Master of modern philosophy Jürgen Habermas has passed away

German philosopher and sociologist Jürgen Habermas, considered one of the most important names in modern philosophy, has passed away at the age of 96. The German publishing house Suhrkamp, which announced Habermas's death, issued a message of condolence over the loss of the philosopher.

Habermas left a profound impact worldwide, particularly with the ideas he developed on critical theory, democracy, and the public sphere. His work led to groundbreaking developments in the fields of social sciences, philosophy, and political theory in the second half of the 20th century.

WHO IS JÜRGEN HABERMAS?

Jürgen Habermas was born in Germany in 1929. His childhood was shaped by health issues, specifically a series of surgeries he underwent due to being born with a cleft palate. He spent his youth under the difficult conditions created by the Second World War. Between 1949 and 1954, he completed his undergraduate education at the universities of Göttingen, Zurich, and Bonn.

In 1954, he earned his doctorate in philosophy at the University of Bonn with his thesis titled "Certainty and History: The Confusion of Emotion in Schelling's Thought."

REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FRANKFURT SCHOOL

Habermas began working at the Institute for Social Research in Frankfurt in the 1950s, where he collaborated closely with Theodor W. Adorno, one of the leading figures of the Frankfurt School. In 1961, he earned his habilitation at the University of Marburg by publishing his work titled "The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere." This work became one of the cornerstones of modern political theory.

Habermas's career continued at the University of Frankfurt in 1964, where he took over Max Horkheimer's chair. Following his lecture "Knowledge and Human Interests" in 1968, he succeeded in reaching an even wider audience by turning this lecture into a book.

THE THEORY OF COMMUNICATIVE ACTION AND HABERMAS’S INTELLECTUAL JOURNEY

Moving to Munich in 1971 to head the Max Planck Institute, Habermas made a major breakthrough with his 1981 publication, "The Theory of Communicative Action." This work is considered one of the most important texts in his intellectual career.

Returning to the University of Frankfurt in 1983, Habermas held the chair of philosophy there until 1994.

Continuing to actively participate in public debates even after his retirement, Habermas expressed his views on topics such as biotechnology and the relationship between religion and politics. In 2021, Habermas declined the Sheikh Zayed Book Award presented by the United Arab Emirates, and following the October 7 attacks, he made a statement finding Israel's defense "justified."

POLEMICS WITH CONTEMPORARY THINKERS

Habermas is also known for the debates he engaged in with contemporary thinkers. His disagreements with Michel Foucault, in particular, drew significant attention. Habermas argued that the concepts Foucault developed regarding modern power structures were insufficient, which was met with a reaction from Foucault's followers.

For his contributions to modern thought, Habermas was awarded prestigious prizes such as the Erasmus and Adorno prizes.