Manfred Osten
Encyclopedia
Manfred Osten is a German poet and cultural historian. He was born in Ludwigslust
in the region of Mecklenburg
, which became part of the German Democratic Republic
after World War II
.
He escaped to the Federal Republic of Germany
in 1952. He received his higher education in Hamburg and Munich, where he studied law, philosophy, musicology, and literature. He earned a doctorate upon the completion of a thesis concerning the concept of natural law in the early writings of Schelling
. At the conclusion of his studies, he joined the diplomatic service of the Federal Republic of Germany. His career as a diplomat included postings in France, Cameroon, Chad, Australia, Japan, and Hungary. From 1995 to 2004, he was the Secretary-General of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
.
He is an honorary Doctor of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
, the University of Pécs
, the University of Bucharest
, and the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi. In 1993 he received the Order of the Rising Sun
from the Japanese government. He is in addition a member of the Academy of Sciences and Literature in Mainz. In 2008 he was admitted to the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Among his many works are Die Erotik Pfirsichs "The Eroticism of the Peach" (about Japanese writers); Das Geraubte Gedächtnis "Stolen Memory" (about the relation between digital systems and the decline of cultural memory); Goethes Entdeckung der Langsamkeit "Goethe's Discovery of Slowness"; Die Kunst, Fehler zu Machen "The Art of Making Mistakes"; and his collection of poems Im Kerngehäuse.
He is a noted player of the viola
and has a particular interest in the music of Robert Schumann
.
Ludwigslust
Ludwigslust is a town in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, 40 km south of Schwerin. It was the capital of the former district of Ludwigslust, and is part of the district Ludwigslust-Parchim since September 2011.-History:...
in the region of Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
, which became part of the German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
He escaped to the Federal Republic of Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
in 1952. He received his higher education in Hamburg and Munich, where he studied law, philosophy, musicology, and literature. He earned a doctorate upon the completion of a thesis concerning the concept of natural law in the early writings of Schelling
Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling
Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling , later von Schelling, was a German philosopher. Standard histories of philosophy make him the midpoint in the development of German idealism, situating him between Fichte, his mentor prior to 1800, and Hegel, his former university roommate and erstwhile friend...
. At the conclusion of his studies, he joined the diplomatic service of the Federal Republic of Germany. His career as a diplomat included postings in France, Cameroon, Chad, Australia, Japan, and Hungary. From 1995 to 2004, he was the Secretary-General of the 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...
.
He is an honorary Doctor of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is the National Academy of Bulgaria, established in 1869. The Academy is autonomous and has a Society of Academicians, Correspondent Members and Foreign Members...
, the University of Pécs
University of Pécs
The University of Pécs is the Hungarian university with the largest number of students and faculties.-History:...
, 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 the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi. In 1993 he received the Order of the Rising Sun
Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
from the Japanese government. He is in addition a member of the Academy of Sciences and Literature in Mainz. In 2008 he was admitted to the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Among his many works are Die Erotik Pfirsichs "The Eroticism of the Peach" (about Japanese writers); Das Geraubte Gedächtnis "Stolen Memory" (about the relation between digital systems and the decline of cultural memory); Goethes Entdeckung der Langsamkeit "Goethe's Discovery of Slowness"; Die Kunst, Fehler zu Machen "The Art of Making Mistakes"; and his collection of poems Im Kerngehäuse.
He is a noted player of the viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
and has a particular interest in the music of Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
.