Imagine the world anew - this is the fifth meeting as part of the cycle The Philosopher's Helplessness. Conversations about modernity with Shakespeare in the background. The topic of the discussion in the Shakespeare Theatre will be the causes of the crisis of modern imagination, as well as its psychosocial, political, and cultural consequences. The host and guests will draw inspiration from myths, dreams, and creative imagination in their search for a solution.

The series Philosopher's Helplessness. Conversations about modernity with Shakespeare in the background was inaugurated in the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre on April 23, 2021, on the 457th anniversary of William Shakespeare's Birthday. The first instalment of the cycle, inspired by the Shakespearean characters Prospero and Hamlet, was devoted to the life and work of prof. Jerzy Limon, who passed away in March this year. The series is curated by Piotr Augustyniak - philosopher, writer and playwright.

The theme of the next meeting on October 18, 2021 (Monday) in the cycle The Philosopher's Helplessness will be the causes of the crisis that affects the modern imagination, and its psychosocial, political and cultural consequences. But also the possibilities of healing and the benefits that can be derived from drawing inspiration from myths, dreams and creative imagination.

Danuta Golec and Tadeusz Bartoś will be Piotr Augustyniak's guests. The discussion will be accompanied by fragments of William Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, interpreted by the actress Dorota Androsz.

- 'We will talk about the decay of our imagination. Because it closes us in the soulless civilisational rush of consumption and self-fulfilment. And the proliferation of conspiracy theories, xenophobic prejudices and ideological fundamentalisms is its terrifying paroxysm,' - says Piotr Augustyniak.

Piotr Augustyniak - philosopher, essayist, translator, playwright, professor at the Department of Philosophy of the Krakow University of Economics. He is the author of Homo polacus. Eseje o polskiej duszy (2015). He has recently published Wyspiański. Burzenie polskiego kościoła (2019) and Jezus Niechrystus (2021). He publishes in Kronos, Przegląd Polityczny and Znak. He lives in Kraków. He is the curator of the Philosopher's Helplessness series at the TSG.

Tadeusz Bartoś - Polish philosopher and theologian, publicist, former Dominican friar, PhD in the humanities, associate professor at the Aleksander Gieysztor Academy of Humanities in Pułtusk. At present, in his academic activity, he researches modern theories of culture, the history of the influence of religious, philosophical and political ideas, with a special focus on the thought of Friedrich Nietzsche and Martin Heidegger. A regular contributor to Halo.Radio and the author of columns.

Danuta Golec - psychologist, psychotherapist from the Polish Association for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. Translator, founder of Oficyna Ingenium, which publishes books on psychoanalysis. Graduate of the University of Gdańsk.

Philosopher's Helplessness. Shakespeare Theatre, October 18, 2021, at 19.00