Karl Popper

Austrian-British philosopher of science and social and política e falsificationism and for criticism of Plato, Hegel and Marx as totalitarian opponents of open society (1902-1994) · Austria · Academics · Died at 92

Karl Popper is read about 2,198 times a day, in 96 languages.

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He turned science on its head by saying you can't prove a theory true - only knock it down. That one idea, falsifiability, made Karl Popper the philosopher every working scientist had to reckon with, whether they liked it or not.

Academics Academic Philosophy Literature Mathematics 20th Century

A life in dates

2003Montyon PrizeAward1994Died17 September 19941993Otto Hahn Peace MedalAward1992“Science may be described as the art of systematic over-simplification - the art of discerning what we may with advantage omit.”In their wordsThe Open Universe : An Argument for Indeterminism (1992), p. 44Read the whole statement

Goethe MedalAwardKyoto Prize in Arts and PhilosophyAward1989“There is an almost universal tendency, perhaps an inborn tendency, to suspect the good faith of a man who holds opinions that differ from our own opinions. ...”In their words"The Importance of Critical Discussion" in On the Barricades: Religion and Free Inquiry in Conflict (1989) by Robert BasilRead the whole statement

Catalonia International PrizeAward1984Prix Alexis de TocquevilleAward1982Companion of HonourAward1981Dr. Leopold Lucas PrizeAward1980Austrian Decoration for Science and ArtAwardPour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts orderAward1976Benjamin E. Lippincott AwardAward1973Honorary Doctor of the University of CanterburyAwardSonning PrizeAward1972“Whenever a theory appears to you as the only possible one, take this as a sign that you have neither understood the theory nor the problem which it was intended to solve.”In their wordsObjective Knowledge: An Evolutionary Approach (1972)Read the whole statement

1967“Scientists try to eliminate their false theories, they try to let them die in their stead. The believer - whether animal or man - perishes with his false beliefs.”In their wordsEpistemology Without A Knowing Subject (1967)Read the whole statement

1965Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society Te ApārangiAward1954“You can choose whatever name you like for the two types of government.”In their wordsAs quoted in Freedom: A New Analysis (1954) by Maurice William Cranston, p. 112Read the whole statement

1953“The answer to this problem is: as implied by Hume, we certainly are not justified in reasoning from an instance to the truth of the corresponding law.”In their words"The Problem of Induction" (1953, 1974)Read the whole statement

1902Born28 July 1902

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

Karl Raimund Popper- Alien Registration File (27420130910)

Karl Raimund Popper- Certificate of Registration of Alien (27420039140)

Metodo scientifico

Photo of Karl Popper (cropped)

In their own words 10

Karl Popper

10 statements, newest first

Science may be described as the art of systematic over-simplification - the art of discerning what we may with advantage omit.
1992, The Open Universe : An Argument for Indeterminism (1992), p. 44, Own words
There is an almost universal tendency, perhaps an inborn tendency, to suspect the good faith of a man who holds opinions that differ from our own opinions. ...
1989, "The Importance of Critical Discussion" in On the Barricades: Religion and Free Inquiry in Conflict (1989) by Robert Basil, Own words
From Plato to Karl Marx and beyond, the fundamental problem has always been: who should rule the state?
1988, "On Democracy", The Economist (1988), Own words

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Awards

Montyon Prize2003

Otto Hahn Peace Medal1993

Goethe Medal1992

Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy1992

Honorary Doctor of the University of Madrid Complutense1991

Catalonia International Prize1989

Prix Alexis de Tocqueville1984

Companion of Honour1982

Dr. Leopold Lucas Prize1981

Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order1980

Austrian Decoration for Science and Art1980

Honorary Doctor of the University of Vienna1977

Benjamin E. Lippincott Award1976

Sonning Prize1973

Honorary Doctor of the University of Canterbury1973

Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi1965

Ring of Honour of the City of Vienna

Great Golden Medal of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria

Great Cross with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

Honorary Doctorate of Salzburg University

Fellow of the British Academy

Honorary Doctor of the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt

Knight Bachelor

Honorary Doctor of the Charles University of Prague

Family

Parents

Karl Popper

Partners

Spouse Josefine Anna Henninger

Brothers and sisters

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About this person

Born in Vienna in 1902, Popper broke with centuries of scientific orthodoxy: where others chased confirmation, he argued that real science advances by trying to destroy its own claims. A theory that can't be tested to destruction isn't science at all. He called it falsification, and it rewired how researchers think about evidence. He fled Austria, landed in Britain, and founded the philosophy department at the London School of Economics. In politics he was just as uncompromising - a relentless defender of liberal democracy and the open society, and an enemy of totalitarianism in every form. He died in 1994, having spent seventy years insisting that doubt, not certainty, is the engine of progress.

Country

Austria

In common with Karl

Hannah ArendtBoth received Benjamin E. Lippincott Award

Jürgen HabermasBoth received Benjamin E. Lippincott Award

Leszek KołakowskiBoth received Prix Alexis de Tocqueville

Simone de BeauvoirBoth received Benjamin E. Lippincott Award

Isaiah BerlinBoth received Benjamin E. Lippincott Award Alexander ZinovievBoth received Prix Alexis de Tocqueville

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