Lübbe was born in Aurich.From 1947 to 1951, he studied philosophy, theology and sociology in Göttingen, Münster and Freiburg.Among his academic teachers were Joachim Ritter and Heinrich Scholz.From 1963 to 1969, Lübbe was professor in Bochum.Since 1966, he was also secretary of state in the education ministry of the German state North Rhine-Westphalia.