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2024-09-22 08:21:10

Karl Popper

Austrian-British philosopher and social commentator
Austrian-British philosopher and social commentator

Karl Popper was a prominent philosopher known for his rejection of inductivist views on the scientific method in favor of empirical falsification. He also defended liberal democracy and principles of social criticism for an open society.

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1846
Discovery of Neptune

Astronomers noticed that the orbit of Uranus deviated significantly from what Newtonian mechanics predicted. Instead of abandoning the theory, they introduced an auxiliary hypothesis of an unseen planet influencing the orbit. This led to the successful prediction and discovery of Neptune in 1846.

1898
Social Climbing of the Popper Family

The Popper family, to which Karl Popper belonged, made a rapid social climb in Viennese society. His father, Simon Siegmund Carl Popper, became a partner in the law firm of Vienna's liberal mayor Raimund Grübl, which significantly impacted their social status.

1902-07-28
The Birth of Karl Popper

Karl Popper, born in Vienna, Austria, on July 28, 1902, became a highly influential philosopher of science in the 20th century. He is renowned for his distinction between science and pseudoscience.

1902-08-28
Birth of Karl Popper

Karl Popper, a renowned philosopher, was born in Austria in 1902. He became one of the most influential philosophers in the early 21st century, known for his groundbreaking theories in science and philosophy.

1905
Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity

Einstein's theory that revolutionized the understanding of space and time, proposing that the laws of physics are the same for all non-accelerating observers.

1918
Karl Popper's Admission to University of Vienna

In 1918, Karl Popper was accepted to the University of Vienna where he studied mathematics, theoretical physics, and eventually earned a PhD in philosophy in 1922. This marked the beginning of his academic journey in philosophy.

1919-06-15
Popper turns away from Marxism

After the street battle in the Hörlgasse on 15 June 1919, where police shot eight of his unarmed party comrades, Karl Popper turned away from Marxism, abandoned the ideology, and remained a supporter of social liberalism throughout his life.

1922
Popper completes his matura

In 1922, Karl Popper completed his matura by way of a second chance education, which allowed him to join the university as an ordinary student.

1924
Popper becomes an elementary teacher

In 1924, Karl Popper completed his examination as an elementary teacher and started working at an after-school care club for socially endangered children.

1925
Popper joins Pädagogisches Institut

In 1925, Karl Popper went to the newly founded Pädagogisches Institut and continued studying philosophy and psychology.

1928
Karl Popper Graduates from University of Vienna

Karl Popper studied mathematics, physics, and psychology at the University of Vienna and graduated with a doctorate in psychology in 1928. This academic background influenced his later philosophical works.

1929
Started Doctoral Programme in Psychology

In 1929, Karl Popper began a doctoral programme in psychology at the University of Vienna under the supervision of Karl Bühler, a prominent figure in experimental psychology.

1930
Marriage to Josephine Anna Henninger

In 1930, Karl Popper married Josephine Anna Henninger, also known as 'Hennie', who later became his amanuensis until her passing in 1985. They made a mutual decision early in their marriage to not have children.

1934
Popper's Principle of Falsifiability

Karl Popper introduced the principle of falsifiability, which states that for a theory to be considered scientific, it must be capable of being proven false.

1935
Publication of Logik der Forschung (The Logic of Scientific Discovery)

In 1935, Karl Popper published his first book, Logik der Forschung (The Logic of Scientific Discovery), which later became a seminal work in the philosophy of science. This book introduced key concepts like the problem of induction, falsification, and scientific methodology.

1936
The Poverty of Historicism

The Poverty of Historicism was first presented in 1936 and later published as a series of journal articles in 1944/45 and as a book in 1957. It critiques the idea that history follows discernible laws and patterns, arguing against the concept of historicism.

1937
Teacher at Canterbury University College

Karl Popper served as a teacher at Canterbury University College starting in 1937. His time at the university marked a significant period in his career as a philosopher and educator.

1938
Annexation of Austria

The annexation of Austria in 1938 was a significant event that led to the refocusing of Karl Popper's writings on social and political philosophy.

1939
Escape from Nazism

Karl Popper, along with many other Jewish intellectuals, fled Austria to escape the persecution of the Nazis in 1939. This event had a profound impact on his life and work.

1944
The Poverty of Historicism

In 'The Poverty of Historicism', Karl Popper critiques historicism and argues that the growth of human knowledge plays a role in shaping human history. He emphasizes that societies cannot predict their future states of knowledge.

