Gunnar Skirbekk

Gunnar Skirbekk
Born	(1937-04-11) April 11, 1937
Academic work

Gunnar Skirbekk (born 11 April 1937) is a Norwegian philosopher. He is professor emeritus at the Department of Philosophy and the Center for the Study of the Sciences and the Humanities, University of Bergen. He is a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters^[1] and the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters.

Academic career

Skirbekk studied at the University of Oslo 1957-59, in Paris 1960-61, and in Tübingen 1961-62. He was later a research assistant for Herbert Marcuse and Avrum Stroll at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) 1966-67; dr.philos. at the University of Bergen in 1970; research at UCSD 1979-80, 1983, and 1991.

He became an assistant teacher at the Department of Philosophy at the University of Bergen 1962. He was made associate professor in 1964, and then professor in the philosophy of the sciences and the humanities in 1979. He was made Professeur invité at the University of Nice in Sophia Antipolis in Spring 1997. In the Winter 2000-2001 he was Professor at the department of philosophy of Freie Universität Berlin. He was Advisory Professor at East China Normal University from 1998, and Fellow (Kurator) at the Hans Jonas Zentrum in Berlin from 1998. Founder of the Center for the Study of the Sciences and the Humanities (established 1987) at the University of Bergen, and director from 1987-1991, 1995–1997, and 2001-2003.

He received the Lauritz Meltzer Award for most outstanding research at the University of Bergen in the period 1990-1996. The Tønnes Andenæs Award, together with Nils Gilje, for Filosofihistorie 1-2 (A History of Western Thought), in 1999. Translated into more than 20 languages. In 2013 he received the Nynorsk User of the Year award.

Themes and projects

Existentialism: the problem of evil and a search for universally valid principles, in a post-WWII-setting. Nihilisme? Eit ungt menneskes forsøk på å orientere seg, 1958; Nihilism? A Young Man’s Search for Meaning, 1972. Literary essays in Ord, 1984, and Undringa, 2002.

Praxeology: case-oriented studies of what is necessarily (and most often ‘tacitly’) presupposed in basic human acts of different kinds; early Heidegger versus late Wittgenstein. Praxeology. An Anthology, ed./co-auth., 1983.

Theory of Truth: first, Heidegger’s theory of truth, in a critical analytic perspective, Dei filosofiske vilkår for sanning, 1966, Truth and Preconditions. An Interpretation of Heidegger’s Theory of Truth, 1970; later, by the pragmatic turn, focusing on arguments in public reasoning and self-reflection, both as to universality and contextuality (in between Apel, Habermas, and late Wittgenstein), e.g. Rationality and Modernity. Essays in Philosophical Pragmatics, 1993; Wahrheitstheorien, ed./co-auth., 1977; “Wahrheit und Begründung. Überlegungen zu epistemischen Begriffen und Praktiken“ in Reflexion und Verantwortung, co-ed./co-auth., 2003.

Transcendental Pragmatics, conceived melioristically, focusing on improvement, in critical self-reflection, public reasoning, and ‘thinking through examples’, e.g. by ‘arguments from absurdity’. Mutual learning-processes and mutual recognition as fallible and reasonable human beings, by discursive will-formation. E.g. Rationality and Modernity. Essays in Philosophical Pragmatics, 1993; Timely Thoughts. Modern Challenges and Philosophical Responses: Contributions to Inter-Cultural Dialogues, 2007; “On the Advantage and Disadvantage of Transcendental Pragmatics for Life. A historical perspective on the late Frankfurt School (Apel, Habermas, Wellmer)”, 2016.

Political theory: neo-marxism, alienation, critique of ideology, Nymarxisme og kritisk dialektikk, 1970; Er ideologiane døde? ed./co-auth., 1970. The notion of a Welfare State under difficult conditions, “The Idea of a Welfare State in a Future Scenario of Great Scarcity”, in The Rationality of the Welfare State, 1996: 28-54; updated version, Ideen om ein velferdsstat under vanskelege vilkår, 2015. The notion of citizenship in modern democracies haunted by multiple and complex crises. Personal autonomy (Mündigkeit) as a regulative idea. E.g. Krise og medansvar (Crisis and co-responsibility), 2016.

Eco-philosophy: Marxism and ecology, “Marxisme et écologie”, Esprit 11/1974, English version in The Greening of Marxism, 1996: 129-136. Science and ecology, “Technological expertise and global ethics in an age of scientization and ecological crisis”, Timely Thoughts, 2007. Capitalism and ecology, The Commercial Ark, co-ed./co-auth., 1992, The Notion of Sustainability, ed./co-auth., 1994, Økonomi, økologi, etikk, 1999. Ethical gradualism, in Deutsche Zeitschrift für Philosophie 31/1995; revised English version, “Ethical Gradualism, beyond Anthropocentrism and Biocentrism?” in Environment, Embodiment, and Gender, 2005: 149-177.

