Dieter Thomä: Post- Nachruf auf eine Vorsilbe

In the organizer's words:

Postmodernism, post-colonialism, "postisms" characterize the debates on society, politics and social issues. A mistake? - Dieter Thomä in the taz Talk at the Leipzig Book Fair.

Since 1945, no prefix has shaped the humanities and social sciences as much as "post-". In terms such as postmodernism, post-colonialism or post-histoire, it has become the icon of a way of thinking that likes to locate itself in the aftermath of a previous era. But according to Dieter Thomä, there is not necessarily a good idea behind the success of the popular word component.

In his new book, Thomä criticizes the extent to which "post-" stands for an attitude that quickly loses itself between attachment and departure: One wants to move forward, but is always looking back. Things that are supposed to have been let go are brought up again and again.

What's more, Thomä accuses "post-" thinkers of being unimaginative and calls for the post-era to be overcome mentally. His book is an obituary for the "postisms" of our time and a passionate plea for an attitude that finally arrives in the presence of mind.

The taz Studio at the Leipzig Book Fair
Program overview
Where: Hall 5 | G500
Leipzig Book Fair

Registration is not required. As we have a very limited capacity on site, we kindly ask you to be at the venue early. The event will be streamed live on YouTube.
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Post- Obituary for a prefix - a taz Talk in the taz Studio at the Leipzig Book Fair with:

🐾 Dieter Thomä is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of St. Gallen.In 1996, he received the Joseph Roth Prize for International Journalism (prize for essay writing). His book "Puer robustus" was shortlisted for the Tractatus Prize in 2017. His new book will be published by Suhrkamp on 17.03.2025.

🐾 Ulrich Gutmair moderates this taz Talk. He is the culture editor of taz and studied history and journalism.

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