1945
The Open Society and Its Enemies

Karl Popper's book 'The Open Society and Its Enemies' is a significant work in political philosophy where he criticizes historicism and defends the liberal society. Popper argues that human knowledge influences the course of human history.

1946
Teacher at Canterbury University College

Karl Popper continued his teaching career at Canterbury University College, a position he held from 1946 to 1969. During this period, he further developed his philosophical ideas and influenced numerous students.

1947
Co-founding of the Mont Pelerin Society

In 1947, Karl Popper co-founded the Mont Pelerin Society with Friedrich Hayek, Milton Friedman, Ludwig von Mises, and others. He had disagreements with the think tank's charter and ideology, particularly regarding the invitation of socialists and emphasis on humanitarian values over a free market.

1949
Professorship at University of London

Karl Popper became a professor of logic and scientific method at the University of London in 1949.

1950
Publication of 'Indeterminism in Classical Physics and in Quantum Physics'

In 1950, Karl Popper published a paper titled 'Indeterminism in Classical Physics and in Quantum Physics,' where he discussed the impossibility of predicting the future course of history.

1953
Definition of Open Society by Karl Popper

In 1953, R. B. Levinson defined the open society as an association of free individuals who respect each other's rights within the framework of mutual protection provided by the state. This concept involves making responsible and rational decisions to achieve a more humane and enlightened life.

1956
The History of Our Time: An Optimist’s View

In 1956, Karl Popper discussed his optimistic perspective on the history of our time in the book 'Conjectures and Refutations'.

1957
The Poverty of Historicism

Karl Popper critiqued and argued against the scientific methodology of historicism, denying its fundamental ideas and the attempt to form predictive and explanatory laws.

1959
Publication of The Logic of Scientific Discovery

Karl Popper's work, The Logic of Scientific Discovery, published in 1959, is considered a pioneering classic in the field of philosophy of science.

1962
Criticisms of Falsificationism by Thomas Kuhn

Thomas Kuhn criticized falsificationism by arguing that observation is theory-laden, leading to different observations by proponents of different theories even when observing the same phenomena.

1963
Popper establishes falsifiability as the criterion for demarcating science

In 1963, Karl Popper established falsifiability as the criterion for distinguishing science from non-science. According to Popper, a theory is scientific if it is incompatible with possible empirical observations.

1965
Karl Popper was knighted

In 1965, Karl Popper was honored with a knighthood for his contributions to philosophy of science.

1966
Publication of Of Clouds and Clocks

Karl Popper released 'Of Clouds and Clocks: An Approach to the Problem of Rationality and the Freedom of Man' in 1966 in Washington, DC. This book explores the concepts of rationality and human agency in decision-making.

1967-08
Three Worlds Doctrine

The Three Worlds Doctrine, introduced by Karl Popper in August 1967, is a philosophical concept that divides reality into three distinct worlds: the outside world perceived through senses, the world of consciousness consisting of inner thoughts and dreams, and the world of thought content shared through culture and speech.

1968
The Open Philosophy and the Open Society: A Reply to Dr. Popper’s Refutations of Marxism

Maurice Cornforth published 'The Open Philosophy and the Open Society: A Reply to Dr. Popper’s Refutations of Marxism' in 1968 in London.

1969
Retirement

Karl Popper retired from his teaching career in 1969, returning to Austria briefly before settling in London until his passing in 1994. His retirement marked the end of an era but left behind a rich legacy of intellectual works.

1970
Normal Science and Its Dangers

In 1970, Karl Popper discussed 'Normal Science and Its Dangers' in the book 'Criticism and the Growth of Knowledge', edited by Imre Lakatos and Alan Musgrave, highlighting the potential risks associated with the concept of normal science.

1972
Popper's Three Worlds

Karl Popper proposed the concept of Three Worlds which include World One (physical world), World Two (world of mind), and World Three (body of human knowledge). He argued that World Three has an independent existence and evolution, influencing individual human minds.

1973
Transformation der Philosophie

Karl-Otto Apel attempted a comprehensive refutation of Popper's philosophy in his work Transformation der Philosophie in 1973, charging Popper with being guilty of a pragmatic contradiction.

1974-05-02
Discovering Karl Popper

Peter Singer's article 'Discovering Karl Popper' was published in The New York Review of Books on May 2, 1974.

