We do better with meaningful relationships

The twelfth Beseda v Besedě. Topic: Are we really doing so bad? Guests: Jakub Rákosník, Ladislav Heryán, Martin Buchtík. Place and time: Malostranská beseda in Prague, Monday 3rd April, 2017. Host: Veronika Sedláčková.

„Are we really doing bad?“ asks host of the evening Veronika Sedláčková. Priest and theologist Ladislav Heryán thinks it depends on every each of us. It depends on our values, he says. We do better when we have meaningful relationships. From sociological point of view, we can answer this question simply for individuals, but complicated for big groups, argues sociologist Martin Buchtík.

From historical point of view, we have never done better. Whether we compare GDP or distribution of the wealth in the society. It is even better than during the First Republic, even though we tend to think so after 1989.

Is there any difference between people in cities and in the countryside? It is difficult to distinguish the countryside from the city, says Martin Buchtík. Suburbia, for example around Prague, are often richer than towns. Most often used and most functioning division is by university education acquired. „Is there a difference between Prague and the rest of the republic? “Yes, I would say so. People in Prague live „in a state in state, “but it can be the other way around as well. I think it is because we simplify things too much.

They have to concentrate on surviving, so they don’t have time to get bored or to do other things, that we see in our society. „What is the most important thing for us to feel good? “ „Meaningfulness,“ answers Ladislav Heryán.

After a few other questions from the audience Veronika Sedláčková closes the debate. That was the 12th Beseda v Besedě organized by Institute for Christian Democratic Politics and Hanns Seidel Stiftung. Throughout the entire evening guests and visitors enjoyed the music by Adams Emily (Emilie Bauerová and Martin Adamovský).