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Romo Magnis receives philosopher award from Gadjah Mada University
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Head of the Driyakara Jakarta School of Philosophy, Simon Petrus Lili Tjahjadi (right), accepts the Outstanding Indonesian Philosopher 2017 award on behalf of Franz Magnis-Suseno. (Gajah Mada University/File)
C
atholic priest Franz Magnis-Suseno has been named Outstanding Indonesian Philosopher 2017 by the philosophy department of Gajah Mada University.
The award was given to celebrate the professor’s contribution and dedication to the study of philosophy in Indonesia.
Due to Franz’s illness, the award was received by head of the Driyakara Jakarta School of Philosophy, Simon Petrus Lili Tjahjadi, in a ceremony held on Saturday.
The school’s dean, Arqom Kuswanjono, explained that the award intended to acknowledge Franz’s status as a philosopher. Despite the lack of criteria or measurement of what constitutes as a philosopher, Franz is deemed worthy of the status based on his works and influence in Indonesia’s philosophical studies, he added.
Read also: Romo Magnis receives award in Milan for interfaith role
Franz is a professor at the Driyakara Jakarta School of Philosophy, whose books in philosophy and ethics have become a must-read for Indonesian philosophy students. Born into a Germany aristocratic family, he was named Franz Graf von Magnis before he became an Indonesian citizen.
In a scientific speech titled “Philosophy as A Questioning Study,” read by Simon, the pluralism icon states that “philosophy is a key element in honing and refreshing a nation’s intellect. Philosophy is not everything, but without philosophy, the realm of intellect would become plain, dogmatic, and barren.”
A noted pluralist activist, Franz also emphasizes the significance of intellectual support, particularly regarding political ethics in the nation’s development. Some key issues he has highlighted are the positions of religion, freedom of religion, social justice and the nation’s solidarity within a country’s weakest citizens. (asw)
