Prof. Dr. Markus Gabriel, born in 1980, was appointed Germany’s youngest professor of philosophy at the University of Bonn in 2009, where he also heads the International Center for Philosophy NRW and the interdisciplinary Center for Science and Thought. He is also a visiting professor at the New School for Social Research and has been Academic Director at The New Institute since 2022. His book »Warum es die Welt nicht gibt« (»Why the World Does Not Exist«), published by Ullstein in 2013, and his book »Moralischer Fortschritt in dunklen Zeiten« (»Moral Progress in Dark Times«) are international bestsellers that have made him known beyond the borders of his discipline. He has taught and researched at many universities around the world (including UC Berkeley, NYU, Tokyo and Stanford). Since the publication of his book »Der Sinn des Denkens« (»The Meaning of Thought«) (2015), he has devoted himself to the problem area of digitalization from a philosophical perspective, working together with partners from Cambridge and elsewhere. His most recent book »Der Mensch als Tier« (»Man as Animal«) deals with the current polycrisis based on the relationship between humans, animals and the environment.