Philosophers debate the Austrian corruption mess
“If philosophers are being consulted, the crisis must be deep indeed,” Konrad Paul Liessmann, professor of philosophy at the University of Vienna, quipped in the packed glass-roofed courtyard of the Haus der Musik. It didn’t need explaining that the crisis in question was that of Austrian politics, engulfed in burgeoning corruption scandals; indeed, Der Standard, an Austrian daily, found it sufficient to entitle its panel discussion that Sept. 19 – the first in a series of “Monday Talks” (“Montagsgespräche”) – “The State of Austrian Politics: Philosophers take position”. Everybody knew.