Wolfgang Kuhlmann

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Wolfgang Kuhlmann
Kuhlmann in 2019
Born(1939-10-19)19 October 1939
Kiel, Germany
DiedAugust 2025
Education
EducationKiel University
Doctoral advisorKarl-Otto Apel
Philosophical work
Institutions

Wolfgang Kuhlmann (19 October 1939 – August 2025) was a German philosopher and representative of the discourse ethics. He was professor at the Goethe University, the University of Erfurt, and the RWTH Aachen University

Life and career

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Born in Kiel, Kuhlmann studied German, Greek and philosophy.[1] He received his doctorate in from the Kiel University in 1974, where he had studied with Karl-Otto Apel.[1] He was a colleague of Peter Rohs. Grundmann followed Apel to the Goethe University in Frankfurt where he worked as lecturer in philosophy.[1] With Apel, Jürgen Habermas and others, he focused on Transzendentalpragmatik (transcendental pragmatism), an influential school in the late 20th century, departing from thoughts of Kant and connecting them to influences from American pragmatists such as Charles Sanders Peirce and Wittgenstein.[1] Kuhlmann wrote his habilitation, entitled Reflexive Letztbegründung (Reflexive ultimate justification), in 1985, arguing that a rational actor in a communication relies on an implicit knowledge of the rules of reasonable communication which can be uncovered by "strict reflection".[1]

From 1985 to 1992 Kuhlmann was managing director and editor of the publication series in the Forum für Philosophie [de] in Bad Homburg, an institution aiming at more influence of philosophical aspects in politics and economy.[1] In the context of this activity he collaborated with Eberhard Schnelle [de] from 1987 to 1991. In 1989 Kuhlmann became full professor at the University of Frankfurt, from 1992 professor at the University of Erfurt, and from 1993 to 2005 professor at the RWTH Aachen University.[1][2]

In his philosophy, Kuhlmann affirmed the possibility of ultimate justification [de] and took a universalist position. He claimed an ultimate justification especially for discourse ethics in the sense of Apel.[1][2]

Kuhlmann died in Wuppertal in August 2025, at the age of 85.[1]

Work

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  • Reflexion und kommunikative Erfahrung.[3] Suhrkamp Verlag, Frankfurt 1975. ISBN 978-3-518-57440-9
  • Reflexive Letztbegründung. Untersuchungen zur Transzendentalpragmatik.[4] Alber Verlag, Freiburg/Munich 1985. ISBN 978-3-495-47568-3
  • Kant und die Transzendentalpragmatik.[5] Verlag Königshausen & Neumann, Würzburg 1992. ISBN 978-3-8847-9645-0
  • Sprachphilosophie, Hermeneutik, Ethik. Studien zur Transzendentalpragmatik.[6] Verlag Königshausen & Neumann, Würzburg 1992.
  • Moralität und Sittlichkeit. Suhrkamp Verlag, Frankfurt, 1986. ISBN 978-3-8847-9646-7
  • Beiträge zur Diskursethik. Studien zur Transzendentalpragmatik.[7] Verlag Königshausen & Neumann, Würzburg 2007. ISBN 978-3-8260-3321-6
  • Unhintergehbarkeit. Studien zur Transzendentalpragmatik.[8] Verlag Königshausen & Neumann, Würzburg 2010. ISBN 978-3-8260-4045-0

Further reading

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  • Wulf Kellerwessel among others (ed.): Diskurs und Reflexion: Wolfgang Kuhlmann zum 65. Geburtstag.[9] Verlag Königshausen & Neumann, Würzburg 2005. ISBN 978-3-8260-3149-6

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Grundmann, Thomas (21 August 2025). "Zum Tod von Wolfgang Kuhlmann – Selbstbestimmtheit als Ideal". Frankfurter Rundschau (in German). Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b Grundmann, Thomas (21 August 2025). "Zum Tod von Wolfgang Kuhlmann: Meister der Transzendentalpragmatik". FAZ.NET (in German). Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  3. ^ Reflexionen und kommunikative Erfahrung on GoogleBooks
  4. ^ Reflexive Letztbegründung on GoogleBooks
  5. ^ Kant und die Transzendentalpragmatik on GoogleBooks
  6. ^ Sprachphilosophie, Hermeneutik, Ethik. Studien zur Transzendentalpragmatik. on GoogleBooks
  7. ^ OCLC 77548416
  8. ^ OCLC 540980901
  9. ^ OCLC 181461480
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