Andrei Plesu
Encyclopedia
Andrei Gabriel Pleşu is a Romania
n philosopher, essayist, journalist, literary and art critic, and politician.
, the son of Radu Pleşu, a surgeon
and Zoe Pleşu (born Rădulescu), he spent much of his early youth in the country side. He started school in Sinaia
, but attended the village school in Pârscov, in the Nehoi valley from 1955 to 1957, and often returned to the mountains during school holidays. Plesu attended the Spiru Haret National College in Bucharest majoring in humanities
, where he graduated at the top of his class.
Pleşu studied art history at the University of Bucharest
and graduated with his bachelor's
in 1971. That year, he accepted a post as a researcher at the Institute of Art History of the Romanian Academy
. In 1972 he married Catrinel Maria Petrulian. For 1975–1977 he received the first of his Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
graduate scholarships to study in Bonn
and Heidelberg
. From 1978 through 1982, along with Gabriel Liiceanu
, he attended Constantin Noica
's informal and semi-clandestine lectures in Păltiniş
. In 1980 he became a faculty lecturer in the Art department at the University of Bucharest. However in 1982 he was barred from further university teaching for "political reasons", and took a job as a consultant for the Artists
Union. He received his second Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for 1983–1984, and upon his return again worked at the Institute of Art History.
In April 1989, Pleşu lost his job at the Institute of Art History due to his open support of Mircea Dinescu
, objected to by the communist regime
. This resulted in his exile to Tescani, a village in Bereşti-Tazlău
commune, Bacău County
, and he was forbidden from publishing. After the Romanian Revolution of 1989
he was one of the founders of the "New Europe College" an institute of advanced studies, and of the cultural magazine Dilema
(now Dilema Veche). He worked as a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bucharest and is now a professor at the University of Bucharest, where he teaches history of arts and philosophy of religion. He continues to be successful as a writer, and his books have all been well received by critics and readers.
He also became involved in politics, serving as Romania's Minister of Culture from 1990 to 1991, and Foreign Minister from 1997 to 1999. Between 2000 and 2004, Pleşu was a member of the National College for the Study of the Securitate
Archives; he resigned the latter office in protest against political pressures on the committee. After the 2004 elections
brought Traian Băsescu
to the office of President of Romania
, he became presidential counsellor for external affairs, a position he held until June 2005, when he resigned invoking health issues.
Two volumes were published in 2009, honoring Pleşu, both edited by Mihail Neamtu and Bogdan Tataru-Cazaban. The first was O Filozofie a Intervalului: In Honorem Andrei Pleşu (A Philosophical Interval: In Honor of Andrei Plesu) entirely in Romanian, and the second was an international Festschrift
in honor of Plesu's sixtieth birthday, with essays exploring the themes of his life in current context.
and philosophy. His exuberant writing style gained him recognition as one of the leading Romanian essayists of his age.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n philosopher, essayist, journalist, literary and art critic, and politician.
Biography
Born in BucharestBucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, the son of Radu Pleşu, a surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
and Zoe Pleşu (born Rădulescu), he spent much of his early youth in the country side. He started school in Sinaia
Sinaia
Sinaia is a town and a mountain resort in Prahova County, Romania. The town was named after Sinaia Monastery, around which it was built; the monastery in turn is named after the Biblical Mount Sinai...
, but attended the village school in Pârscov, in the Nehoi valley from 1955 to 1957, and often returned to the mountains during school holidays. Plesu attended the Spiru Haret National College in Bucharest majoring in humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
, where he graduated at the top of his class.
Pleşu studied art history at the University of Bucharest
University of Bucharest
The University of Bucharest , in Romania, is a university founded in 1864 by decree of Prince Alexander John Cuza to convert the former Saint Sava Academy into the current University of Bucharest.-Presentation:...
and graduated with his bachelor's
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1971. That year, he accepted a post as a researcher at the Institute of Art History of the Romanian Academy
Romanian Academy
The Romanian Academy is a cultural forum founded in Bucharest, Romania, in 1866. It covers the scientific, artistic and literary domains. The academy has 181 acting members who are elected for life....
