Embracing the future with confidence

Friedrich Schiller, after whom the University of Jena is named, delivered his inaugural lecture in Jena in May 1789. He spoke on the topic »What does one study universal history for, and to what end?«. This marks the occasion for »Schiller Day«, which is being celebrated this year on 26 June. Traditionally, on this day, those who have been awarded doctorates over the past twelve months are honoured and the best (doctoral) theses are recognised.

Prof. Dr Andreas Marx, President of Friedrich Schiller University, emphasised in his opening address to the new PhD graduates that academia is currently more important than ever—and at the same time faces greater challenges than it has for a long time. »We are experiencing global crises, political tensions and social polarisation,« said the President. »Scientific findings are being discussed publicly, sometimes questioned and sometimes even deliberately attacked. That is precisely why our society needs people who think critically, examine matters carefully and argue on the basis of facts.«

The keynote speaker, Prof. Dr Johannes Grave, spoke of regaining an openness to the future. Although the scope for action currently appears to be narrowing under the weight of multiple crises and future scenarios are looking bleaker, images offer the opportunity to reclaim scope for thought and imagination. Grave, who has been Professor of Modern Art History in Jena since 2019 and is a Leibniz Prize laureate, recalled the period of the Restoration 200 years ago, when the existing regulations had previously been portrayed as having no alternative. Even then, it was possible to overcome stagnation.