Europa als Fall der Idee

Abstract

This article examines the question of whether and to what extent is Europe conceivable as an idea. The idea is understood here in the Kantian sense. While it does not exist as such in the heaven of ideas, yet it can only be conceived and determined in the concrete case and as a concrete case of the idea. But can we also speak of a concrete case of the idea of Europe? It seems to be more or less self-evident that today’s Europe can be represented and understood as an independent political and cultural entity. But could this entity also be understood and determined as a case of the idea of Europe and what would be the conditions for such understanding and determination of this entity?