Future in the crisis: Blom discusses the values ​​of the Enlightenment

Future in the crisis: Blom discusses the values ​​of the Enlightenment

In Vienna, an exciting event of the Falter Arena took place on June 5, 2025, in which everything revolved around the future of the values ​​of the Enlightenment. Historians, author and philosopher Philipp Blom took the audience on a solid journey through the topics of democracy, human rights and evidence -based thinking. The question was whether these values ​​from the 18th century are still able to prevent the return of authoritarian structures. According to Falter , Blom emphasized the parallels between the upheaval of the post-war order and the challenges of our time.

The Enlightenment, a decisive era of the 17th and 18th centuries, combined reason, science and individual freedom. These ideals are of great weight and formed the foundation for modern democracies, such as mein-lernen.at . Enlightenment like Immanuel Kant and John Locke demanded the right to freedom and equality of all people. The successes and failures of these values ​​are still noticeable and will also be discussed at the next Falter Arena on September 11, 2025, where Michael Häupl and Christian Konrad will take part.

The cornerstones of the Enlightenment

In the center of the enlightenment principles, belief in progress through knowledge and education is. As can be read in the Wikipedia , this era not only brought social reforms, but also a sustainable change by striving for individual freedom and self -determination. The demand for the separation of church and state began at this time, with thinkers and Voltaire vehemently argued against the influence of religious institutions on politics and education.

The idea that every person deserves equality regardless of origin, status or religion also came to bloom. Philosophies that come from the Enlightenment, such as the "explanation of human and civil rights" during the French Revolution, called for the abolition of privileges and the introduction of universal human rights.

progress and education in focus

Another aspect of the Enlightenment was the belief in progress through science and education. Ideas from thinkers like John Locke and Rousseau campaigned for the promotion of independent thinking and led to a broader approach to education. Schools and universities were founded to make knowledge available to everyone. Olympe de Gouges also fought for the rights of women and thus drawn attention to the unrealization of many enlightenment ideas.

These considerations are still crucial, especially if you look at the recent social upheavals. Blom raises the alarm and asks whether the belief in the values ​​of the Enlightenment remains congruent with reality today. The dialogue about these topics has to go in order not only to the past but also the future.