A special guest at this year’s event was José Rodríguez dos Santos – a Portuguese writer, journalist, central television news anchor, war reporter, best-selling author and university lecturer.

In his speech, “How Spinoza created the West”, he drew a parallel between the life and activity of one of the greatest philosophers of the 17th century and the mark he left on the development of modern society.

President Rumen Radev and José Rodríguez dos Santos answered questions sent by the guests of “Horizons 2024” and asked by Prof. Silvia Ilieva. Questions such as the change of society in the absence of high cultural and moral values ​​and how the state can encourage business to supports the development of culture were touched upon in the ensuing discussion.