Karl Popper
1902 – 1994 Austrian-British Philosopher of science, LSE professor
Philosopher of science at the LSE known for falsifiability and his defence of the open society.
- Religion
- Lutheran (assimilated Jewish family background)
- Affiliations
- London School of Economics; author of 'The Open Society and Its Enemies'.
Karl Popper was a philosopher who joined the LSE in 1946 and later held a chair in logic and scientific method. In 'The Logic of Scientific Discovery' he argued that a theory is scientific only if it can in principle be proven false. His wartime book 'The Open Society and Its Enemies' attacked grand historical theories and closed political systems. He was an intellectual ally of Friedrich Hayek, and together they strengthened the LSE's reputation as a centre of anti-collectivist thought.
Connections
- ally of Friedrich Hayek — Close intellectual ally; Hayek helped bring him to the LSE.
- ally of Friedrich Hayek — Intellectual allies against collectivism; Hayek helped bring Popper to the LSE.
In the timeline
- 1934 Popper argues that science must be falsifiable philosopher
- 1946 Karl Popper joins the School new professor