This year, for the first time in its fifteen-year history, the Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation VIZE 97 Prize will be awarded “in memoriam”. This year’s laureate is Doc. RNDr. Jiří Fiala. In accordance with its purpose, the Prize goes to this year’s laureate: mathematician and mathematics philosopher, logician and language and thought philosopher, art admirer and theoretician, trans-disciplinary essayist, literary discoverer, translator and editor of numerous philosophical works, gifted fantastic narrator, whose youth was influenced by surrealism, science historian and general intellectual, as well as chronicler of unofficial culture and science, and editor of samizdat literature. The Prize will be received by Mrs Ludmila Fialová.
Since 1999, in accordance with its mission, the Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation VIZE 97 has awarded its international Prize to significant thinkers whose work exceeds the conventional framework of scientific knowledge, contributes to the understanding of science as an integral part of general culture and unconventionally deals with fundamental questions of cognition, being and human existence, points out a broader context of phenomena and a thing, thus strengthening the holistic view of the history of nature, cosmos and human lot. By annually awarding its Prize, the Foundation enables the Czech public to meet the pioneers of interesting trends of contemporary scientific thought, and presents their work to this public. Hence the regular awarding of the Prize is not just about the actual ceremony of presenting the Prize; it is also accompanied by an informal meeting of students and professors during a debate with the laureate and with the invited guests. This year’s debate will be dedicated to the intellectual and moral heritage of Jiří Fiala. Some of the panellists present will include members of the VIZE 97 Prize Board, namely Doc. Ing. Ivan Havel, DrSc., and Prof. RNDr. Petr Vopěnka, DrSc., as well as RNDr. Kamila Bendová, CSc., Prof. MUDr. Cyril Höschl, DrSc., Jaroslav Krbůšek, and Petr Král. The Prize is ceremonially presented every year on 5th October, the date of birth of Václav Havel. The laureate receives a diploma and a commemorative artefact in the form of the crutch of Saint Vojtěch, created by the Czech artist Jiří Plieštik. Since 2004, the VIZE 97 Prize ceremony has been held in the premises of Prague Crossroads.
The morning debate takes place from 10:00 a.m. at Prague Crossroads, and is open to the public until the capacity of the church building is full.
The ceremony is held from 4:00 p.m. at Prague Crossroads for invited guests only.
Journalists who wish to take part are kindly requested to register at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
In Prague, on 5 September 2013
