Philosophical Café

PHILOSOPHICAL CAFÉ - MARTIN SCHERER
The Longing for Closeness

Closeness to others - physical, emotional, practical - is one of our fundamental human needs. Yet in highly individualized societies, few things are harder to achieve: isolation and loneliness have long become a mass social problem. Digital networks sometimes enable community or collective action, but rarely lead to genuine connection.

Philosopher Martin Scherer, who spent many years in publishing and runs a "Bureau of Eloquence" in Munich, has already devoted himself to the subtle nuances of human interaction in books such as "Surrender - An Essay on Waste" and "Tact - On Closeness and Distance in Human Relations". In his new book "Closeness - A Survey of Longing" (Klampen!), he explores the tense relationship between closeness and distance, between intimacy and repulsion.

The evening asks about the cultural, historical, and social conditions under which genuine connection can succeed.

Moderation: Catherine Newmark

With kind support from the Udo Keller Foundation Forum Humanum