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Ernst-Wolfgang Böckenförde

エルンスト＝ヴォルフガング・ベッケンフェルデ

Ernst-Wolfgang Boeckenfoerde

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1930-09-19 （Kassel, Prussia, Germany）
Died
2019-02-24 （Au (Schwarzwald), Baden-Württemberg, Germany） age 88
Nationality
Germany
Languages
German
Religion
Catholicism
Residence History
Kassel (birthplace) → Münster (studies) → Heidelberg (professorship) → Bielefeld (professorship) → Freiburg (final residence and professorship) → Au (Schwarzwald, place of death)

Career

Occupations
legal scholar, constitutional scholar, judge, university professor, author
Active Years
1956-2019
Affiliations
University of Heidelberg, University of Bielefeld, University of Freiburg, Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht)
Memberships
Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), Bensberger Kreis (circle of Catholic intellectuals), Central Committee of German Catholics (served as counsel)

Education

University of Münster
Faculty of Law / Law
Degree: PhD (Dr. jur.)
Period: 1950s
Year of Graduation: 1956
Country: Germany
Doctorate in law (supervised by Hans Julius Wolff)
University of Munich (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München)
Faculty of Humanities (History) / History
Degree: PhD (Dr. phil.)
Period: 1950s–1960
Year of Graduation: 1960
Country: Germany
Doctorate in history (supervised by Franz Schnabel)
(Habilitation) various/unlisted institution
Degree: Habilitation (法学・憲法史)
Period: 1964
Year of Graduation: 1964
Country: Germany
Habilitation on the power of organization in constitutional law

Awards

Romano Guardini Award
2004
Organization: Catholic Academy in Bavaria
Result: 受賞
Hannah Arendt Prize (for Political Thought)
2004
Organization: Heinrich Böll Foundation (awarding body)
Result: 受賞
Sigmund Freud Prize (for scholarly prose)
2012
Organization: Deutsche Akademie für Sprache und Dichtung
Result: 受賞
Grand Cross of Merit (Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany)
2016
Organization: Federal Republic of Germany
Result: 受賞
Reuchlin Award (for humanities)
1978
Organization: City of Pforzheim
Result: 受賞
Honorary doctorate (University of Bochum)
1999
Category: 名誉学位
Organization: University of Bochum
Result: 授与
Honorary doctorate (Bielefeld University)
1999
Category: 名誉学位
Organization: Bielefeld University
Result: 授与
Honorary doctorate (University of Münster)
2001
Category: 名誉学位
Organization: University of Münster
Result: 授与
Honorary doctorate (University of Basel)
1987
Category: 名誉学位
Organization: University of Basel
Result: 授与

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

State, Society, and Liberty: Studies in Political Theory and Constitutional Law

1991 political theory / constitutional law

A collection of essays on political theory and constitutional law addressing the relationships between state, society and liberty, and examining the premises of a secular liberal state.

libertylawstatesecularity and religion
Translations
  • English translation (published by Berg, New York, 1991)

Constitutional and Political Theory: Selected Writings

2017 selected writings / essays

An edited selection of Böckenförde's major essays on constitutional and political theory, assembled posthumously.

constitutional theorypolitical philosophy

Religion, Law, and Democracy: Selected Writings

2021 selected writings

A collection exploring the relationship between religion, law and democracy, addressing the foundations of a secular state and the role of religious values.

religion and the statephilosophy of lawdemocracy

Bibliography

  • State, Society, and Liberty (English translation, 1991)
  • The Concept of the Political (essay)
  • Over 20 books and more than 80 articles on legal, constitutional and political theory

Style & Themes

Literary Style
scholarly, logical and clear proselegal arguments incorporating philosophical and theological perspectives
Recurring Motifs
liberty and its social foundationsrelationship between a secular state and religionconstitutional order and political values

Legacy

One of Germany's leading constitutional scholars and political thinkers. Known for the 'Böckenförde dilemma', he influenced debates on law, religion and democracy and received numerous honors for his academic and public contributions.

Academic Societies

  • Bensberger Kreis (associated)
  • Deutsche Akademie für Sprache und Dichtung (associated / awarding body)

Archives

  • Archives of the Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht)
  • University of Freiburg archives

Quotes

  • The liberal secular state lives on premises that it cannot itself guarantee.
    Source: 1964 article (the so‑called 'Böckenförde dilemma') (1964)

Trivia

  • A sentence from his 1964 article became widely discussed as the 'Böckenförde dilemma'.
  • Served on the second senate of the Federal Constitutional Court from 1983 to 1996.
  • Authored more than 20 books and over 80 articles during his career.