On September 10, Professor Radim Palouš, the first Rector of Charles University after the Velvet Revolution, passed away before his 91st birthday. He took a major part in taking our alma mater back into the family of the world universities, being the Rector from January 1990 till February 1994.
The last farewell to Professor Radim Palouš will take place on September 18, 2015, at 11 AM, in the Church of the Holy Savior (Křižovnické Square, Prague 1). The condolences can be expressed by signing the condolence book between September 15 and 18 in the Carolinum, Ovocný trh 3, Prague 1, every workday from 8 AM till 6 PM.
Prof. PhDr. Radim Palouš, dr. h. c. mult.
Professor PhDr. Radim Palouš, dr. h. c. mult., (November 6, 1924 – September 10, 2015) graduated from the Faculty of Arts, Charles University, majoring in philosophy with Professor Jan Patočka. In 1948 he completed his dissertation thesis on “Masaryk’s Political Youth”. He also graduated from the Faculty of Science at the University of Education, majoring in chemistry. After graduation, he taught at a high school, and in 1957 won a contest for an assistant in analytic chemistry. In the more liberal climate of the 1960s, he could get back to philosophy. He was appointed Associate Professor in 1967 (thesis: School in the Modern Age) and then Professor in 1990.
He took part in, and even organized, illegal philosophical seminars, and edited samizdat books (such as New Ways of Thinking). He also became one of the first people to sign Charter 77, and was its spokesman in 1982 to 1983. In 1989, he was one of the organizers of the Velvet Revolution, and co-founder of the Civic Forum. In 1990 to 2004, he was a member of Pontifical Council for Culture.
Professor Radim Palouš was Doctor honoris causa at many European universities (Krakow 1991, Lichtenstein 1991, York 1992, Edinburgh 1993), in the U.S. (Pittsburg 1990, Omaha 1990, Bethlehem 1992) and Asia (Soul 1993). He also won many awards, such as the Czech Academy of Science Award, International Scheidegger Price, or the Gold Medal of Charles University. In 1997, he was awarded with T. G. Masaryk Order by the President of the Czech Republic.
He published over 300 works: the books included The School of the Old Age, Time for Education, Age of the World, Letters to the Godson, The Czech Experience, Persona and Communication, Totalitarianism and Holism, Ars Docendi, etc.