. In 1972 he married Catrinel Maria Petrulian. For 1975–1977 he received the first of his Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is a foundation set-up by the government of the Federal Republic and funded by the German Foreign Office, the Ministry of Education and Research, the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development and others for the promotion of international co-operation...
graduate scholarships to study in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
and Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
. From 1978 through 1982, along with Gabriel Liiceanu
Gabriel Liiceanu
Gabriel Liiceanu is a Romanian philosopher.He graduated from University of Bucharest's Faculty of Philosophy in 1965, and from Faculty of Classical Languages in 1973. He earned a doctorate in philosophy at the University of Bucharest in 1976....
, he attended Constantin Noica
Constantin Noica
Constantin Noica was a Romanian philosopher, essayist and poet. His preoccupations were throughout all philosophy, from epistemology, philosophy of culture, axiology and philosophic anthropology to ontology and logics, from the history of philosophy to systematic philosophy, from ancient to...
's informal and semi-clandestine lectures in Păltiniş
Paltinis
Păltiniş is a mountain resort in Transylvania, Romania, 35 km south-west from Sibiu in the Cindrel Mountains.It is situated at 1440 m altitude, being the highest resort in Romania. It lies in a conifer forest. It is a popular winter destination and in summer it is sought for its peacefulness...
. In 1980 he became a faculty lecturer in the Art department at the University of Bucharest. However in 1982 he was barred from further university teaching for "political reasons", and took a job as a consultant for the Artists
Union. He received his second Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for 1983–1984, and upon his return again worked at the Institute of Art History.
In April 1989, Pleşu lost his job at the Institute of Art History due to his open support of Mircea Dinescu
Mircea Dinescu
Mircea Dinescu is a Romanian poet, journalist and editor.He was born in Slobozia, the son of Ştefan Dinescu, a metalworker and Aurelia . Dinescu studied at the Faculty of Journalism of the Ştefan Gheorghiu Academy, and was considered a gifted young poet during his youth, with several poetry...
, objected to by the communist regime
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
. This resulted in his exile to Tescani, a village in Bereşti-Tazlău
Beresti-Tazlau
Bereşti-Tazlău is a commune in Bacău County, Romania. It is composed of seven villages: Bereşti-Tazlău, Boşoteni, Enăcheşti, Prisaca, Româneşti, Tescani and Turluianu....
commune, Bacău County
Bacau County
Bacău is a county of Romania, in Moldavia, with its capital city at Bacău. It has one commune, Ghimeş-Făget, in Transylvania.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 706,623 and the population density was 113/km²....
, and he was forbidden from publishing. After the Romanian Revolution of 1989
Romanian Revolution of 1989
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a series of riots and clashes in December 1989. These were part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several Warsaw Pact countries...
he was one of the founders of the "New Europe College" an institute of advanced studies, and of the cultural magazine Dilema
Dilema Veche
Dilema veche , formerly Dilema, is a Romanian weekly journal of culture, criticism and opinion.- History :It was founded as Dilema in 1993 by art critic Andrei Pleşu and up until the end of 2003 it was edited by an independent cultural body, Fundaţia Culturală Română...
(now Dilema Veche). He worked as a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bucharest and is now a professor at the University of Bucharest, where he teaches history of arts and philosophy of religion. He continues to be successful as a writer, and his books have all been well received by critics and readers.
He also became involved in politics, serving as Romania's Minister of Culture from 1990 to 1991, and Foreign Minister from 1997 to 1999. Between 2000 and 2004, Pleşu was a member of the National College for the Study of the Securitate
Securitate
The Securitate was the secret police agency of Communist Romania. Previously, the Romanian secret police was called Siguranţa Statului. Founded on August 30, 1948, with help from the Soviet NKVD, the Securitate was abolished in December 1989, shortly after President Nicolae Ceaușescu was...
