Antun
Maqdesi

Awardee

Country

Syria

Antun Maqdisi advocated for civil society though literature.

Themes
Free Expression / Civil Society
Disciplines
Literature
Awards
Archive - Prince Claus Laureate 2001

Profile

Antun Maqdisi (1914-2005) was a philosopher, politician, and human rights activist based in Syria. Maqdisi's intellectual journey began with his studies in Damascus, eventually leading him to the University of Montpellier in France, where he obtained degrees in Philosophy and French literature. Upon his return to Syria in 1940, he embarked on a career as a philosophy teacher, intertwining his academic pursuits with a fervent commitment to political activism and human rights advocacy.Maqdisi's work is distinguished by his deep engagement with philosophical inquiry and his unwavering dedication to advocating for human rights within the complex socio-political landscape of the Middle East. Through his teaching, political involvement, and activism, he made significant contributions to the intellectual and cultural fabric of Syrian society.