Memorial Session in Honor of Academician Muhamed Filipović: Remembering his Social and Political Actions for Affirmation and Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina
At a commemorative session held at the University of Sarajevo Hall on 28 February 2020, family members, friends, colleagues, academics and numerous admirers bid farewell to one of Bosnia's foremost intellectuals, academician, Prof. Dr. Muhamed Filipović.
University of Sarajevo Rector, Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj said at the commemorative session in honor of academician Muhamed Filipović that passing away of such prominent figure in the field of science is a terrific blow even for far larger academic community than University of Sarajevo’s one, but the undeniable fact was that the nature and opus of academician Muhamed Filipović withstood the test of time and would never fall into oblivion, because academician Muhamed Filipović belonged to a group of Bosnian prominent figures who permanently influenced the BH scientific and cultural creative endeavors.
“He was a person who knew how to recognize the challenges of the spiritus mundi and differentiate what is from one what has not been yet. In crucial moments for our country’s survival, as an acknowledged expert on the historical facts of the region, he invested his entire social and political efforts into the affirmation and defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina” said Rector Škrijelj, adding “The life and scientific opus of academician Muhamed Filipović as a scientist, philosopher, author, politician and diplomat, as well as his 50 monographs, 160 scientific and vocational papers and hundreds of articles in daily and weekly newspapers will remain as a guide to the present and future generations of University of Sarajevo’s scientists.”
On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH and Minister of State, Mrs. Bisera Turković, Assistant Minister, Mr. Ahmet Halilović expressed condolence to family and friends and delivered an address.
“The personal contribution of academician Filipović is invaluable, particularly in science, yet also in broader social engagement with a selfless commitment to a better and more promising tomorrow for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Academician Filipović had an extremely rich academic, political and diplomatic career and in every segment of his work and activities, he left a strong and indelible mark” said Mr. Halilović, pointing out that the opus of Academician Filipović made a strong contribution to the diplomatic service of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On behalf of the University of Sarajevo Faculty of Philosophy, Prof. Dr. Salih Fočo said that today we were bidding farewell to a professor who had spent his entire career as a scientist at the Faculty of Philosophy and the University of Sarajevo.
“Today we bid farewell to the greatest thinker Bosnia and Herzegovina has ever had. Academician Muhamed Filipović is the supreme intellectual authority, almost an encyclopedia of Bosnia and Bosniaks; the prominent philosopher, author, historian and politician. Favorite professor, an eternal rebel and oppositionist, known for his sharp analytical and critical thinking. He was respected and praised among the intellectual community, especially the common people, but at the same time challenged. In his nine earthly decades, academician Filipović has managed to remain steady and consistent, with his ideas about the value and meaning of Bosnia and its peoples, but also the value of man and his needs. BiH will undoubtedly remember this legendary man from Krajina as one of its greatest scientists, and also as the champion who through his many years of public action succeeded in affirming and restoring the name of our people – Bosniaks” said Professor Fočo.
Academician Filipović played a significant role in social and political events in BiH, said professor Fočo adding that he had always fought for the freedom of the individual.
“Although he was not a member of any group or particular dissident organization at the time, Filipović was one of the most significant dissidents within communism. He was the initiator of many public actions and promoter of many ideas. I will mention only a few on this occasion. The first idea is of the Bosnian spirit, about which he wrote a brilliant essay. In this essay he wrote that the essence of the Bosnian spirituality is not division, but the unique spirit which he calls Bosnian and manifests itself as the crux of the whole historical experience - the coexistence of three faiths and three peoples. He presented another idea in a paper at the Cavtat International Counseling Conference in 1979, in which he argued that communism ended its historical journey, i.e. he proved that communism could not produce and develop freedom, and that it departure from world’s history scene. He was the first to predict that violence would occur, especially against Muslims. In breaking down socialism and building a multi-party system, he was a participant and initiator of many ideas.”
“Democratic rule according to him is to serve the people and his interests, but his most important interest was the right to his own state in which all his peoples and citizens are equal and equal. Filipović played a significant role during the war as a diplomat and participant in the Geneva peace talks. He was a rare breed of connoisseur of Bosnia, its complex relationships, different interests, multiculturalism, but also the spirit of community making it so special” said Fočo.
On behalf of the Bosniak Academy of Arts and Sciences, Academician Muamer Zukorlić said that today we were bidding farewell to one of Bosnia's greatest sons.
“He was walking knowledge, a fount of wisdom and freedom. He was forever swimming upstream, defying all the forces of inertia. Such people are hard to acknowledge in lifetime. So much energy radiating from knowledge, courage, and dignity. The moment of recognition of such people actually begins the moment when they leave the stage of this world. He left us the true Bosnia ... proud and defiant one. Bosnia of ethnic and other differences, but Bosnia of a unique millennial ethos. Bosnia of humanity that resists all challenges. Is this a great loss, for the family, for the Bosniak nation and for Bosnia, especially for us at the Bosniak Academy of Arts and Sciences, but on the one hand, sadness and on the other, pride for having him just like that. We at the Bosniak Academy are most proud because we had the best president of the Academy, the best and strongest president” concluded Academician Zukorlić.
About the academician
Academician Muhamed Filipović was born in Banja Luka where he completed his elementary and secondary education. He studied philosophy, natural sciences and history in Belgrade and Zagreb and graduated in 1952. He received his PhD in Philosophy from the Faculty of Philosophy in Sarajevo in 1961. Soon after he was promoted into title of associate professor, in 1967 part time professor, and in 1972 to full professor for Logic with Methodology and Scientific work methodology at the Department of Philosophy and Sociology, Faculty of Philosophy in Sarajevo, where he spent his entire career until his retirement in 1999.
During his long academic and teaching career, he was a mentor/committee member for 34 doctoral theses in the country and abroad. He was a guest lecturer in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland and universities in other countries.
Academician Muhamed Filipović was a member of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina – he was elected as Academy of Sciences and Arts of BiH corresponding member in 1976, and full member in 1982.
Academician Filipović was also the chairman of the Bosniak Academy of Sciences.
He authored a large number of monographs on logic, history of philosophy, history of cultural life of Bosnia and Herzegovina, aesthetics and politics. He was also engaged in literary criticism and essay writing, as well as lexicography. He is the author of the essay: The Bosnian Spirit in Literature - What Is That, first published in 1967 in the journal Život on the occasion of the publication of the Mehmedalija Mak Dizdar’s poem collection The Stone Sleeper.
He was the Encyclopedia’s editorial board president for Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1975 to the end of 1982 that prepared and published the Encyclopedia of Bosnia and Herzegovina section.
Academician Muhamed Filipović is the initiator of a large number of public debates that have initiated significant processes in the political, educational and cultural life of Bosnia and Herzegovina. His enthusiasm and fruitful scholarly opus has left and still leaves an impact on generations of students who have had the privilege of attending his lectures.
Academician Filipović is the author and co-author of more than 50 monographs, 160 articles in scientific journals, as well as many other forms of work in various publications. He is also the author of hundreds of articles in daily and weekly newspapers that have contributed to the understanding and creation of social everyday life in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
