Idea
WeiterDenken
In times of an economized concept of education, the project WeiterDenken (think ahead) aims at revitalizing the formerly established ideal of a profound and comprehensive Bildung (education) as Wilhelm von Humboldt coined it: an education that stimulates all of students' intellectual forces , so that they can develop an autonomous subjectivity and the ability to think for themselves by appropriating the world.
This ideal is consciously set in contrast to the prevailing efficiency principle shaping most curricula today: a principle that puts education at great risk of fostering merely one-dimensional thinking while jeopardizing complex ideas. Efficiency cannot promote intellectual distance, which is, however, of decisive importance for the scientific and scholarly exploration of our world and our reality. Developing the ability to reflect upon problems from various perspectives must therefore be a priority of universities. In accordance with this assumption, the main objective of our project is to make current ideas, questions and methods from outside of one’s own field of study available to everyone: To look beyond the horizon…
This ambitious project requires a special organizational structure. WeiterDenken is the only 'Studium-Integrale' program of the University of Cologne which is jointly managed and conceived by all faculties. A panel of professorial representatives from the faculties regularly identifies suitable lectures from all disciplines. In the near future, interdisciplinary concepts will be incorporated as well. On this basis, the diversity of thought and knowledge of our university is made accessible to everyone who wants to leave the cocoon of their respective scientific and scholarly field and face new intellectual challenges. Depending on the semester, the subjects of discourse will range from art, languages and literature to foreign and past cultures as well as natural sciences, medicine, economy theory or the foundations of law: Diversity delights!
The complexity of our world certainly requires specialization. However, this complexity cannot be handled by the simplistic view of the homo oeconomicus alone which, in many respects, shows a tendency to inhibit creativity. Only a spectral view allows us to solve sophisticated problems in our daily and professional lives. It provides us with the ability to recognize connections, to place things in a broader background, to separate the important from the unimportant and the factual from the post-factual. Accompanied by a desire for critical, intellectually sharpened debate, WeiterDenken creates a space for the development of personalities capable of mentally adapting to the world and willing to take a stand for social and political positions. So, let us dare to use our gifted minds and not forget to think ahead and explore further worlds of knowledge: Break free of your mindcuffs!
No matter if you want to choose courses from subjects you would also have liked to study, if you want to close knowledge gaps or if you are simply interested in the cluster lectures: WeiterDenken expands your perspective. We present divergent approaches to various aspects of reality, all prepared to suit even inexperienced audiences. Our offer is aimed at all bachelor students, curious minds and members of all faculties. In particular, students pursuing a degree in teaching and the interested public are welcome guests: Let's talk ...