(December 22nd) Presentation: Max Weber, Georg Lukács, Jürgen Habermas and Modern Society

Max Weber (1864-1920), Georg Lukács (1885-1971), and Jürgen Habermas (1929) can be considered three representative figures in interpreting the history of the emergence, characteristics, and prospects of Western modernization, and, in general, of modern society. Around central concepts such as "rationalization," "de-illusionization" (Max Weber), totality (Hegel), "alienation" (Marx), etc., we find here paradigms of thought that both incorporate each other and differ in some aspects. While Max Weber had a pessimistic prediction about the loss of individual freedom, and G. Lukács still placed hope in an "objective reason" expressed in the consciousness of the historical subject (the proletariat), Habermas sought to realize reason in "communication" and "civil society." What lessons can our society learn from these observations?

This was the main topic of the scientific presentation entitled "Max Weber, Georg Lukács, Jürgen Habermas and Modern Society," co-organized by Tri Thuc Publishing House, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, and the Phan Chau Trinh Cultural Foundation. In addition to the presentation by...Speaker - researcher Bui Van Nam SonThe program also provides a space for experts, lecturers, and students in the social sciences and humanities to discuss ideological issues of modern society.

Time9:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Tuesday, December 22, 2009.

LocationAuditorium, 8th Floor, Building E, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, 336 Nguyen Trai Street, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi.

I. Speaker Information

• Full name: Bui Van Nam Son
• Born in 1947 in Vinh Trinh, Duy Xuyen, Quang Nam.
• 1964-1968: Studied philosophy in Saigon
• 1969-1979: Studied philosophy in the Federal Republic of Germany
• Professional activities (from 1976-1992): “Scientific collaborator” (Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter) for research projects:
  + History of Spinozaism (Professor Norbert Altwicker)
  + The semiotics and transcendental philosophy of Charles S. Peirce (Professor Karl Otto Apel)
  + Reconstructing a theory of the types of reason (Professor Herbert Schnädelbach / Jürgen Habermas)
• Since 1992: I have translated and annotated several philosophical works (Kant, Hegel, etc.) into Vietnamese and collaborated with the "Essence of Literature Book Series" of Tri Thuc Publishing House and the Phan Chau Trinh Cultural Foundation.

II. Information about the participating organizations

University of Social Sciences and HumanitiesHanoi National University: As a leading, prestigious university with a long tradition, its mission is to be at the forefront of creating and disseminating knowledge and training high-quality human resources in social sciences and humanities to serve the cause of national construction and development. The university's development orientation is: Focusing on building and developing several disciplines and specializations to international standards by internationalizing training programs, promoting academic activities, and expanding cooperation with top-tier universities in the region and around the world.

Phan Chau Trinh Cultural FoundationThe Phan Chu Trinh Translation Foundation, formerly known as the Phan Chu Trinh Translation Foundation, was established in January 2007. The renaming to the Phan Chau Trinh Cultural Foundation in 2008 marked an expansion of the Foundation's activities. Besides sponsoring and supporting the translation of works under the "World's Intellectual Heritage" project, the Foundation will undertake many other cultural activities, particularly encouraging and honoring outstanding cultural research works; organizing training and disseminating Vietnamese and world cultural values. Since 2008, in addition to the "International Educational Excellence" award, the Foundation has also awarded two other prizes: the "Vietnamese Studies" award and the "Research" award.

Knowledge Publishing HouseEstablished in September 2005 and under the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, Tri Thuc Publishing House is a leading unit in initiating and systematically organizing the translation and publication of masterpieces of human knowledge. With the motto: "Providing the most important foundational knowledge in the treasury of human knowledge [...]", Tri Thuc Publishing House is not only a reference publisher in disseminating major intellectual trends, both classical and modern, but also a reputable forum and address for Vietnamese scholars, researchers, students, and readers worldwide.