Archives; he resigned the latter office in protest against political pressures on the committee. After the 2004 elections
Romanian presidential election, 2004
A presidential election was held in Romania on November 28, 2004. 12 candidates competed for the office. As no candidate won more than 50% of the votes, a run-off was held on December 12, 2004, between the two leading candidates: prime minister Adrian Năstase of the ruling Social Democratic Party...
brought Traian Băsescu
Traian Basescu
Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004...
to the office of President of Romania
President of Romania
The President of Romania is the head of state of Romania. The President is directly elected by a two-round system for a five-year term . An individual may serve two terms...
, he became presidential counsellor for external affairs, a position he held until June 2005, when he resigned invoking health issues.
Two volumes were published in 2009, honoring Pleşu, both edited by Mihail Neamtu and Bogdan Tataru-Cazaban. The first was O Filozofie a Intervalului: In Honorem Andrei Pleşu (A Philosophical Interval: In Honor of Andrei Plesu) entirely in Romanian, and the second was an international Festschrift
Festschrift
In academia, a Festschrift , is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during his or her lifetime. The term, borrowed from German, could be translated as celebration publication or celebratory writing...
in honor of Plesu's sixtieth birthday, with essays exploring the themes of his life in current context.
Philosophy
Pleşu's early works revolved around art history and theory, but, in time, his essays, published in cultural magazines and elsewhere, became oriented towards cultural anthropologyCultural anthropology
Cultural anthropology is a branch of anthropology focused on the study of cultural variation among humans, collecting data about the impact of global economic and political processes on local cultural realities. Anthropologists use a variety of methods, including participant observation,...
and philosophy. His exuberant writing style gained him recognition as one of the leading Romanian essayists of his age.
Printed volumes
- Călătorie în lumea formelor ("Journey to the world of forms"), Meridiane, 1974
- Pitoresc şi melancolie ("The Picturesque and melancholy"), Univers, 1980
- Francesco GuardiFrancesco GuardiFrancesco Lazzaro Guardi was a Venetian painter of veduta, a member of the Venetian School. He is considered to be among the last practitioners, along with his brothers, of the classic Venetian school of painting....
, Meridiane, 1981 - Ochiul şi lucrurile ("The eye and things"), Meridiane, 1986
- Minima moralia ("The moral minimum"), Cartea românească, 1988
- Dialoguri de seară ("Evening dialogues"), Harisma, 1991
- Jurnalul de la Tescani ("The Tescani journal"), Humanitas, 1993
- Limba păsărilor ("The language of birds"), Humanitas, 1994
- Chipuri şi măşti ale tranziţiei ("Faces and masks of the transition"), Humanitas, 1996
- Transformări, inerţii, dezordini. 22 de luni după 22 decembrie 1989 ("Transformations, inertias, disorders". 22 months after December 22, 1989"), co-authors Petre RomanPetre RomanPetre Roman is a Romanian politician and a former Prime Minister of Romania. He served from 1989 to 1991, when his government was overthrown by the intervention of the miners led by Miron Cozma. Roman is a member of the Club of Madrid, grouping 66 democratic former heads of state and government...
and Elena Ştefoi), Polirom, 2002 - Despre îngeri ("On angels"), Humanitas, 2003
- Obscenitatea publică ("Public obscenity"), Humanitas, 2004
- Comedii la porţile Orientului ("Comedies at gates of the Orient"), Humanitas, 2005
- Despre bucurie în Est şi în Vest şi alte eseuri ("About Joy in East and West and other essays"), Humanitas, 2006
- Despre frumuseţea uitată a vieţii ("About the Forgotten Beauty of Life"), Humanitas, 2011
Audio books
- Despre îngeri ("On angels") Humanitas, 2003, 2005
- Comédii la portile Orientului ("Comedies at gates of the Orient"), Humanitas, 2005
- Un alt fel de Caragiale ("A different CaragialeIon Luca CaragialeIon Luca Caragiale was a Wallachian-born Romanian playwright, short story writer, poet, theater manager, political commentator and journalist...
"), Humanitas, 2006 - Despre bucurie în Est şi în Vest şi alte eseuri ("About Joy in East and West and other essays"), Humanitas, 2006
Awards
- Grand Officer of the Order of the Diplomatic Merit
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Faithful Service