The philosopher Jürgen Habermas (93) has been inducted into the Order Pour le mérite. During a ceremony on Sunday in the Konzerthaus Berlin, the British architect David Chipperfield (69), the physicist Stefan Hell (60) and the conductor Peter Gülke (89) also became members of the association of artists and scholars.
The Swiss oboist Heinz Holliger (84) and the American anthropologist Michael Tomasello (73), who have not yet been officially introduced due to the corona virus, are now also there. During their annual meeting, the members also agreed on four new people to join the circle in the coming year. The names will only be communicated at the time of admission.
At a reception on Saturday evening, Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth emphasized that the order Pour le mérite (French: for merit) was awarded solely by the members. At the same time, in view of the six new men in the order, she pointed out “that there are also many, many wonderful, clever, creative women”. “The Order, whose strength lies in diversity, could also continue to renew itself in diversity in this direction.”
Roth emphasized freedom values. “Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of art, freedom of science, a freedom that protects minority rights, that wants to grant cultural and sexual self-determination.” In addition, the culture of democracy encompasses a concept of freedom “which also includes the preservation of our livelihoods and the freedom of future generations at all.”
People are accepted into the order who, from the members’ point of view, have made merits in science and the arts. The association currently includes up to 40 personalities from Germany and abroad.
