The Prince and His Heirs: Peter Sloterdijk on powerful men in the age of normal people
“I am the chosen one,” said Donald Trump in 2019. Since beginning his second term in office, Trump has acting according to the “Madman Theory,” which posits that people who appear to be unpredictable make the best deals. On the other side of the world, “supreme leader” Xi Jinping is pulling Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi close. A prince who wants to keep his authority, stated Machiavelli, must learn how not to be good. The new autocrats have taken this lesson to heart. In On Great Men in the Age of Ordinary People, preeminent philosopher Peter Sloterdijk proves himself to be both cool-headed and perceptive in his analysis of this new type of prince. He explores the art of ruling and the relationship between power, charisma and morality, delivering an impressive, witty, psycho-political analysis of our complex present. Host: René Scheu
Contributors
René Scheu
René Scheu holds a doctorate in philosophy, is an Italian studies … This text was shortened for this overview. Follow the more-link to read the full text.
Peter Sloterdijk
Peter Sloterdijk, born in 1947 to a German father and a Dutch mother,… This text was shortened for this overview. Follow the more-link to read the full text.
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Date:
Monday
08. June 2026
17:30 -
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Klaus-von-Bismarck-SaalWallrafplatz 5
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