Kostis Hatzidakis, deputy prime minister of the Greek government, expressed sadness over the death of Stelios Ramfos, a leading Greek intellectual who died at the age of 87.
In a post on social media, Hatzidakis said Ramfos was able to combine his intellectual wealth with contemporary political and social discussions in an impressive way.
Hatzidakis wrote that Greece's foremost intellectual, Stelios Ramfos, had passed away, describing him as a distinctive, modern philosopher. He said that among Ramfos's intellectual pursuits was the relationship between contemporary creation and the Greek Orthodox tradition.
Hatzidakis added that Ramfos had long been a professor in Paris, with broad knowledge, clear thinking, language that could be sharp when needed, a readiness to intervene in public debate, and a consistent emphasis on Greece.
A lasting impression since the 1980s
Hatzidakis said he had been impressed by Ramfos from the very first time he heard him speak, when Hatzidakis was a university student in the 1980s. He recalled that Ramfos had been invited to make an unusual address at the New Democracy party conference in 2017.
Hatzidakis said the intellectual legacy of Stelios Ramfos would always remain alive, and he offered sincere condolences to Ramfos's family.
