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Heller was awarded the prize ?for the fearlessness with which she followed her own convictions under changing regimes for her whole life?, the jury said. ?As a European and cosmopolitan thinking intellectual, she offers an impressive example in a frightened Europe,? they added.
Ágnes Heller studied physics in Budapest, but switched to philosophy, influenced by György Lukács, and became the philosopher?s assistant. Critical of the Communist Party, Heller left Hungary in 1977 and immigrated to Australia. Later she headed the philosophy department at the New School for Social Research in New York.
Heller will be presented the prize, which comes with a 10,000 euro purse, at a ceremony on May 4.
The Carl von Ossietzky Prize for contemporary history and politics is awarded by the city of Oldenburg every two years for individual works, complete works or individuals which or who deal in an outstanding manner with the life and work of Carl von Ossietzky or the resistance against national socialism.
The prize can also be awarded to works or persons focusing on democratic tradition and democracy in Germany today as well as political and contemporary historical topics in the spirit of Carl von Ossietzky.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
