Polish philosopher Leszek Kolakowski dies aged 81
AFP
WARSAW - Esteemed Polish philosopher Leszek Kolakowski died Friday in the English university town of Oxford, the Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper said on its website. He was 81.
Born October 23, 1927 in Radom, central Poland, Kolakowski was regarded as a leading 20th century philosopher and historian of ideas, known for his critical analysis of Marxism and post-Marxism.
He earned his doctorate at Warsaw University, but was dismissed from his professorial post in 1968 by the then communist regime in Poland for supporting a student revolt.
In 1970 he was elected to a senior research fellowship at All Souls College, Oxford, where he worked until his retirement in 1995. He also taught at several US universities including Yale and the University of California at Berkeley.
Kolakowski published over 400 books and essays during the course of his career that were translated into several languages.
His work was recognised by numerous awards including the Jerusalem Prize for the Freedom of the Individual in Society in 1977. The biennial prize recognises writers dealing with human freedom, society, politics and government.
News of Kolakowski's passing was marked by a minute's silence in the lower house of the Polish parliament on Friday evening.
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