Impressions from the workshop “FREEDOM OF THE PEN VERSUS THE DEMANDS OF MORALITY - On the relationship between aesthetic autonomy and ethical practice”
Laura Bella Theis, an honours student, organized her own workshop as part of the honors program.
Laura Bella Theis
Published: | By: Jennifer Mark
Flyer Workshop “Freedom of the Pen versus the Demand for Morality”
Image: Dr. Dörte GoldensteinThe dialogue between aesthetic autonomy and morality – a workshop full of inspiration
Honours student Laura Bella Theis invited us to discuss collaborative work on research essays on the relationship between ethics and aesthetics on 20 October 2025. Ms. Theis designed her own event concept for the workshop entitled ‘Freedom of the Pen versus the Demand for Morality – On the Relationship between Aesthetic Autonomy and Ethical Practice,’ selected applicants, and took care of the entire organisation. The event was aimed at Master's students, doctoral candidates and postdocs and attracted participants from the fields of philosophy, literary studies, comparative literature, musicology and art history.
Conversations regarding Ms. Theis' workshop
Image: Dr. Dörte GoldensteinSchiller's ideas in conversation
As part of the Honours Programme, Laura Bella Theis examines the relationship between aesthetic autonomy and ethical practice on the basis of Friedrich Schiller's theoretical writings in general and the systematic connection between the texts from the third part of Schiller's Kleinere prosaische Schriften (Minor Prose Writings) in particular. In addition to contributions on Schiller's theoretical writings, essays on a wide variety of subjects and perspectives were also included in the programme. Based on current debates in public discourse and research discussions in recent years, her workshop also questioned the relevance of aesthetic autonomy as it emerged as an idea during the 18th century against the backdrop of the phenomenon of post-autonomous art, which has been the subject of heated debate in recent years.
Promoting outstanding projects
Ms Theis' research project is supervised by Prof. Dr Alice Stašková, who also provided support in organising the event. The event concept received consistently positive feedback and will certainly be repeated in the future.
The Honours Programme provides organisational and financial support to talented students for their academic activities, including workshops, conferences, panel discussions and other events.
The programme for Ms Theis' workshop can be found here.