Current social transformations call for a contemporary debate about the future of "Bildung", in which two differing modern utopian tendencies can be highlighted and their discrepancy emphasised. With the end of realistic socialism in Europe, any vision featuring a perspective that might transcend the status quo seems doomed--the "political" project of humanising society has entered a postmodern crisis. On the other hand, as futuristic visions are increasingly linked to technological progress, the "practical" realisation of perfection is aimed at. How, then, is a form of communication about the future possible, that neither eradicates the humanist illusions of "Bildung", nor gives in to a technologisation of relations to the self? In this article, the author shares his thoughts that are positioned in the shadow of this question. He first comments on the current discourse of "Bildung" and the problem of its auto-critique. He then assesses the meaning of knowledge for the new ideas about "Bildung"; then contrast these ideas with a description of current relations, in order to return to the quest for a future. (Contains 2 notes.)