French philosopher and sociologist Edgar Morin, one of the most influential intellectuals of the 20th century and formulator of complexity theory, died at the age of 104 on Friday (29) in Paris. Author of a body of work that spans areas such as philosophy, sociology, education, science and politics, Morin left a decisive contribution to the understanding of contemporary challenges.
The thinker advocated for the rehabilitation of the principle of "disorder" in science and questioned the belief in absolute truths. In one of his best-known reflections, he wrote that "all life is a journey through an ocean of uncertainties, crossing some islands or archipelagos of certainties," a phrase that summarizes one of the central ideas of his thought and the search for understanding the complexity of human experience.
Born in Paris on July 8, 1921, as Edgar Nahoum, Morin participated in the French Resistance during the Nazi occupation in World War II. It was during this period that he adopted the surname by which he would become internationally known. A graduate in Law, History, and Geography from the Sorbonne, his best-known work is... The method, a six-volume series published between 1977 and 2004, in which he develops the theory of complexity.
According to Morin, phenomena cannot be understood in isolation, as they are embedded in interconnected systems and subject to relationships of dependence, uncertainty, and permanent transformation. Over more than seven decades of intellectual production, he published approximately 80 books. Among his best-known works are... Science with conscience, Homeland e The seven knowledges necessary for the education of the future, a work prepared at the invitation of UNESCO and widely disseminated in educational debates in various countries.
For Morin, the first challenge of knowledge was to admit its own limitations. "Knowledge is not built without the risk of error. But error plays a positive role when it is recognized, analyzed, and overcome," he wrote.
A proponent of science open to dialogue between different areas of knowledge, Morin believed that humanity's greatest problems could not be solved by isolated disciplines. His proposal for a way of thinking capable of connecting different fields of knowledge has become a reference for researchers, educators, and policymakers worldwide.
Even after turning 100, Morin maintained intense intellectual activity. In his last interviews, he insisted on the need for a planetary consciousness capable of facing global challenges such as climate change, social inequalities, and democratic crises. He also warned against the illusion of inevitable progress, reminding us that "no historical achievement is irreversible."
