Reference News Network, March 16 report: According to the German website "Die Zeit" on March 14, German sociologist and philosopher Jürgen Habermas passed away in the city of Starnberg in southern Germany at the age of 96. He is regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of the contemporary era.
Habermas's theories on the public sphere and communicative action have profoundly influenced political philosophy and democratic theory around the world.
His works have been translated into multiple languages and are widely praised internationally.
For decades, Habermas has been a public intellectual who has spoken out and often influenced political debates in Germany.
From reflections on Nazi history to issues of European integration, these topics are all reflected in his writings.
Habermas was the most prominent representative of the second generation of the Frankfurt School's critical theory. He inherited the academic lineage of philosophers such as Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer, and further developed the tradition of critical theory in his own way.
The book "The Theory of Communicative Action," published in 1981, is considered Habermas's seminal work. In it, he proposed that social consensus is formed through rational dialogue and open discussion. The book is also one of the most influential philosophical works of the second half of the 20th century.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed their respects to Habermas.
Steinmeier wrote: "With the passing of Jürgen Habermas, we have lost a great enlightener who deeply analyzed the contradictions of modernity."
Merkel said: "Germany and Europe have lost one of the most important thinkers of our time. His sharp analysis and insights have had an impact on democratic discourse far beyond the borders of Germany." (Translated by Zhong Sirui)
Original source: toutiao.com/article/7617765493734130227/
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