Bruno Steiger | Philosopher | Artist of Life

The Philosophy Studio is the result of a lifelong inquiry into the structures of reality and the art of living. It is curated by Bruno Steiger, whose work is a synthesis of rigorous Western dialectics and the direct transformative practices of the East.

The Journey: From Economics & Academics to Presence

The Studio’s DNA is rooted in a diverse "Siddhartha-like" path through different life-worlds.

  • The World of Economics: My early career as an Economist provided a deep understanding of the external structures that govern society. Yet, my quest for happiness and a meaningful life required me to look beyond the comforts of a good salary, consumerism and social status.
  • The Academic Path: This led to years of formal philosophical study at universities in Europe and Asia, culminating in Master studies in both Western and Buddhist Philosophy. Academic philosophy could give me some ideas about happiness and the good life, but not so much how I could transform myself towards that kind of life.
  • The Meditative Experience: Beyond the library, the path included a deep immersion into the practice of Zen, the Tibetan Buddhism in India and the Theravada tradition in Thailand. These were not just intellectual exercises, but rigorous meditative explorations of experience that proved itself as the ultimate teacher.

Philosophical & Spiritual Conclusions

The Studio operates on a few core realizations:

  1. Happiness is Not an Accumulation: It cannot be achieved by accumulating wealth, power, status or knowledge; it is a quality of presence already available when we stop "running."
  2. I know That I Don’t Know: There is no final answer to the fundamental questions of our existence and there never will be. Our existence remains a mystery and that is perfect so.
  3. Philosophy as Therapy: I view philosophy not as a mere profession, but as a "Therapy for the Mind" and an inspiration for a well-lived life.
  4. The Social Sculpture: Like Joseph Beuys, I believe our task is to shape the "Social Sculpture" of our lives and communities using the elements of ethics, mindfulness and insight.

Academic Credentials

The intellectual framework of the Studio is built upon a multi-disciplinary academic background:

  • M.A. in Buddhist Philosophy | International Buddhist College (Thailand)
    ◦ Specialized in Early Buddhism and Chan/Zen traditions.
  • M.A. in Western Philosophy | University of Fribourg (Switzerland)
    ◦ Research on the interdependence of Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, and Buddhist thought.
  • Studies in Tibetan Buddhism | Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (India)
    ◦ Dedicated study of meditation and dialectics under Geshe Sonam Rinchen.
  • B.A. in Western Philosophy | University of Fribourg (Switzerland)
    ◦ Focus on Ancient Philosophy, Ethics, and Political Economy.
  • B.A. in Business Administration | University of Applied Science Berne (Switzerland)
    ◦ This foundational degree served as the basis for a career as an Economist

Selected Research Papers & Focus Areas

The Studio’s archives include deep-dive explorations into the cross-pollination of Eastern and Western thought, including:

Bruno Steiger Philosopher