Gustav Naan

Gustav Naan (Russian Густав Иоганнович Наан; * May 17, 1919 in Vladivostok, Russian SFSR, † January 12, 1994 in Tallinn) was an Estonian physicist and philosopher.

Life

Gustav Naan was 1966-1989 editor in chief of Eesti Nõukogude Entsüklopeedia ( " Estonian Soviet Encyclopedia ").

Naans articles he published in particular in the 1970s in popular scientific magazines, brought him to fame in Estonia. However, when entered the Estonian public during the perestroika era for the liberalization of the Soviet regime and the independence of Estonia, naan supported froze pro-Soviet political positions. He was a staunch opponent of the independence movement ( the then very popular Estonian Popular Front ) and supported the Inter front, which was extremely unpopular with the Estonians. His political expressions of opinion were also published in Pravda (eg the derogatory article " From the feet to the head " ( " С ног на голову " or " kõik pea peale ") in 1988 as a response to the " Declaration on the Sovereignty " (16 November 1988) by the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR followed ). As a result of his pro-Soviet commitment Naan lost its influence in the Estonian public and was mentioned only as an old " Erzstalinist ".

Naans son, whose name is just as Gustav is now an entrepreneur in Russia, his grandson Denis's Naan lives in Moscow and is a well-known pop musician.

Works

• Gustav Naan: On Freedom of national development. Akademie-Verlag, Berlin 1956