The French philosopher Jean-Luc Nancy thinks about the tasks art is meant to fulfil today, and asks some basic questions: What do we need art for? Where does art begin? Why is art so expensive? In a concentrated text, Nancy expounds his thoughts on the relationship between art and holiness, art and economics, art and politics, art and philosophy. What Do We Need Art For? is the first volume of the Riemschneider Lectures from the State Academy of Fine Arts Karlsruhe.