More Light!
Further Thoughts on the European Enlightenment

Photo: Manuel Galrinho

The project's subject matter and key topics, and its analyses and visions, bear direct relation to the lives and coexistence of the region's people, their present and their prospects - in a European and global context. Many inspirations from the Age of Enlightenment are today being called into question - both globally and locally, examples being the desire for "human rights for all" and the search for the forms and the substance of freedom. The attempt to extend the realms of common sense seems set to fail. For this reason, insistence on ties between economics and morality and the systematic criticism of religion - including a call for tolerance under competing outlooks on the world - will gain in importance.

The "More Light!" project examines the Enlightenment as the principal legacy of a humanist Europe. Threats to it concern human, women's and workers' rights, and lead to bans on thought, the loss of language, education and historical memory and huge deficits in a culture of writing and reading. The Ruhr Literature Office is employing intelligent counter-arguments to examine this disappearance of freedoms as the arenas of liberty. In the best tradition of Kant, every responsible member of society should again reflect on their assets and use their understanding without being led by others.

A thrilling event is on the cards when Ilija Trojanow discusses her book "Kampfabsage. Kulturen bekämpfen sich nicht - sie fließen ineinander" (translated title: Contest cancelled. Cultures don't fight - they merge with one another) with literary critic Hubert Winkels. Literary critic Denis Scheck will talk with celebrity chef Vincent Klink about his book "Kulinarische Aufklärung - Am Beispiel des Hummers" (translated title: Culinary enlightenment - Based on the lobster). Speaking with Gert Scobel, philosopher in the art of living Wilhelm Schmid will introduce his new book about luck. Two evenings (with guests including Roger Willemsen and Raoul Schrott) will be devoted to the art and depths of travel. The series entitled "Humanist freedom exercises" will investigate religion criticism and, most importantly, the question of how ethics and spirituality that are not guided by the concept of a god and holy writings are justified and lived. Satirist Wiglaf Droste will pen an entertaining evening focusing on the great philosopher of the Enlightenment, scientist and aphorist Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, to be held in two cities of the Ruhr.

Other invited guests include Richard Dawkins, Karen Duve, Richard David Precht, Robert Menasse, Tahar Ben Jelloun and Ranjit Hoskoté.

Partners: LiteraturBüro Ruhr e.V., Gerd Herholz

For exact dates, venues and further information, please visit:
www.literaturbuero-ruhr.de

More:
www.mehrlicht.info