Seminar 1
The World of Today – Forces and Frameworks of Contemporary Society
3–17 December 2025
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. 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 3-17 Dec 2025
The Wold of Today
CORE PROGRAM
The Core Program forms the academic backbone of the Villa Steiner Enrichment experience.
Over the course of 40 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.
Nature's Symphony
Faces of Humanity
Sands of Time
Beyond Boundaries
Identity, Culture, and Belonging
How the history of ideas has shaped the understanding of identity, culture, and a sense of belonging.
How concepts of the self, community, and responsibility evolve in modern societies
How the education of character and the transmission of knowledge foster personal growth and civic engagemeng.
With Jörg Schulte-Altedorneburg
Principles and Practice of Public Policy
How public institutions contribute to shaping just and resilient societies—and how individuals can help shape them.
The role of policy in fostering trust, accountability, and civic responsibility.
How we can contribute to the common good through thoughtful engagement
With Luis Franceschi
Ethics in Business and Public Life
What it means to act ethically in both business and public life.
The consequences of unethical behavior and how political institutions can respond to misconduct in corporate and private spheres. Key issues include corruption, fiscal policy, and how to orient public policy toward the common good.
With Philip Booth
Europe’s Legacy in a Global Context
How Europe’s legal and political traditions are perceived from outside Europe.
How principles such as human rights, the rule of law, and peaceful cooperation are understood in post-colonial and multilateral contexts.
On the relevance of these values today.
With Michelle Scobie
Law, Order, and Civic Life
On the law as foundation of democratic order and social cohesion.
Its historical development, normative significance, and present-day challenges in the context of freedom, power, and societal transformation.
With Tilman Repgen
Business in Society
The evolving role of business in a globalized world.
How companies contribute to innovation, prosperity, and the common good.
How they balance profit with purpose amid rising societal expectations.
With Virginija Poškutė
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 perspective, personal growth, and cultural immersion.