Philosophy of the sciences and the humanities: Objektivitetsproblemet i vitskapane, ed./co-auth., 1984. Vit og vitskap, 1998. Vitskapsteori – positive eller kritisk? 2004. “A crisis in the humanities?”, Timely Thoughts, 2007. At Senter for vitskapsteori (Center for the studies of the sciences and the humanities), when it was established at the University of Bergen in 1987, there was a research project (financed by the Norwegian Research Council) called “Modernitet – differensiering og rasjonalisering” (Modernity – differentiation and rationalization, in a Weberian sense). See next theme:

Theory of Modernization, conceived in terms of development of different scientific/scholarly and practice-based forms of rationality and ‘tacit knowing’ (not merely instrumental rationality, but also interpretive and argumentative rationality), historically situated in decisive actors, institutions, and collective experiences. A focus on general modernization processes, but also on special ones – e.g. in Scandinavia: Multiple Modernities. A Tale of Scandinavian Experiences, 2011 (Norwegian version Norsk og moderne, 2010). These countries are characterized by general trust, rule of law, and a general and generous welfare state – how come? (Cf Francis Fukuyama’s ideal: “getting to Denmark!”) Also, in a modern world: general pathologies and challenges; imbalance between institutions; imbalance between institutions and their cultural preconditions; globalized, technology-based capitalism, with ecological challenges, and mass migration. Also in Krise og medansvar, 2016.

History of Western Thought: A history of philosophy from ancient Greece to the twentieth century, with special emphasis on the history of the sciences and the humanities and on political thinking. English version, A History of Western Thought, 2000, together with Nils Gilje. Available in 17 languages. Norwegian original, Filosofihistorie, first version 1970, 8th edition 2007.

Freedom of expression: its justification and challenges, Vit og vitskap, 1998: 88-128. Member of the Norwegian commission for the revision of § 100 (on freedom of expression) in the Norwegian Constitution (1993-1996). Freedom of expression as a precondition for science and democracy, not merely a “western value”. E.g. “On the normative foundation of the freedom of expression: the same freedom for all expressions?” in I første, andre og tredje person. Festskrift for Audun Øfsti, 1999: 319-326. “Ytringsfridom i ei globalisert verd. Med striden om Muhammed-teikningane friskt i minne: korleis kan vi grunngje rettsprinsippet om ytringsfridom i eit globalisert verdssamfunn? ” Årbok for Det norske videnskaps-akademi 2007:266-282.

Critique of Religion: the problem of evil in monotheism (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) and its theological and practical implications (cf Nihilisme? 1958). The inherent need for an open and enlightened critique of religion. The need to avoid unintended blasphemy among strong believers without cultural enlightenment. E.g. Herausforderungen der Moderne aus wissenschaftsphilosophischer Sicht, 2012. Challenges caused by a politicization of religion, without the moderating virtues of cultural enlightenment (be it in the Middle East or the Mid-West); especially in cases of “half-modernization” in terms of modern weaponry and means of communication and premodern mentalities and actions (as in ISIL and Boko Haram). Krise og medansvar, 2016: 67-120.

Editorial and group positions

• Co-editor of Norsk filosofisk tidsskrift (Norwegian Philosophical Journal) 1979-1983
• Member of the editorial board of Praxis International 1980-1993, and of Social Science Studies 1988-1994
• Member of the Overseas Correspondence Board of Chinese Social Sciences Quarterly from 1994
• Member of the editorial board of Redescriptions, Yearbook of Political Thought and Conceptual History from 2004.
• Together with Jürgen Habermas, Hilary Putnam (died 2016) and Patrick Suppes, member of the advisory board of Philosophical Analysis (Shanghai) from 2010.
• Member of the board of Nordic institute of philosophy from 1981-1998.
• Member of the board of the Norwegian Research Council (Norges almenvitenskapelige forskningsråd) 1987-89.
• Member of the governmental Commission for the Freedom of Expression, 1996-1999.
• Norwegian coordinator of “Marco Polo” 1994-2005, a program of comparative studies of cultural modernization in Europe and East Asia, established in 1994, at the University of Bergen and East China Normal University in Shanghai.
• Member of the scientific committee of Noèsis from 2015.

