.

This organizational model is distinct from several related concepts:
- **Think Tanks:** While a think tank might research policy, the institute pursues fundamental inquiry across all areas of its discipline.
- **Scientific and Learned Societies:** These are typically membership-based organizations, whereas the institute is an operational entity conducting hands-on investigation.
- **Research Centers:** This term can refer to sub-units within a larger organization, which aligns with the institute's status as part of Goethe University.

### Classification in a Global Context
The concept of a research institute, which defines this entity, is a globally understood category. It is recognized across 41 Wikipedia language editions, indicating its relevance in diverse national and cultural contexts. In knowledge organization systems, this type of entity is formally classified with identifiers such as the Library of Congress authority ID sh85113043, the German National Library GND ID 4017909-6, and the Geonames feature code S.ITTR. It also falls under the Dewey Decimal Classification 001.406, situating the institute within a structured, international framework for knowledge-producing institutions.

## References

1. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions