13 SEPTEMBER 19 SEPTEMBER 2010

THE BUDAPEST TIMES

ungarian philosopher gnes

Heller is among this years
recipients of the Goethe
Medal, awarded by the Goethe
Institute in Weimar, Germany, on 28
August for outstanding service to the
German language and international
cultural relations. The prize was established in 1954.

in different ways. In Australia I taught

in the Department of Sociology, where
I had to become familiar with authors
previously unknown to me such as Max
Weber. That naturally changed me. I
also quickly developed a very good
circle of friends there. America was a
culture shock for me. Australia is more
like Great Britain, whereas in the USA
the people and their manners are
quite different. I found the civil
courage of the people, the way in
which private individuals influence
and participate regularly in public
affairs incredible. I havent found that
in either Australia or Europe. That is
why America has had a strong influence on me. At first it was very foreign
to me and then I grew to love it.

Doesnt that make philosophy your life

rather than your work?
For me its the same thing. That will
remain the case although I have
retired this year. I will continue to write
and sometimes teach as well if I feel
like it. Reading and writing is and
remains my passion.
Coming back to your biography: what was
your experience of the Second World War?

The Holocaust was the formative

event for me rather than the Second
World War in itself. When the
Germans entered Budapest on 19
March, 1944, I was convinced that I
was doomed to die. The question
wasnt whether they would kill me but
What was it like succeeding the influential when. On the day of the German
German Jewish political theorist Hannah invasion I told my parents that I
Arendt as professor in the US? Did that would go to the Vigad to hear
You were awarded the Goethe Medal in make it more difficult for you?
Stravinskys Firebird for the first time.
August for your lifes work. What does the
If I was going to die, then I wanted at
award mean to you?
least to go to a concert for the last
time. My father understood and let
America
I received the Goethe Medal for the
me go. I was 14 then. Then
was
a
culture
shock
for
me...
books with which I have
came 1948 and everyone
contributed to European
thought that we would have
I found the civil courage of the
culture rather than for my
and democracy.
people, the way in which private individ- freedom
entire lifes work. And of
That was how it looked at
uals influence and participate regularly in the start.
course I am delighted by it.
Those who claim that awards public affairs incredible. I havent found that in
are not important are sanctiWhat happened next?
either Australia or Europe. That is why
monious. My motivation to
work doesnt depend on such
In the Rkosi era between
America has had a strong influence on
prizes but it means a lot to me
1951 and 1952 people
me. At first it was very foreign to me
when I get recognition for my
learned to live in permanent
work. I am particularly happy about
fear without knowing why they
and then I grew to love it.
the Goethe Medal because since I was
were afraid. I no longer needed to
a child I have had a special relationbe afraid because I was a Jew but
ship with Goethe. My grandmother
simply because at any time I could be
was from Vienna and read Goethe Not at all. There are no hierarchies in denounced for my opinions. And then
every evening. She passed her love of philosophy. Everyone is themselves came the 1956 Uprising; the second
Goethe on to me. Somehow he is part and teaches what corresponds to their liberation and the feeling of being able
of my family background.
personality and way of thinking. I to change things. But that was an illuwouldnt compare myself with some- sion as it later became clear.
Your biography comes up repeatedly in your body else for a second and I think all
books. What has shaped you most?
philosophers take that view.
Who do you blame for the Holocaust?

Thats difficult to answer. It depends

on the perspective from which you
look at it. There are important political
episodes such as the Holocaust and the
1956 Revolution in Hungary, and then
there are important private events in
my life like meeting my two husbands
and the birth of my children, and there
are academic experiences such as the
discovery of the philosophy of history
and ethics. Important turning points
in my life were my move to Australia
and later to the USA. America in
particular was a big experience for me.
All my experiences have left traces not
only in me but of course in my books as
well. They have all shaped me.
Which country has influenced you more:
Australia or the US?
Both countries have influenced me but

Were there differences of opinion and philosophical debates between you on a professional level?
I see things quite similarly to Hannah
Arendt, perhaps because there are
always similarities in the way that
women think. There is always something that the personalities of female
philosophers have in common and
that was the case with Hannah Arendt
too. However we are very different in
our philosophical approaches.
You once said My work is my life. How do
you see that today as a retired person?
One of my lives is my work. I have
many lives, all of which have interruptions at times, whereas philosophy is
my only continuous life. Everything
else has changed.

BZT/Aaron Taylor

Philosophy, life
inseparable for
Goethe Medal
winner gnes
Heller

PEOPLE

The question is of what people are

capable of towards their fellow men

09

Biography
gnes Heller was born in 1929 to Jewish parents. Her father and many relatives were
victims of the Holocaust. She and her mother narrowly escaped deportation and
murder. Heller enrolled to read physics and chemistry in 1947 at university in
Budapest but changed to philosophy after hearing a lecture by Gyrgy Lukcs. She
was awarded her PhD by him in 1955 and became his assistant. Due to political
repression Heller emigrated to Australia in 1977, where she held a chair in sociology
at La Trobe University in Melbourne from 1978 to 1983. In 1986 she succeeded
Hannah Arendt as professor of philosophy at the New School for Social Research in
New York. Since becoming professor emerita, she has travelled between Budapest
and New York half-yearly.

You have experienced two dictatorships

I said even in 1945 that the
and a number of democracies
I think it is like an
Holocaust is not a German
during your life. What do you
epidemic.
There
are
five,
10,
50
or
question. The question is of
think of Hungarys situation
100 fanatical people who infect
what people are capable of
today?
towards their fellow men.
everyone
else
with
this
sickness.
From
that
It could happen in any
I find it sad, not the
country. I have never point on nobody thinks for themselves any victory of Fidesz itself but
blamed Germany, perhaps
what
they are doing with
longer. If I just think of the propaganda, I
also because I have a
it. Everything is based on
dont
think,
Hitler
thinks
for
me,
I
see
it
different connection to
symbolic politics and
Germany as a result of my
nationalism plays a big role.
as a psychological infection that
family history. Even at the age
Moreover they have no undercan take hold of anyone.
of 15 I asked myself what makes
standing of economics. They are
people become so inhuman that they
simply lacking rationality and an
are capable of such things. That quesawareness of what one can and
tion has occupied me my whole life.
who infect everyone else with this sick- cannot do. It is fortunate that the
ness. From that point on nobody government is limited in what it can
Have you found any answer to your ques- thinks for themselves any longer. If I do by the European Union because
tion?
just think of the propaganda, I dont Hungarys situation doesnt look
think, Hitler thinks for me, I see it as good.
I think it is like an epidemic. There are a psychological infection that can take
five, 10, 50 or 100 fanatical people hold of anyone.
Ines Gruber