Publications

• Nihilisme?, Oslo 1958 (third ed. 1998; Engl. ed. 1972, second ed. 1998). ISBN 978-8271300005
• Dei filosofiske vilkår for sanning. Ei tolking av Martin Heideggers sanningslære (The Philosophical Preconditions for Truth. An Interpretation of Martin Heidegger’s Theory of Truth), Oslo 1966 (second ed. Bergen 1999: Om sanninga sitt vesen).
• Er ideologiane døde? (Are Ideologies Dead?), ed. and co-author, Oslo 1969.
• Nymarxisme og kritisk dialektikk (Neomarxism and Critical Dialectics), Oslo 1970.
• Truth and Preconditions, Bergen 1970.
• Innføring i politisk teori (Introduction to Political Theory], Bergen 1970.
• Politisk filosofi (Political Philosophy), revised version of Innføring i politisk teori, Bergen 1972, 2nd ed. 1976.
• Økologi og filosofi (Ecology and Philosophy), Oslo 1972.
• Wahrheitstheorien: Eine Auswahl aus den Diskussionen über Wahrheit im 20. Jahrhundert , Frankfurt a. M. 1977, ed. and co-author. ISBN 978-3518078105
• Filosofihistorie (History of Philosophy), Bergen/Oslo 1980, revised version of Politisk filosofi. New editions 1987, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2007. From 1987, together with Nils Gilje; 2007 also with Anne Granberg, Cathrine Holst, and Rasmus Slaattelid. German edition 1993; Danish and Swedish editions 1995; Bokmål 1996; Icelandic edition 1999; Russian 2000; English 2001; Uzbek 2002 (new preface); Chinese 2004 (new postscript by Shijun Tong, revised and extended Chinese edition 2016); Tajik 2004 (new preface); Turkish 2004; Azeri and French (new preface by Jean-Luc Gautero) 2010; Arabic (new preface) 2012; Persian and Albanian forthcoming ; Korean 2016
• Praxeology: An Anthology. Oslo, 1983, ed. and co-author. ISBN 978-8200066590
• Ord: Essay i utval, Oslo 1984. ISBN 978-8252123746
• Manuscripts on Rationality, Bergen, 1984; revised and enlarged version Bergen 1992.
• Objektivitetsproblemet i vitskapane (Problem of Objectivity in Science), Bergen 1984, ed. and co-author.
• Til Djevelens forsvar og andre essays (In Defence of the Devil, and other essays), Bergen 1987.
• Die pragmatische Wende, Frankfurt a. M., 1987, co-ed. and co-author.
• Modernitet - rasjonalisering og differensiering (Modernity - Rationalization and Differentiation), Bergen 1988, ed. and co-author.
• Vernunft und Verantwortung, Bergen 1992. ISBN 978-8290477290
• Kulturell modernitet, vitskapleg rasjonalitet (Cultural Modernity and Scientific Rationality), Bergen, 1992. ISBN 978-8290477283
• Eco-philosophical Manuscripts, Bergen 1992. ISBN 978-8290477276
• The Commercial Ark. A Book on Ecology, Evolution and Ethics, co-ed. and co-author, Oslo 1992.
• Geschichte der Philosophie, Frankfurt a. M. 1993, together with Nils Gilje.
• Rationalité et Modernité, Paris 1993.
• Rationality and Modernity: Essays in Philosophical Pragmatics, Oslo/Oxford 1993. ISBN 978-8200217183
• The Notion of Sustainability, Oslo 1994, co-ed. and co-author.
• Philosophy Beyond Borders. An Anthology of Norwegian Philosophy, co-ed. and co-author, Bergen 1997; Chinese edition 1999, extended Chinese edition 2016.
• Vit og vitskap. Postmodernistisk ord-bok om modernitetens babelske forvirring (Wisdom and science. Postmodernist word-book on the great confusion of modernity), Bergen 1998.
• Une praxéologie de la modernité. Universalité et contextualité de la raison discursive, Paris 1999.
• Øko-etikk (Eco-Ethics), Bergen 1999.
• Føresetnader for ein god politisk kultur (Preconditions for a good political culture), Oslo, 2000.
• A History of Western Thought, co-written with Nils Gilje, London 2001. ISBN 978-0415220736
• Modernitetens makt og avmakt. Vitskapsteoretiske perspektiv på kunnskap og makt, Oslo 2002.
• On Pragmatics – Contributions to Current Debates, ed. and co-author, Bergen 2002.
• Undringa (Wonder), philosophical essays, Oslo 2002.
• Praxeologie der Moderne, Weilerswist 2002.
• Reflexion und Verantwortung. Auseinadersetzungen mit Karl-Otto Apel (Festschrift), co-ed. and co-author, Frankfurt a. M. 2003.
• Striden om sanningen (The Fight over Truth), ed., Gothenburg 2004.
• Den filosofiske uroa (The philosophical restlessness), Oslo 2005.
• Religion, Modernity, and Rationality, Bergen, 2006.
• Ludvig Holberg. Dobbeltmonarkiets kulturelle modernisator, Bergen 2006.
• Timely Thoughts, Lanham 2007; in Chinese, Shi Dai Zhi Si, Shanghai 2010. ISBN 978-0761837763
• Rasjonalitet og modernitet, Oslo 2009.
• Une histoire de la philosophie occidentale, together with Nils Gilje, Paris 2010.
• Norsk og moderne, Oslo 2010.
• Multiple Modernities. A Tale of Scandinavian Experiences, Hong Kong 2011; in Chinese 2013. ISBN 978-9629964870
• Herausforderungen der Moderne aus wissenschaftsphilosophischer Sicht, Berlin 2012.
• "if a lion could talk..." ("om ei løve kunne tale ..."), with Rasmus Slaattelid, illustrated by Ingri Egeberg, Bergen 2012.
• Notes in retrospect, Bergen 2013; in Chinese 2013.
• Krise og medansvar (Crisis and co-responsibility), Oslo 2016.
• Norvezhskiy mentalitet i modernost, Moscow 2017 (Russian translation of Norsk og moderne).

References

External links

• Homepage UoB: http://www.uib.no/personer/Gunnar.Skirbekk#
• Gunnar Skirbekk's Homepage

• Other activities: Homepage: Links: Search Cristin
• Extended CV: Homepage: Links: Gunnar Skirbekk - Notes in retrospect