Peter Sloterdijk is probably the foremost German thinker today, and certainly the most controversial. He examines the modern human condition by engaging in actual discussions e.g., on genetic engineering, mass media, and the unification of Europe. On the other hand however, he tries to clarify the world we have ended up in, by reflecting on such seemingly unrelated topics like medieval gnosis, the history of enlightment, and the pitfalls of autobiographic writing.

Sloterdijk is well-known for his satiric Nietzschean aphorisms and statements, while he is also strongly inspired by Heidegger. There he finds a language to describe the undercurrents of modern thinking and society without falling into metaphysics or nihilism. To delve up the fundaments of modernity and post-modernity Sloterdijk descends into older times and far-away places, whose glitter however still seems to link to our time. In his descriptions and elaborations of these older ideas, Sloterdijk’s writings remind of Foucault’s because of his distanced but still passionate style. Like Foucault, Sloterdijk’s works are also motivated by the critical impulse, which is best exemplified in his well-known book "Critique of Cynical Reason".

Sloterdijk has shown that humor and earnest may well go hand in hand in modern philosophy. This group aims to reflect this co-existence of relativism and passion. Therefore all practical information, (re)-citations, discussions, questions and presentations of conceptions of Sloterdijk's works are welcome. Attention may also be drawn to parts of Sloterdijk’s books you think that are particularly revealing or to relations of Sloterdijk’s works to other authors like Nietzsche, Heidegger, Foucault, or other older or more modern thinkers. Finally all Sloterdijkian analyses of phenomena in the popular culture, Zeitgeist, and the human condition are very welcome.

Postings in all languages are welcome.