[on behalf of ESHET, I send an obituary of Paolo Sylos Labini, elected as Honorary Member of the society. Daniele Besomi] Paolo Sylos Labini passed away on December 7th, 2005, aged 85. Emeritus Professor at the University La Sapienza (Rome) and one of the most eminent economists in the world, he was known for his seminal theory of oligopoly and many other contributions. His book Oligopolio e progresso tecnico (1956) is a milestone in the history of economics. He has left us many important studies about economic development and its determinants, nearly all of them translated into English. His last book, published a few months ago, goes back to his preferred theme of development and technical progress and to his preferred approach: the history of economics as a way to understand present problems. Its title is: Torniamo ai classici. Produttivite del lavoro, progresso tecnico e sviluppo economico, Roma-Bari: Laterza, 2005 (Let's go back to the Classics. Labour productivity, technical progress and economic development). After graduation, Sylos Labini studied at Harvard, with Joseph Schumpeter, and in Cambridge (UK); he was member of some of the most prestigious academies and scientific associations, in Italy (among which the Accademia dei Lincei ) and in the world (among which the American Economic Association). He also was awarded many prestigious scientific prizes, and was repeatedly called to advise the Italian government and other policy institutions. At the last ESHET Conference, in Stirling, the Council awarded him the title of Honorary Member, with the following motivation: "Sylos Labini is an eminent scholar of economics always interested in the history of economics. His studies on oligopolistic markets, on development and underdevelopment, and on social classes cannot be really detached from his interests in the Classical school, in the value theory, in the economics of underdevelopment and especially in Adam Smith�s thought. Beside giving us a deep insight in these problems, Sylos Labini has thought us a scientific approach free from ideologies, independent but also socially engaged." When I officially informed him of the award, his reaction was: "I am really pleased about this title of Honorary Member of ESHET. Please convey to the Council and the Executive Committee my feelings of real happiness. It will be a great pleasure for me to attend the Dinner in Porto, provided that I am still around!" (my translation from Italian). Probably he felt his end near, but hinted at it with much sobriety. He was disenchanted with human nature and social injustice, and nevertheless passionately fought for social development and justice at a scientific and a civic level. In times dominated by ideologies, even in economics, he stood for an empirical approach, looking for rational ways to promote economic development and defending the often neglected role of technical progress. He did not like grand theories about human nature. He preferred to "measure" factors of production and cultural attitudes, without losing sight of the social and moral values. This is how he repeatedly approached issues like social classes in Italy, underdevelopment, industrial relations and the development of Southern Italy. The language of his research was simple and straightforward; the concepts were neat and clear, free from any rhetoric. Thanks to his disinterested commitment to science and to society, Paolo Sylos Labini was exceptionally able to stir human sympathy. His life is a remarkable example of how scientific engagement and civic commitment can be combined without prejudicing their reciprocal independence. Cosimo Perrotta