Finding a home in modern chaos: A book that makes you think!

Finding a home in modern chaos: A book that makes you think!

Published on July 14, 2025 by Prof. Dr. Alfred Hirsch's new book “Heimatweh. A philosophical story”. This is part of the “Philosophy Tells” series from Karl Alber Verlag and is the 19th volume in this series. How uni-wh.de reports, the work is aimed both at specialist colleagues and at a broader audience.

The book addresses the loss of home and its effects as a universal phenomenon. The causes of this loss are diverse and range from flight and war to environmental destruction and social change. Hirsch illuminates the longing for belonging and the challenges that arise when striving for a new home. Interestingly, he also describes how even people who have never left their places of origin experience a loss of home. The triggers for this include industrialization, urban sprawl and the destruction of natural habitats.

Personal and philosophical insights

Prof. Dr. Alfred Hirsch, who teaches at the University of Witten/Herdecke, combines personal experiences with political sensitivity and scientific depth in his book. It encourages you to think about your own origins, identity and the possibility of finding a new home. In the words of philosophie.ch It becomes clear that home encompasses not only a physical place, but also a cultural and emotional dimension.

Home has two dimensions: local or cultural origins and personal identity. Anthropologically speaking, there is an area of ​​tension between belonging to groups, such as families, language communities, peoples and cultures, and personal uniqueness. The question “Where are you from?” is often an attempt to place a person within social and cultural contexts.

The concept of home is dialectical; it can be both formative and oppressive. Identification and distancing are crucial aspects of individual development. Some people feel strongly connected to their home dialect, while others distance themselves from it and speak standard language, which does not create a sense of home for them. These different feelings show that there is no “right” or “wrong” when dealing with the concept of home.

Homelessness and new sources of identity

Homelessness can arise from various circumstances, such as moving or fleeing, as was seen in the case of the Syrian civil war. The loss of home is often associated with pain and trauma, but it also offers new sources of identity. Hirsch discusses the fact that so-called “aerial roots” can enable a new form of functioning identity.

The process of overcoming trauma and pain is different for each person and depends on the inner strengths and support you receive. Emotional and intellectual strength are necessary in order to identify with one's own origins and at the same time create distance from them. The ability to self-educate is central to the inner self and self-control, whereby decisions about connection to one's origin and the individual sense of home always remain personal and variable.

The public book launch of “Heimatweh” is planned for autumn in Witten. A date will be announced later. Hirsch's philosophical reflections and insights are sure to stimulate readers' reflections and lead them into a deeper examination of the topic of home.