Jeanne Hersch: A philosophy for freedom and human rights

Jeanne Hersch: A philosophy for freedom and human rights

Jeanne Hersch was born in Geneva on July 13, 1910, an important Swiss philosopher whose profound ideas and political commitments make her voice heard in today's society. Today her legacy is honored in a program in which Irene Dähner-Vanotti reports on the diverse connections between Hersch and the Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann. Hersch grew up in an intellectually nurturing environment; her father, Pesach Liebman Hersch, was a professor of statistics at the University of Geneva.

Her academic journey took her not only to her hometown, but also to Heidelberg and Freiburg, where she came into contact with major schools of thought. Among the influential figures were Karl Jaspers and Martin Heidegger, and she was particularly fascinated by Jasper's existential philosophy. But the experience of a crowd paying homage to Nazi greats in front of Heidegger made her discover a philosophy of freedom, justice and human rights. These events shaped her political beliefs and led her to become involved as a young woman in the Social Democratic Party.

Influential encounters and intellectual roots

In Freiburg, Hersch was part of a group of Jewish students influenced by Heidegger, which also included important thinkers such as Hannah Arendt and Emmanuel Levinas. Nevertheless, she decided to leave Freiburg in 1933 to escape Heidegger's negative role as rector during the rise of National Socialism. This decision reflects her moral compass and commitment to the philosophy that puts human rights at its core.

After the Second World War, Hersch became professor of systematic philosophy in Geneva in 1956 and took over the presidency of the philosophy section of UNESCO in Paris from 1966 to 1968. Her academic work and her translations of Jaspers' texts into French contributed to her high reputation in Switzerland. She also has a turbulent relationship with the Social Democratic Party, from which she withdrew in 1992 after the party decided to legalize drugs.

A legacy for the future

Jeanne Hersch was a committed intellectual and critical voice in the 1968 student movement, which called for a clear distancing from Soviet communism. Her philosophical writings, such as "Penser dans le temps" (1977) and "Éclairer l'obscur. Entretiens avec Gabrielle et A. Dufour" (1986), represent significant contributions to contemporary philosophy and are rooted in Jewish ethics. Their engagement with ethical issues remains an important part of the discussion about freedom and human rights.

The recommunication of her philosophy by modern voices such as Winfried Kretschmann shows that Hersch's influence on today's society remains strong, even decades after her death in 2000. Hersch's thoughts and her tremendous commitment provide food for thought on how freedom and justice should be shaped in today's world. Provides further details about her life and work Encyclopedia.com, while WDR reflecting on their connections to current political figures.