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July 28th 1902, Birth of Karl Popper
Karl Raimund Popper, Austrian born British philosopher, was born in Vienna, Austria on July 28th 1902. Both of his parents were of Jewish origins and Popper later describes the atmosphere of his childhood as "decidedly bookish." Stanford University. (2021, September 15). Karl Popper (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved February 27, 2022, from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/popper/ -
University of Vienna
Popper left school at the age of 16 and attended lectures at the University of Vienna, initially, as a guest student, on mathematics, physics, philosophy, psychology and the history of music. Stanford University. (2021, September 15). Karl Popper (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved February 27, 2022, from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/popper/ -
Attracted to Marxism
For short period during his adolescent years popper became very interested in left-wing politics. According to (Stanford University, 2021) "Popper for a time became a Marxist. However, he was quickly disillusioned with the doctrinaire and soon abandoned it entirely." Stanford University. (2021, September 15). Karl Popper (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved February 27, 2022, from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/popper/ -
Academic Achievements
In 1925 Popper earned primary school teaching credentials. Later, in 1928, he earned his PhD for his dissertation “Zur Methodenfrage der Denkpsychologie” (On the Problem of Method in the Psychology of Thinking). In 1929, Popper qualified to teach math and physics at the secondary level. In 1945 Popper studied logic at the London School of Economics and he eventually became a professor there teaching logic and the scientific method until he retired in 1969. -
The Logic of Scientific Discovery
Originally published in German, the book suggested that the true method for science is not by hypothesis, observation and confirmation but rather on conjecture and experimentation, where the concept of falsification played a very major role. Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). Karl Popper | Biography, Books, Theory, & Facts. Retrieved February 27, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Karl-Popper -
The Poverty of Historicism
In 1957, Poppers Book, The Poverty of Historicism (first written as a paper) was published. The book is primarily an overall criticism of the ideas of historicism with the underlying belief that they are dangerous and bankrupt. -
Conjectures & Refutations
Conjectures and Refutations was published in 1963 and is probably considered one of his most wide-ranging and popular books. The writings are notable because of the precise insights into the way in which science grows and at the same time the application of insights to politics and history. Stanford University. (2021, September 15). Karl Popper (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved February 27, 2022, from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/popper/ -
Science & Absolute Truth
Linked in this entry below is a video of Karl Popper discussing Science & Absolute Truth, recorded in 1974 but published on YouTube July 27th, 2021. https://youtu.be/li0ciaqJ0m0 -
Death of Karl Popper
Rest In Peace -
Poppers Contributions: Philosophy of Science
Poppers main contribution to the Philosophy of Science is primarily his rejection surrounding the inductive methods of the empirical sciences. According to this point of view a scientific hypothesis can be tested and verified only by obtaining the result over-and-over in order to substantiate observations. Popper coined the term "critical rationalism" in describing his philosophy on science. Despite this he also rejected solutions to the problem of demarcation based upon inductive reasoning.