Renunication ("Verzicht") is a key concept in contemporary political, social, and academic discourse. It is often associated with a certain unease or reluctance, which does not foster a culture of objective debate. The contributors offer a long-overdue interdisciplinary discussion of the concept, systematizing and reflecting on the various meanings of renunciation. In doing so, they focus on a historically grounded classification within the history of ideas, a critical assessment of current political and cultural practices, and an analytical examination of the aesthetics of renunciation in literature and popular culture, thereby making a timely contribution to the discussion of renunciation in all its facets.