CHB director János Can Togay said seminars on Hamvas?s work, of which little has yet been published in German, were held regularly at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz. He added that Stephan Grätzel, who heads the university?s philosophy department, had strived to include Hamvas in the canon of philosophers taught in Germany.
The inclusion of Hamvas?s work in the syllabi of German universities would do much to broaden the philosopher?s exposure abroad, Can Togay said.
He noted plans for the establishment of a research position at the university focusing on Hamvas?s oeuvre. About three-fourths of the resources for the position have been secured, and the remaining fourth ? some 20,000 euro ? could come from sources in Hungary, he said. The CHB is searching for sponsors at the moment, he added.
Peter Sloterdijk, one of the best known contemporary German philosophers, who was introduced to Hamvas?s work by the literary historian László F. Földényi, called the Hungarian philosopher a ?metaphysical martyr?.
Hamvas was a prolific writer, essayists and translator. He was banned from publishing under the communists but still wrote while working menial jobs.
The CHB launched a series of programmes called Preparing for Béla Hamvas in 2010. It organised a symposium on Hamvas?s work in the spring or 2011.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
