Nida-Rümelin studied philosophy, psychology, mathematics and political science at the University of Munich.
In her doctoral thesis, she discusses the knowledge argument, by the Australian philosopher Frank Jackson, which is directed against a materialist conception of phenomenal consciousness.
In it she presents one of the most important arguments, which is based on qualia, i.e., individual instances of subjective, conscious experience.
The major part of her published work is concerned with the special status of conscious individuals and aims at developing a non-materialist account which avoids the weaknesses of traditional dualism.
Rational intuitions and phenomenological reflexion play a prominent role in her philosophical approach.