More Light!
Further Thoughts on the European Enlightenment
Photo: Manuel Galrinho
Internationally renowned authors, philosophers, scientists and representatives of other disciplines as well as those living in the Ruhr will meet in the autumn of 2010 as part of the European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010. They will discuss the future role and meaning of "enlightenment".
Ideas that had first come to light and had been forward-looking during the age of Enlightenment are now being questioned both globally and locally. Among them: the demand for universal human rights, the attempt to extend rationalism to all spheres of life, the insistence that economy and morality be connected, and systematic criticism of religion including a demand for greater tolerance.
The project "More Light!" puts the spotlight on the fact that much of this thinking is under attack today and in danger of losing its place as a central element of Europe's humanistic values. It is a global threat, with human, women's and workers' rights in particular endangered. For many people, there are limits on the freedom of thought, the loss of speech, education and remembrance, the erosion of a culture in which reading and writing are key elements.
It is vital to start thinking about creating a tolerant cosmopolitanism and to raise questions about issues such as: How could an immoral unfettered capitalism re-emerge so quickly after the crash of 2008? How can we define human rights that are truly universal rather than euro-centric or mainly defined by religion? How can we discuss religion in an objective manner? All these and other burning issues will be debated by international guests and audiences from all disciplines at the invitation of the Literaturbüro Ruhr. Those who have already committed to participate include Ilija Trojanow, Wilhelm Schmid, Denis Scheck, Gabriele von Arnim, Roger Willemsen, Herman Philipse, Gert Scobel, Juli Zeh, Michael Schmidt-Salomon and Fritz Pleitgen.
Partners: Literaturbüro Ruhr e.V., Gerd Herholz
More:
www.mehrlicht.info