German sociologist and anthropologist
Dieter Claessens (2 August 1921 in Berlin – 30 March 1997 in Berlin) was a German sociologist and anthropologist.
Life.
Returning as POW from the Soviet Union Dieter Claessens studied sociology, anthropology, and psychology in Berlin, where he got his doctorate ("Dr. phil.") from the "Freie Universität" in 1957. He took his sociological post-doctoral degree ("Habilitation") from the University of Münster, where he was called to a Chair of Sociology in 1962. 1966 he returned as professor to the Free University, and retired there 1986, continuing his research work until his death in Berlin, 1997.
He got his reputation especially for his pioneering work on the sociological dimension of both ontogenesis and phylogenesis.