1975
Popper's defense of realism in science

Popper defends the realist view that science aims to describe and explain reality, arguing that realism is entailed by our best scientific theories.

1976
Unended Quest

Karl Popper's 'Unended Quest', first published in 1976 and revised in 1984, chronicles his intellectual journey and philosophical inquiries, offering insights into his quest for knowledge.

1977
Popper formulates the two-stage model of free will

In his 1977 book with John Eccles, The Self and its Brain, Popper introduces the two-stage model of free will, comparing it to Darwinian evolution and natural selection.

1978
Delivery of 'Three Worlds' lecture in Tanner Lectures on Human Values

In 1978, Karl Popper delivered the 'Three Worlds' lecture as part of the Tanner Lectures on Human Values, which was later published in 1980. In this lecture, Popper further develops the notion of objectivity in a controversial way, emphasizing the importance of objectivity in epistemology.

1979
Karl Popper's views on truth content and problem solving

In 1979, Karl Popper discussed the concept of truth content and problem solving, stating that if the truth content of statement a exceeds that of statement b, then the truth content of a exceeds the truth content of b. He also suggested that problems may not be solved purely by logical means but by relativization to relevant problems or historical problem situations.

1980
World 3 Concept by Karl Popper

Karl Popper introduced the concept of World 3 as the realm of human cultural artifacts, including languages, scientific theories, and artistic creations, which are products of mental processes in World 2 and manifested in the physical environment of World 1.

1981
Putting Philosophy to Work: Karl Popper’s Influence on Scientific Practice

In 1981, Michael Mulkay and G. Nigel Gilbert published a paper titled 'Putting Philosophy to Work: Karl Popper’s Influence on Scientific Practice' in the journal Philosophy of the Social Sciences. The paper discussed Karl Popper's impact on scientific practices.

1982
The Open Universe: An Argument for Indeterminism

Published in 1982, 'The Open Universe: An Argument for Indeterminism' presents Karl Popper's arguments advocating for the concept of indeterminism in the universe.

1983
Realism and the Aim of Science

In 1983, Karl Popper published 'Realism and the Aim of Science' where he further addressed criticisms of his theories and discussed the aim of science.

1984
Karl Popper's Critique of Freud's Psychoanalysis

Karl Popper criticizes Freud's psychoanalysis theory by pointing out the lack of testable consequences, suggesting that the issue lies in the philosophers' understanding of its logical content rather than the scientific validity of psychoanalysis.

1985
Popper Selections

In 1985, 'Popper Selections', edited by David W Miller, offers a curated collection of Karl Popper's key writings and insights, providing a comprehensive overview of his philosophical ideas.

1986
Austria awards Popper the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold

In 1986, Austria honored Karl Popper with the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold for his services to the Republic of Austria, recognizing his significant contributions to the country.

1987
Evolutionary Epistemology, Rationality, and the Sociology of Knowledge

In 1987, Radnitzky, Gerard and W. W. Bartley edited a book titled 'Evolutionary Epistemology, Rationality, and the Sociology of Knowledge' which was published in La Salle, IL by Open Court.

1988
Premio Internazionale of the Italian Federico Nietzsche Society

In 1988, Karl Popper was honored with the Premio Internazionale by the Italian Federico Nietzsche Society for his significant contributions to various fields.

1989
Publication of 'Truth, Hope and Power: The Thought of Karl Popper'

In 1989, Douglas E. Williams published a book titled 'Truth, Hope and Power: The Thought of Karl Popper' which explores the ideas and philosophy of Karl Popper.

1992
Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy

In 1992, Karl Popper was awarded the Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy for symbolizing the open spirit of the 20th century and his profound influence on modern intellectual thought.

1993
Publication of Popper’s Views on Natural and Social Science

In 1993, C. G. F. Simkin published a work focusing on Karl Popper's perspectives on natural and social sciences, providing insights into his views on these subjects.

1994-09-17
The Death of Karl Popper

Karl Popper passed away at the age of 92 due to complications of cancer. He was dedicated to his work on the philosophy of science until the end, leaving a lasting legacy in the field.

1995
University of Klagenfurt acquires Popper's library

The University of Klagenfurt acquired Karl Popper's library in 1995, which includes approximately 6,000 books, his bibliophilia, and hard copies of original Hoover material. The library is open for research purposes.

1996
Publication of Political Thought of Karl Popper

In 1996, Jeremy Shearmur released a book titled 'Political Thought of Karl Popper' which explores the political ideologies and theories proposed by Karl Popper.

