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Being born
Laudan was born in Austin, Texas, in 1941. During the Second World War, his family moved about quite a bit to be near his father's naval bases. -
Publishing his book "Progress and Its Problems: Towards a Theory of Scientific Growth" (1977)
This book is widely considered Laudan's most influential work. It established him as a major figure in the philosophy of science and offered a critical perspective on scientific progress. The book challenged traditional views on scientific methodology and emphasized the importance of social and historical factors in scientific development. -
Science and Relativism: Dialogues on the Philosophy of Science
This book explored scientific rationality, objectivity, and the relationship between science and society. It challenged some traditional views on scientific relativism. Has a unique dialogue format with four characters representing different philosophical positions: Positivist Realist Pragmatist and Relativist. -
The Book of Risks
"The Book of Risks" offered a critical perspective on risk perception and decision-making. It challenged the public's reliance on media portrayals of risk and encouraged a more data-driven approach to understanding and managing risk in various contexts. -
Beyond Positivism and Relativism
This book built on Laudan's previous work and argued for a nuanced approach to scientific methodology that acknowledges both rational and social factors in scientific progress. -
Laudan's Focus on Legal Epistemology
Larry Laudan's later career marked a significant shift from his well-known work in the philosophy of science to the realm of legal epistemology. Legal epistemology is a subfield of philosophy that analyzes the nature and acquisition of knowledge within the legal system. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b7d9Edu1OY&t=24s -
Passed away
Larry Laudan passed away on August 23, 2022, at the age of 81. There are no publicly available details about the specific circumstances surrounding his death.