Husserl will have a memorial plaque instead of a monument in Prostějov

Prostějov - The Prostějov city hall will have a commemorative plaque made for the German philosopher and founder of phenomenology, Edmund Husserl. Prostějov will host an international conference of phenomenologists at the beginning of April. This week, the city council approved the creation of a commemorative plaque for the famous native, Mayor František Jura (ANO) told reporters today.

Husserl was born in Prostějov in 1859. Last year, the city planned to erect a monument for the philosopher, but the council ultimately did not select any of the ten submitted proposals. The city hall received criticism from professional members of the selection committee regarding the organization of the monument competition.

Jura told reporters today that details about the planned commemorative plaque will be announced next week at a press conference dedicated to the April meeting of phenomenologists.

Last autumn, the mayor criticized in the regional press the work of the selection committee and the quality of the monument proposals it recommended to the city. According to the professional members of the selection committee, the competition conditions were non-standard and likely aimed at increasing the chances of one candidate for this contract worth up to 2.5 million crowns. The council members firmly denied this accusation.

The commission ultimately selected the proposal titled Glasses with Eyes of E. Husserl as the winning design last year. The proposal from the author, who was allegedly favored by the competition conditions, was not among the top three works according to the committee members. According to experts, two council members who were part of the committee voted for the first two winning designs.

According to Jura, the competition conditions included a clause allowing the city council to decide that none of the monument design proposals would be realized, which it subsequently utilized.