Seminar for University Students
The Human Person – Meaning, Mind, and Human Flourishing
5–19 June 2026
In his poignant memoir The World of Yesterday, Stefan Zweig reflects on a lost world of humanism, cultural exchange, and intellectual aspiration—a world shattered by the political and moral upheavals of the 20th century. His writing is not only a tribute to the values of education and dialogue, but also a warning: that progress, culture, and peace must never be taken for granted
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The seminar “The World of Today” builds on this legacy. Bringing together scholars from law, economics, ethics, public policy, and the humanities, the program is grounded in critical reflection, philosophical inquiry, and interdisciplinary dialogue. It offers a space to explore the structures, ideas, and forces that define contemporary life.
Above all, it is an invitation to engage deeply and creatively with the world—and with our role in shaping its future.
THE VILLA STEINER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
Inspired by Vienna’s Intellectual Legacy.
The World of Today – Forces and Frameworks of Contemporary Society is one of three seminars that make up the Villa Steiner Enrichment Program. Each of the three seminars is self-contained and offers valuable insight and growth on its own. Together, these seminars offer participants an interdisciplinary journey through the major questions shaping our time—linking personal development with academic depth and global perspective.
3–17 December 2025:
The World of Today – Forces and Frameworks of Contemporary Society
5–19 June 2026:
The Human Person – Meaning, Mind, and Human Flourishing
11–25 September 2026:
Truth and Reason – Political Thinking and Scientific Inquiry
Seminar 5-19 Jun 2026 | The Human Person
CORE PROGRAM
The Core Program forms the academic backbone of the Villa Steiner Enrichment experience for university students.
Over the course of 36 lecture hours, six interdisciplinary modules invite students to engage deeply with questions of identity, ethics, public life, and global responsibility—guided by an international faculty committed to connecting timeless ideas with today’s challenges.
Alberto Ribera
Academic director of the IESE Coaching Unit at IESE Business School in Barcelona.
Aloysius Ventham
Philosopher and metha-ethicist based in Salzburg, teaching at the University of Salzburg and active in the Salzburg Ethics Group.
Raphael Bonelli
Neuroscientist and psychiatrist. Head of the Institute for Resources in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy in Vienna.
Jordi Wiersma
Founding President of the Pascal Institute in Leiden and a guest researcher in legal and technology philosophy at Leiden University.
Being Human: Foundations in Philosophical Anthropology
This session introduces key themes in philosophical anthropology and traces their development through thinkers such as Aristotle. It explores how concepts like rationality, freedom, and relationality shape our understanding of the person—and why they matter in today’s ethical and cultural debates..
With Claudia Navarini
Self-Mastery: Leading from Within
How we lead our lives begins with how we lead ourselves. This session explores the foundations of self mastery—through self-awareness, mindfulness, attention, and interior freedom—as key dimensions of personal growth and moral responsibility. Participants are invited to reflect on the habits of thought, values and emotions that sustain a fulfilling inner life.
With Alberto Ribera
Virtue and the Art of Decision-Making
What does it mean to decide well? This lecture examines how virtues shape our ability to choose wisely and live meaningfully—in work, friendship, and leadership. Drawing on the classical concept of eudaimonia, it explores how character formation supports a flourishing life.
With Markus Stadlmann
Work and the Human Journey
Work is more than what we do—it shapes who we are. This session explores work as a human act, closely tied to freedom, purpose, and growth. It considers how work, beyond earning a living, can become a path to personal development, a form of responsibility and service, and a way to contribute to the good of society.
With Aloysius Ventham
The Fragile Mind: Insights from Psychiatry
Mental health is both deeply personal and deeply social. This session draws on clinical and existential psychiatry to explore the vulnerabilities and resources of the human psyche, and the conditions that support healing and integration.
With Raphael Bonelli
AI and the Self: Rethinking Humanity
What is consciousness? What makes us unique? This session explores how the contrast between human and machine illuminates the contours of personal identity—and examines the emerging interface between human nature and artificial systems.
With Jordi Wiersma
Seminar 5-19 Jun 2026 | The Human Person
ACTION LEARNING
Learning doesn’t stop at the seminar table. The Action Learning components of this program are not just complementary activities — they are an essential part of the educational experience. They connect intellectual exploration with real-world perspectives, personal development, and cultural immersion.
The first five elements account for 25 hours of Action Learning. The “Culture and Vienna” component unfolds between and after sessions and on weekends—offering space for relaxation, connection, and shared discovery, while providing place-based insight and a deeper sense of context.
Meetings with Shapers
Inspiring encounters—virtual or in person—with individuals making a difference in their fields and communities. These sessions offer perspective, encouragement, and real-world insight from people around the globe who have translated values into action and purpose.
Coffeehouse Reading
Set in Vienna’s historic cafés—once vibrant hubs of cultural life where figures like Zweig, Schnitzler, and Freud gathered—this module invites participants to engage with great books and the ideas they carry. Through selected texts and guided conversations, they explore how literature reveals deeper truths about self, society, and the human experience.
The Art of Connection
Exploring and practicing key facets of building strong interpersonal connections: active listening skills, negotiation skills, receiving and providing feedback and explore the concept of the five languages of love as a tool for understanding and expressing affection in personal relationships.
Owning Your Path
Through targeted assessments and guided reflection, this session helps participants identify their strengths, clarify aspirations, and cultivate a confident, proactive approach to their personal and professional journey.
Jazz and Experiencing Resonance
Using the language of jazz improvisation, the language of jazz—improvisation, rhythm, interplay—to explore resonance, spontaneity, and authentic expression in dialogue and performance. It opens new ways of relating—to oneself, to others, and to the moment.
Culture and the City
Through guided walks, concert visits, and excursions to cities like Salzburg, participants experience the artistic and intellectual richness of Central Europe. From imperial palaces to Viennese modernism, architecture, music, and public spaces become entry points into the transformations that marked Europe’s path to modernity.
Key Information
Seminar Dates
5–19 June 2026
5 June: Arrival day
19 June: Departure day
Seminar Fee: €2,200
Includes the full course program, single-room accommodation, full board, excursions, and all entry fees.
Scholarships
A limited number of partial scholarships are available for highly motivated applicants in need of financial assistance. Please indicate this in your application; the admissions team will contact you for further information.
Admissions Process
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by the Villa Steiner Admissions Committee. The latest possible deadline is one month before the seminar begins – but as places are limited, we recommend applying well in advance.
