Acknowledgements
With this book, I hope to contribute to exploring what we mean when we speak of discrimination in the context of AI and to clarifying when such discrimination is wrongful. This book has been accepted as a dissertation at the Heinrich-Heine University in Düsseldorf. So, first, I would like to thank Prof. Frank Dietrich, who has been an excellent advisor, has always been ready to answer my questions or discuss my ideas, and yet also managed to give me the space I needed to develop my work. Also, I would of course like to thank my second supervisor, PD Dr. Joachim Wündisch, who has been equally supportive and who has saved me during my defence, when I nervously failed to bring a functioning pen to sketch answers to questions. I could not have asked for better supervisors. I would also like to thank my colleagues at the institute, who have been nothing but helpful and kind, and I am glad to have worked in this environment.
I would also like to thank Dr. Andrea Klonschinski. Her seminars during my studies have shaped my interests and ultimately also my research, and without her advice on finding a PhD position, this book would likely not exist. Nowadays, I am glad to count her among my friends, and I am looking forward to future fruitful discussions.
Moreover, my dissertation would not have been possible without the generous funding of the Jürgen Manchot Stiftung. The time in the Manchot-Research Group has been fascinating and filled with interesting conversations, talks, and discussions. I specifically would like to mention Jun.-Prof. Dr. Johan Justus Vasel, who has been a great project leader, and my colleagues Andreas Müller and Annicka Heck, with whom I was glad to share this group. I would also like to thank Philip Spohr for answering my technical questions. Moreover, I would like to thank Dr. Dennis Frieß, with whom I wrote my first paper and who has been an excellent collaborator and friend.
I would also like to thank David Bennett and Sean Barrett for providing native speaker support. Furthermore, my gratitude goes out to Brill | mentis in general and Dr. Stephan Kopsieker in particular for the support in realising this project.
Last, but hardly least, I would like to thank the people closest to me. My family, Jutta, Jens, Johanna, and Jan, have believed in me and have supported me in every way. But more than for any support during the PhD, I am thankful that you always made me feel that life is immensely rich and that much of this richness has nothing to do with work. That is a very comforting lesson. I would also like to thank my girlfriend Ginevra, who has been endlessly supportive, kind enough to diligently read my work, and who has always been ready to cheer me up whenever that was necessary or just because she felt like it. I am happy that you are by my side.
There are many people who have made this book better; remaining mistakes and arguments that could benefit from refinement are mine only.