The Thomas Dehler Foundation is the liberal educational organization in Bavaria. The foundation is a political foundation, and the word "liberal" characterizes its political and intellectual standpoint. It is close to the Free Democratic Party of Germany (FDP). The basic axiom of liberalism is the values of freedom, justice, peace, tolerance, self-determination, responsible individualism and critical rationalism that have grown out of the Enlightenment. The free word is just as central as the peaceful exchange of arguments; a liberal educational organization will therefore always strive to give the widest possible scope to "audiatur et altera pars" in the discussion at its events, precisely in order to seek intellectual debate. In its actions and activities, the Thomas Dehler Foundation is committed to its namesake.