1997-11-13
First Publication of Karl Popper

Karl Popper's work was first published on November 13, 1997. He is considered one of the most influential philosophers of science in the 20th century.

1998
Publication of Popper: Philosophy, Politics and

Geoffrey Stokes released a book in 1998 titled 'Popper: Philosophy, Politics and', which likely delves into the philosophical and political aspects of Karl Popper's works.

1999
All Life Is Problem Solving

In 1999, Karl Popper's 'All Life Is Problem Solving' delves into the fundamental role of problem-solving in human life and the evolutionary significance of addressing challenges.

2000
Karl Popper—The Formative Years, 1902–1945: Politics and Philosophy in Interwar Vienna

In 2000, Malachi Haim Hacohen published 'Karl Popper—The Formative Years, 1902–1945: Politics and Philosophy in Interwar Vienna' which explores the early life and influences on Karl Popper.

2002
Popper's view on basic statements

Popper argues that basic statements, which are fundamental in forming decisions, cannot be justified solely based on perceptual experiences. He emphasizes that experiences may influence decisions, but the validation of basic statements relies on other statements rather than sensory input.

2004
Michel ter Hark's Analysis of Popper's Ideas and Otto Selz

Michel ter Hark discusses how Popper derived some ideas from his tutor Otto Selz, who was unable to publish his ideas due to the rise of Nazism.

2007-02-08
BBC Radio 4 Discussion on Karl Popper

On February 8, 2007, a discussion on BBC Radio 4 featuring Karl Popper with John Worrall, Anthony O'Hear, and Nancy Cartwright. The discussion likely focused on Popper's philosophical ideas and contributions.

2008-10
University of Klagenfurt acquires copyrights from Popper's estate

In October 2008, the University of Klagenfurt acquired the copyrights from Karl Popper's estate, ensuring the preservation and dissemination of his intellectual property.

2009-10-28
George Soros revises his philosophy in a lecture

George Soros, one of Popper's students, gave a lecture at Central European University where he discussed his differing epistemological assumptions from Popper's and emphasized the importance of democracy in politics.

2010
Stefano Gattei's Book on Karl Popper's Philosophy of Science

In 2010, Stefano Gattei wrote a book that delves into Karl Popper's Philosophy of Science, focusing on the concept of rationality without foundations. The book titled 'Karl Popper’s Philosophy of Science: Rationality without Foundations' provides insights into Popper's philosophical views.

2012
After the Open Society: Selected Social and Political Writings

In 2012, 'After the Open Society: Selected Social and Political Writings' edited by Jeremy Shearmur and Piers Norris Turner was published by Routledge in London and New York. The book contains a selection of social and political writings.

2014
Karl Popper

Stephen Thornton's 2014 article 'Karl Popper' in The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy provides an overview of Karl Popper's philosophical contributions.

2016-01-12
History of Twentieth-Century Philosophy of Science, BOOK V: Karl Popper

A book on the history of twentieth-century philosophy of science, specifically focusing on Karl Popper, was made available for free downloads by chapter on January 12, 2016.

2017-08-05
OUP Philosophy Honors Karl Popper

In August 2017, the OUP Philosophy team honored Sir Karl Raimund Popper as their Philosopher of the Month. Popper, widely regarded as one of the greatest thinkers of the twentieth century, made significant contributions to the fields of philosophy of science and political philosophy.

2017-10-20
Archiving of Karl Popper's Liberalism

On October 20, 2017, Karl Popper's liberalism was archived by John N. Gray. The archived material can be accessed at the Wayback Machine.

2020
The Feyerabend-Popper Correspondence (1948–1967)

In 2020, a publication titled 'The Feyerabend-Popper Correspondence (1948–1967)' was included in Feyerabend's Formative Years. This correspondence sheds light on the interactions between Feyerabend and Popper during the years 1948 to 1967.

2021
Critical Rationalism and the Theory of Society: Critical Rationalism and the Open Society (Volume 1)

Alamuiti published a book in 2021 titled 'Critical Rationalism and the Theory of Society: Critical Rationalism and the Open Society (Volume 1)' which discusses the concept of critical rationalism in relation to society.

2022-09-12
Substantive Revision of Karl Popper

On September 12, 2022, Karl Popper's work underwent a substantive revision. He is known for his contributions to the philosophy of science and social theory.

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Karl Popper
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