(July 26, 1945 † October 10, 2024)
The Europa-Kolleg Hamburg mourns the loss of its long-standing board and advisory council member, Ernst Axel August Horstmann. Few individuals embody the connection between a scholarly personality committed to the classical ideal of education and a modern scientific manager as he did.
After studying classical philology, philosophy, and Protestant theology, he earned his doctorate in classical philology in 1971 at the Westphalian Wilhelms University of Münster under the supervision of Martin Sicherl. In 1986, Horstmann habilitated in philosophy at the University of Hamburg, where he also assumed a professorship in philosophy in 2001. Hamburg remained close to his heart throughout his life, even though his career led him to Hannover in 2010, where he joined the executive board of the Volkswagen Foundation until his retirement. His contributions significantly shaped the foundation’s work in the humanities and social sciences. In addition, he took on various other responsible roles at the intersection of academia and academic management. From 2002 to 2007, Horstmann served as a member of the University Council of the University of Bayreuth, and from 2010 to 2014, he succeeded Jürgen Fitschen as chairman of the advisory board of the Hanns Lilje Foundation in Hannover.
In 2016, the Europa-Kolleg Hamburg was fortunate to gain Horstmann as a committed and highly qualified volunteer board member. With his expertise, thoughtful reflection, high academic standards, and practical understanding of the necessities of scientific organization, he supported the work of the board and the foundation for many years before transitioning to the advisory council in 2024. From 2018 to 2020, Horstmann also served as the scientific director of the Universitätskolleg of the University of Hamburg, acting as a vital bridge between the Europa-Kolleg and the University of Hamburg.
His sudden death in October 2024 is a painful loss for us all. We will always honor and cherish the memory of Ernst Axel August Horstmann with gratitude and respect.
Markus Kotzur
