Philosopher and professor Pere Lluís Font, new Premi d'Honor de les Lletres Catalanes
UAB Philosophy Professor Pere Lluís Font, philosopher, theologian and translator, has received the Premi d’Honor de les Lletres Catalanes, awarded by the cultural association Òmnium. It is the first time that a thinker in the field of philosophy is awarded this distinction.
He was professor of history of modern philosophy and philosophy of religion at the UAB since its founding in 1968, and was the first coordinator of the Department of Philosophy. He retired in 2004.
Established by Òmnium Cultural in 1969, the Premi d’Honor de les Lletres Catalanes recognises the career of a person whose literary or scientific work, written in Catalan, and the importance and exemplary nature of his or her intellectual work, has made a notable and continuous contribution to Catalan cultural life. The jury has distinguished retired UAB professor Pere Lluís Font “for his contribution in the field of philosophy in the Catalan language and because in the field of translation he has brought to our language the most important philosophy of European scope.”
Professor Pere Lluís Font, born in Pujalt (Pallars Sobirà) in 1934, and who will turn 91 years old next May, was professor of history of modern philosophy and philosophy of religion at the UAB since its founding in 1968, and was the first coordinator of the Department of Philosophy and vice-rector of Studies. With a French university background in philosophy and theology, you can read here the inaugural lecture he gave for the 2009/10 academic year at the UAB.
It is the first time that a thinker in the field of philosophy is awarded the Premi d’Honor de les Lletres Catalanes. The president of Òmnium, Xavier Antich, defined Pere Lluís Font “as one of the great wise humanists that the country has, defender and disseminator of the Catalan language through a literary and philosophical corpus of incalculable value, a teacher of philosophers”.
In the academic field, he has contributed to the philosophical teaching in Catalan for the new generations and created a philosophical language in Catalan with his humanism and committed and active public spirit. He brought Catalan readers closer to the figure of Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), one of the great figures of 17th century thought, through two volumes published by the Adesiara publishing house.
The award ceremony will be held on 2 June at the Palau de la Música Catalana.