Ernst Tugendhat
Encyclopedia
Ernst Tugendhat is a Czech
-born German
philosopher. He was born in Brno
, Czechoslovakia
, to a wealthy Jewish family that commissioned Mies van der Rohe with the Villa Tugendhat
in Brno. In 1938 the family emigrated from Czechoslovakia to St. Gallen
, Switzerland
, and in 1941 travelled on to settle in Caracas
, Venezuela
.
Tugendhat studied classics at Stanford from 1944 to 1949, and went on to do graduate work in philosophy and classics at the University of Freiburg
, receiving his doctorate
with a work on Aristotle
in 1956. During the years 1956−1958 he did post-doctoral research
at the University of Münster
. From then until 1964 he was an assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Tübingen, where, after spending 1965 lecturing at the University of Michigan
in Ann Arbor, he gained his Habilitation
in 1966 analyzing the concept of truth
in Husserl and Heidegger.
Tugendhat became a professor at the University of Heidelberg
(1966−1975), but as a protest against the situation at German universities in the 1970s he gave up his position and relocated to Starnberg
, where Jürgen Habermas
was at the time. In 1980 he moved to Berlin
, becoming, like his friend Michael Theunissen, a Professor of Philosophy at the Free University of Berlin
. He was invited to give the 1988–89 John Locke lectures
at the University of Oxford
, but had to withdraw because of ill health.
Tugendhat retired in 1992, but was a visiting professor in philosophy at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago
(1992−1996), a researcher at the Institute for Human Sciences, Vienna
(1996), and visiting professor at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic
(1997−1998).
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
-born German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
philosopher. He was born in Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, to a wealthy Jewish family that commissioned Mies van der Rohe with the Villa Tugendhat
Villa Tugendhat
Villa Tugendhat is a historical building in Brno, Czech Republic. It is one of the pioneering prototypes of modern architecture in Europe, and was designed by the German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe...
in Brno. In 1938 the family emigrated from Czechoslovakia to St. Gallen
St. Gallen
St. Gallen is the capital of the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. It evolved from the hermitage of Saint Gall, founded in the 7th century. Today, it is a large urban agglomeration and represents the center of eastern Switzerland. The town mainly relies on the service sector for its economic...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, and in 1941 travelled on to settle in Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
.
Tugendhat studied classics at Stanford from 1944 to 1949, and went on to do graduate work in philosophy and classics at the University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
, receiving his doctorate
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
with a work on Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
in 1956. During the years 1956−1958 he did post-doctoral research
Postdoctoral researcher
Postdoctoral research is scholarly research conducted by a person who has recently completed doctoral studies, normally within the previous five years. It is intended to further deepen expertise in a specialist subject, including acquiring novel skills and methods...
at the University of Münster
University of Münster
The University of Münster is a public university located in the city of Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. The WWU is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, a society of Germany's leading research universities...
. From then until 1964 he was an assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Tübingen, where, after spending 1965 lecturing at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in Ann Arbor, he gained his Habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
in 1966 analyzing the concept of truth
Truth
Truth has a variety of meanings, such as the state of being in accord with fact or reality. It can also mean having fidelity to an original or to a standard or ideal. In a common usage, it also means constancy or sincerity in action or character...
in Husserl and Heidegger.
Tugendhat became a professor at the University of Heidelberg
Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg
The Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg is a public research university located in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Founded in 1386, it is the oldest university in Germany and was the third university established in the Holy Roman Empire. Heidelberg has been a coeducational institution...
(1966−1975), but as a protest against the situation at German universities in the 1970s he gave up his position and relocated to Starnberg
Starnberg
The city of Starnberg is in Bavaria, Germany, some 30 km south-west of Munich. It lies at the north end of Lake Starnberg, in the heart of the "Five Lakes Country", and serves as capital of the district of Starnberg...
, where Jürgen Habermas
Jürgen Habermas
Jürgen Habermas is a German sociologist and philosopher in the tradition of critical theory and pragmatism. He is perhaps best known for his theory on the concepts of 'communicative rationality' and the 'public sphere'...
was at the time. In 1980 he moved to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, becoming, like his friend Michael Theunissen, a Professor of Philosophy at the Free University of Berlin
Free University of Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin is one of the leading and most prestigious research universities in Germany and continental Europe. It distinguishes itself through its modern and international character. It is the largest of the four universities in Berlin. Research at the university is focused on the...
. He was invited to give the 1988–89 John Locke lectures
John Locke lectures
The John Locke Lectures are a series of annual lectures in philosophy given at the University of Oxford. They are one of the world's most prestigious academic lecture series, comparable to the Gifford Lectures given in Scottish universities...
at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, but had to withdraw because of ill health.
Tugendhat retired in 1992, but was a visiting professor in philosophy at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
(1992−1996), a researcher at the Institute for Human Sciences, Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
(1996), and visiting professor at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
(1997−1998).
By Tugendhat
- 1958: Ti kata tinos. Karl Alber, Freiburg. ISBN 3-495-48080-3
- 1970: "The Meaning of 'Bedeutung' in Frege" (Analysis 30, pp 177–189)
- 1975: Vorlesungen zur Einführung in die sprachanalytische Philosophie. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt am Main. ISBN 3-518-27645-X, In English: Traditional and analytical philosophy. Lectures on the philosophy of language. Transl. by P.A. Gorner. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1982.
- 1979: Selbstbewußtsein und Selbstbestimmung. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt. ISBN 3-518-27821-5, In English: Self-consciousness and self-determination. Transl. by Paul Stern. Cambridge, Mass./ London: MIT Press, 1986. (= Studies in contemporary German social thought.)
- 1984: Probleme der Ethik. Reclam, Stuttgart. ISBN 3-15-008250-1
- 1992: Philosophische Aufsätze. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt. ISBN 3-518-28617-X
- 1992: Ethics and Politics
- 1993: Vorlesungen über Ethik. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt. ISBN 3-518-28700-1
- 1995: "The Moral Dilemma in the Rescue of Refugees" (Social research 62:1)
- 2000: "Zeit und Sein in Heideggers Sein und Zeit" (Sats: Nordic Journal of Philosophy 1.1)
- 2003: Egozentrizität und Mystik. Eine anthropologische Studie. C. H. Beck. ISBN 978-3-406-51049-6
- 2007: Anthropologie statt Metaphysik. C. H. Beck. ISBN 978-3-406-55678-4
About Tugendhat
- Barth, Hans-Martin. "Egozentrizität, Mystik und christlicher Glaube: Eine Auseinandersetzung mit Ernst Tugendhat" (Neue Zeitschrift für Systematische Theologie und Religionsphilosophie 46:4 (2004), pp 467–482)
- Bowie, Andrew. "Ernst Tugendhat, Philosophische Aufsätze" (European Journal of Philosophy 2/3 (1994), pp 345–351)
- Zabala, Santiago, http://www.santiagozabala.com The Hermeneutic Nature of Analytic Philosophy. A Study of Ernst Tugendhat, New York: Columbia University Press, 2008.
