Paul Oppenheim: 1885-1977

By Lori Ortega

  • Paul Oppenheim: (1885-1977) Overview

    In the year 1885, in Frankfurt, Paul Oppenheim was born. He led a life as an esteemed philosopher who was originally a Chemist. During this time, he worked for Germany's war industry in WWI. He was also the Heir to his parent's fortune from their diamond industry. However, due to the heightened war, Oppenheim moved out of Germany and built friendships with other Philosophers that would have great achievements.

  • Paul Oppenheim School

    During this time, he took an interest in Albert Einstein's work and collaborated with Hans Reichenbach to open the "Berlin School of Logical Empiricism." They viewed Albert Einstein as their hero and based many of their principles on his teachings. They built the school with a shared understanding of beliefs, goals, and values. "They all inclined to the view that science, and in particular natural science, is the mode that all rigorous knowledge ought to emulate." (Rescher, Nicolas)

  • Publications

    Oppenheim also worked with Carl G. Hempel, who he trusted to overlook his writings before publishing them. His publications included "Two monographs respectively on the fundamental principles of a comparative science of the Sciences (1926)" and "Scientific-concept Formation (1928)" (Rescher, Nicolas)

  • Moving from Germany

    Due to the War, Oppenheim decided to move to Brussels in Belgium. He made many strides there with collaboration efforts with Hempel where he wrote "a book on the logic of classifications" (Rescher, Nicolas)

  • Investigation

    During this time Oppenheim worked with Kurt Grelling in Brussels investigating the "Gesalt Concept." Essentially, they were investigating a softer, more human approach to mental health studies rather than a strict doctrine. "involves nothing more than the description of direct psychological experience, with no restrictions on what is permissible in the description." (Brittanica)

  • United States

    After six years in Brussels, Oppenheim and his family moved to the United States in New Jersey. He worked in Princeton where his friend Hempel would continue work with him.

  • Death

    Leaving behind a legacy and much work to show for it. Oppenheim died at 92 years old in 1977.

  • References

    Rescher, N. (2006). The Berlin School of Logical Empiricism and its Legacy. Erkenntnis, 64(3), 281-304. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10670-005-4311-7 Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Gestalt psychology". Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Jun. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/science/Gestalt-psychology. Accessed 24 July 2023.