In this lecture “Weltanhörung” (World-Listening), Kops explores why we need a philosophy of listening and how this can enrich philosophical practice. He notes that in most philosophies, seeing structures our thinking, while listening plays a subordinate role— even in dialogical philosophy, where speaking and the word take precedence. Kops’ recent work includes “Therapeia by Ear — Listening in Indian and Anglo-European Therapeutic Philosophies,” examining how listening functions as a transformative practice across different philosophical traditions. His approach connects intercultural philosophical perspectives with practical applications, exploring how the act of truly hearing can become a therapeutic and transformative tool. In this seminar, Kops invites us to rediscover listening as one of the virtues of becoming aware of the world — a philosophical practice that goes beyond dialogue to embrace the transformative power of deep, attentive listening.
