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Philosopher Jürgen Habermas passed away this weekend at his home in Starnberg. Goethe University mourns the loss of its emeritus professor, who was a member of the university from 1964 to 1971 as Professor of Philosophy and Sociology, succeeding Max Horkheimer. Following his time as Director of the Max Planck Institute for the Study of the Scientific-Technological World, he returned to Goethe University in 1983 and remained Professor of Philosophy until his retirement in 1994.
With Jürgen Habermas, Goethe University loses one of the most influential philosophers of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and the most prominent representative of the second generation of the Frankfurt School. Habermas significantly developed Critical Theory, building on the work of Theodor W. Adorno and Max Horkheimer. At the same time, he was the most influential public intellectual in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany, whose voice continued to shape debates after German reunification in 1990 and far beyond Germany’s borders.
“Habermas’ contributions to a philosophical theory of communicative reason, to the foundations of rational freedom and social justice, to the normativity and institutionalization of law, and to the role of religion in secular and pluralistic societies have inspired worldwide reception and vibrant debates that continue at Goethe University Frankfurt to this day,” said University President Prof. Enrico Schleiff, honoring the late scholar. “His groundbreaking work, as well as his personal presence at the university and his close intellectual relationships with many members of our academic community, extend far beyond the lifetime of this extraordinary scholar and exceptional teacher. They will continue to shape research and teaching at Goethe University Frankfurt for years to come, including within the framework of the Rhine-Main Universities alliance.”
Habermas had already donated part of his literary estate to Goethe University Frankfurt in 2011, followed by another portion in 2025. As a result, research on his work is now primarily anchored in Frankfurt – the place that formed the central focus of his intellectual development and career. The Frankfurt School, Critical Theory, and the work of Jürgen Habermas remain central to the identity of Goethe University, which seeks – across a wide range of disciplines – to address fundamental questions facing contemporary society.
Image for download: https://www.uni-frankfurt.de/184056055
Caption: Jürgen Habermas delivering a lecture at Goethe University Frankfurt during an event marking his 90th birthday in 2019. (Photo: Uwe Dettmar / Goethe University Frankfurt)
Jürgen Habermas delivering a lecture at Goethe University Frankfurt during an event marking his 90th ...
Quelle: Uwe Dettmar
Copyright: Goethe University
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Jürgen Habermas delivering a lecture at Goethe University Frankfurt during an event marking his 90th ...
Quelle: Uwe Dettmar
Copyright: Goethe University
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