Wolfgang Kuhlmann
Wolfgang Kuhlmann was a German philosopher and representative of discourse ethics. He was a professor at the Goethe University, the University of Erfurt, and the RWTH Aachen University.
Life and career
Born in Kiel in 1939, Kuhlmann studied German, Greek and philosophy. He received his doctorate from Kiel University in 1974, where he had studied with Karl-Otto Apel and was a colleague of Peter Rohs. Kuhlmann followed Apel to Goethe University in Frankfurt, where he worked as lecturer in philosophy. With Apel, Jürgen Habermas and others, he focused on Transzendentalpragmatik, an influential school in the late 20th century, departing from thoughts of Kant and connecting them to influences from American pragmatists such as Charles Sanders Peirce and Wittgenstein. Kuhlmann wrote his habilitation, titled Reflexive Letztbegründung, in 1985, arguing that a rational actor in a communication relies on an implicit knowledge of the rules of reasonable communication which can be uncovered by "strict reflection".From 1985 to 1992 Kuhlmann was managing director and editor of the publication series in the in Bad Homburg, an institution aiming at more influence of philosophical aspects in politics and economy. In the context of this activity he collaborated with from 1987 to 1991. In 1989 Kuhlmann became full professor at the University of Frankfurt, from 1992 professor at the University of Erfurt, and from 1993 to 2005 professor at the RWTH Aachen University.
In his philosophy, Kuhlmann affirmed the possibility of and took a universalist position. He claimed an ultimate justification especially for discourse ethics in the sense of Apel.
Kuhlmann died in Wuppertal in August 2025, at the age of 85.