Donnerstag, 21. Januar 2027, 20 bis 21.30 Uhr, Millers

Eröffnung: In Gesellschaft

Still looking for the one? Your soulmate? The perfect partner? We’re often told that finding the right person is all it takes. This may sound romantic, but philosopher Alain de Botton thinks it’s a rather bad idea. He argues that relationships are not a promise of happiness, but rather a lot of work. In conversation with Wolfram Eilenberger, he explores whether what is true of romantic relationships might also apply to society.

SRF will record the festival opening and broadcast it as an episode of «Sternstunde Philosophie» on the Sunday following the festival.

Alain de Botton is a philosopher, author and something of a relationship expert in philosophy. In his books, he makes the big questions of life relevant to everyday life, writing about love, relationships, status and the art of getting along with others – as well as with ourselves. His books have become bestsellers in more than thirty countries. He is also a co-founder of The School of Life, which brings philosophical and psychological ideas into everyday life.

Wolfram Eilenberger holds a doctorate in philosophy, is a multiple award- winning author, and, among other roles, hosts «Sternstunde Philosophie» on SRF. He teaches at various universities, is a member of the programming team at phil.cologne, and was the founding editor-in-chief of «Philosophie Magazin». His books, many of them bestsellers, have been translated into more than thirty languages. In his latest work «Die Gegenwart der Philosophie» he explores the role philosophy can play in a time of profound change.