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Eilenberger, 48, is an author and philosopher.
His book "The Fire of Freedom. The Salvation of Philosophy in Dark Times 1933–1943" was recently published.
Photo:
Annette Hauschild / Ostkreuz
The fact that it doesn't just disappear just because we close our eyes to it has always been the catch with so-called reality.
But it was seldom so directly experienced as in the past few weeks.
The renewed shutdown shows how deceptive the summer's expectations for a quick return to normal were.
The close election result in the US has destroyed hopes that a landslide victory by Joe Biden could make the Trump years look like a bad dream that is finally over.
The "Islamic State" is not defeated, but in a position to carry out attacks in the middle of Europe.
Nothing has changed in the drama of climate change.
The end of this existential emergency of a global pandemic is just as unpredictable as its economic consequences cannot be adequately calculated.
All that is clear is that more dark months, if not years, are ahead.
And: No generation is less prepared for this gloomy outlook than those who are just about to enter the center of power in the western world: we, the generation of around 50 years old.
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