One of the most influential contemporary philosophers, Dr Jⁿrgen Habermas, accepted the prestigious peace prize of the German Publishers' and Booksellers' Association yesterday for his achievements in furthering Western democratic debate.
The 72-year-old German philosopher and sociologist claimed the honour before more than 1,000 guests, including the German Chancellor, Mr Gerhard Schr÷der, and President Johannes Rau, gathered in Frankfurt's Paulskirche (Saint Paul's Church).
In his acceptance speech, Dr Habermas called for greater religious tolerance in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks in the US and more respect for religious beliefs in the Western secular world.
"As sins became guilt and the breaking of holy commandments turned into violations of human law, something was lost," he said.
It is sensible for a secular majority in the West to "distance itself from religion without blocking out its perspective".
Dr Habermas appealed for moderation in the public debate about religion following the attacks.
"In these times, the temptation is great among the John Waynes as well as the intellectuals to draw conclusions too rapidly," he said.
As the festivities proceeded, several hundred protesters demonstrated outside against the US-led airstrikes on Afghanistan.
Born in 1929 in the western city of Dⁿsseldorf, Dr Habermas is viewed by many in the field as the greatest living proponent of the Frankfurt School of critical theorists, which pioneered the study of the relationship between the ideas of Freud and Marx.
Dr Jan Philipp Reemtsma, Professor of Literature and head of the Hamburg Institute for Social Research, read the laudation at Dr Habermas's request.
Dr Reemtsma called Dr Habermas's work "a complex diagnosis of the opportunities and risks of our time.
"Habermas has waded into the political debate again and again" from post-war Germany's fierce and painful debate on its Nazi past through the current discussion on bioethics, Dr Reemtsma said.
The peace prize carries an award of 25,000 marks (€12,780). It is traditionally presented during the Frankfurt Book Fair which ends today.