World renowned Spanish philosopher, essayist and laureate of the Octavio Paz Prize, Fernando Savater, together with Joseph Cohen, French philosopher, professor at University College Dublin (Ireland) and founding member of the Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco, will discuss the emergence of a most uncanny guest in contemporary Europe: nihilism. From whence does this obscure phenomenon arise and in accordance to which forces does it progressively dismantle and disassemble the very European ideal of humanism? In what manner are we as Europeans capable of confronting the multiple threats of nihilism affecting our very political history? Fernando Savater and Joseph Cohen will philosophically diagnose the source and analyse the numerous effects of nihilism in Europe today as well as sketch possibilities from which we Europeans may perhaps overcome the perils and problems currently proliferating in our societies on the national, European and international planes. In the face of our contemporary nihilism, what can we hope for the future? Towards what kind of future are we Europeans heading?

Joseph Cohen Photo ©: Mat Jacob