July 02nd 2019

Tips to Help You Get Through

Philosophy at the Management Center Innsbruck. Under this title, the Department of Nonprofit, Social and Health Management has been organizing a series of events on existential topics of our time for several years. These meetings are about the exchange of experiences between older former and young future executives.  The MCI-Philosophicum is supported by the so-called “interesting types (IT)”. IT Lothar Müller and IT Georg Lamp are the founders of the so-called IT Stammtisch. Supported by the Association of Public Mandataries Tyrol with Chairman LAaD Rudi Warzilek, all participants in the MCI Philosophicum look back on a life in the service of responsibility for society and share the insights gained with young people.

The age difference between the ITs and the students philosophising with them at MCI is usually more than half a century. Yet they all share a common goal: managing the public interest.  The philosophers encourage each other.  The young demonstrate to the old that things go on and that they face up to the complexity of current social challenges. Using their own example, the old show that they themselves assumed leadership responsibility years ago and how they met the associated hopes, doubts, successes and failures.

Now there is a book on these discussions. In his book "Tipps fürs Durchkommen" Lothar Müller reflects on the discussions at MCI. We are happy about this rich treasure trove with personal wisdom, memorable pictures and anecdotal stories. The book also contains sayings of the "wisest of men", the clowns, organized by Herbert Waltl. May the clowns hold a mirror up to us all again and again, so that we maintain our ability for reflection and lifelong learning.

At the beginning of his contribution to the philosophical discussions, former rector Professor Otto Muck made a very fitting statement: It is important to become open to what others see. The task of dialogue is not to persuade someone, but to make clear what moves others.