FRANKFURT. The Research Centre “Normative Orders” at Goethe University and Suhrkamp Publishing House are hosting an international symposium in memory of philosopher and sociologist Jürgen Habermas, who died in March. Under the title “No One Is Free Until We Are All Free,” leading scholars from Europe and North America will discuss the continuing relevance of his work and the future of Critical Theory. The symposium takes place on June 19, 2026. Timon Gremmels, Hesse’s Minister for Science and Research, Arts and Culture, will attend the event and deliver opening remarks. The symposium accompanies the memorial service held the same day at Frankfurt’s Paulskirche, organized by the City of Frankfurt together with Goethe University and Suhrkamp Publishing House. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will deliver the commemorative address.
In his final years, Habermas became increasingly concerned about the state of democracy. In one of his last interviews, he argued that democratic institutions were being weakened “since politics has more or less abdicated in favor of the markets.” Amid the rise of right-wing politics, the transformative effects of artificial intelligence, and widening social inequality, Habermas’ vision of a democracy rooted in communicative rationality is more pressing than ever. What can his work teach us about safeguarding democracy and human dignity in the face of contemporary challenges? What transformations would be required to realize his vision of emancipation through communicative reason? And where does Critical Theory go from here, now that it has lost its most influential thinker? These are among the questions that will frame the symposium.
“No One Is Free Until We Are All Free”
International Symposium in Memory of Jürgen Habermas
Friday, June 19, 2026, 3–8:15 p.m.
Lecture Hall 2, Lecture Hall Center, Westend Campus
The symposium brings together leading social scientists and humanities scholars from around the world to discuss Habermas’ theory of democracy and his most important theoretical innovations in philosophy and sociology.
The event will be held in English and is open to the public. Admission is free.
The program includes two panel discussions and a closing keynote. The first panel addresses the rise of authoritarianism and its implications for democratic societies. Political scientists Simone Chambers and Michael Zürn will discuss these developments with historian Peter Gordon. The second panel focuses on the communicative turn, through which Habermas charted new directions for philosophy and sociology. Political philosopher Seyla Benhabib, sociologist Hauke Brunkhorst, and social psychologist Vera King will examine its intellectual legacy and continuing influence. The symposium concludes with a keynote by social philosopher Axel Honneth entitled “The Normative Autonomy of the Other: Habermas in Dialogue with Adorno.” The lecture explores the intellectual relationship between Habermas and Theodor W. Adorno and asks what still connects their respective projects today.
The symposium is organized and moderated by Rainer Forst and Klaus Günther (both Goethe University Frankfurt) together with Peter Niesen (University of Hamburg).
Program Overview
15:00 – 15:20 Words of Welcome and Introduction
15:20 – 16:50 Panel “Democracy in Times of Authoritarianism”
Prof. Dr. Simone Chambers (UC Irvine)
Prof. Dr. Peter Gordon (Harvard University)
Prof. Dr. Michael Zürn (Social Science Center Berlin)
Chair: Prof. Dr. Peter Niesen (University of Hamburg)
17:15 – 18:45 Panel “The Communicative Turn in Philosophy and Sociology”
Prof. Dr. Seyla Benhabib (Yale University/Columbia University)
Prof. Dr. Hauke Brunkhorst (Flensburg University)
Prof. Dr. Vera King (Goethe University/Sigmund-Freud Institute)
Chair: Prof. Dr. Klaus Günther (Goethe University)
19:00 – 20:15 Keynote: “Der normative Eigensinn des Anderen. Habermas im Dialog mit Adorno” (held in German) [The Normative Uniqueness of the Other: Habermas in Dialogue with Adorno]
Prof. Dr. Axel Honneth (Columbia University)
Chair: Prof. Dr. Rainer Forst (Goethe University)
Detailed Program: https://normativeorders.net/veranstaltungen/