Wolfram Eilenberger: The mysterious philosophy behind our freedom

Wolfram Eilenberger: The mysterious philosophy behind our freedom

Wolfram Eilenberger is in the trend of philosophical debate and enjoys great popularity - and not just in circles of those interested in philosophy. On June 27, 2025, he will not only work as an author and moderator, but also as an important bridge builder between philosophical theories and the present. Born in Freiburg am Breisgau in 1972, Eilenberger gained a deep insight into philosophy, psychology and Romance studies during his years of study in Heidelberg, Turku and Zurich.

Eilenberger is best known for his works dealing with the history of ideas. “Time of the Magicians – The Great Decade of Philosophy 1919-1929” is particularly well received. oe1.orf.at reports on the international response: the book was translated into 30 languages ​​and was on the Spiegel bestseller list for more than seven months. But that's not all. His current work “Ghosts of the Present”, which deals with thinkers such as Adorno and Sontag, is also well received.

Philosophical roots and commitment

Wolfram Eilenberger is no stranger to journalism. Over the last two decades he has written for well-known newspapers such as Die Zeit and the Tagesspiegel. He was also editor-in-chief of “Philosophie Magazin” from 2011 to 2017 and has been the presenter of “Sternstunde Philosophy” on Swiss television SRF since 2018.

However, his commitment goes far beyond the media sector. He is part of the program management of the international philosophy festival phil.cologne and holds a teaching position at ETH Zurich, where he shares his extensive knowledge with students. Eilenberger's works are often characterized by the philosophical examination of the modern world - an approach that he also pursues in his book "Fire of Freedom - The Rescue of Philosophy in Dark Times (1933-1943)".

The fight for freedom in dark times

In “Fire of Freedom” Eilenberger addresses the challenges that four important female philosophers faced in the era of totalitarianism. [klett-cotta.de]. Her critical view of social structures and the meaning of self-determination are still highly relevant today. Eilenberger advocates that we read her works again in order to learn from history.

The focus is on the life and philosophy of Simone Weil, Ayn Rand, Simone de Beauvoir and Hannah Arendt. By tracing their struggles, Eilenberger not only highlights the dangers that can threaten contemporary societies, but also offers valuable insight into the philosophy that can help us meet these challenges.

Eilenberger is a master at integrating philosophy into everyday life and encouraging readers to think. His work is a living example of how important continuous dialogue about freedom, society and identity is in our time. We can't wait to see what the passionate thinker and communicator has in store for the future - his view of the ideas of our time definitely has a permanent place in the public debate.