“The more we learn about the world and the deeper our learning, the more conscious, specific and articulate will be our knowledge of what we do not know, our knowledge of our ignorance”
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Karl Popper
Sir Karl Raimund Popper was an Austrian–British philosopher, academic and social commentator. One of the 20th century's most influential philosophers of science, Popper is known for his rejection of the classical inductivist views on the scientific method in favour of empirical falsification made possible by his falsifiability criterion, and for founding the Department of Philosophy at the London…
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science · Austrian–British philosopher of science (1902–1994) · philosopher · philosopher of science · writer · university teacher · sociologist · mathematician · teacher · also Karl Popper, Karl Raimund Popper Sir, Karl Raimund, Sir Popper, Sir Karl Raimund Popper, Popper
Born 28 July 1902 · Died 17 September 1994 · Q81244
97 published statements · 0 followers
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2026· 2 entries
“nothing ever comes off exactly as intended.”
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2021· 1 entry
RealClearScience: Did Karl Popper Doubt Evolution?
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2018· 4 entries
Scientific American magazine: The Paradox of Karl Popper
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“Ogni soluzione di un problema crea nuovi problemi irrisolti. (citato in AA.VV., Il libro della filosofia, traduzione di Daniele Ballarini e Anna Carbone, Gribaudo, 2018, p. 264. ISBN 9788858014165)”
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“Hume ha perfettamente ragione quando afferma che l'induzione non può essere giustificata in alcun modo. (citato in AA.VV., Il libro della filosofia, traduzione di Daniele Ballarini e Anna Carbone, Gribaudo, 2018, p. 153. ISBN 9788858014165)”
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“Philosophy Has Made Plenty of Progress”
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2016· 2 entries
“K. Popper, The Myth of the Framework, London: Routledge. As quoted in The Cambridge Companion to Karl Popper (2016) by J. Shearmur, G. Stokes”
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“Citation choisie pour le 13 octobre 2016.”
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2012· 1 entry
“Alonso Rodríguez, A. M. (2012). The Reception of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution in Karl R. Popper. Agora. Papeles De Filosofía, 31(1).”
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2009· 1 entry
“Citation choisie pour le 30 juillet 2009.”
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2006· 1 entry
“Methode von Versuch und Irrtum: Es ist die Methode, kühne Hypothesen aufzustellen und sie der schärfsten Kritik auszusetzen, um herauszufinden, wo wir uns geirrt haben." - Ausgangspunkte. Meine intellektuelle Entwicklung. Deutsch von Friedrich Griese. Piper, 2. Aufl. 2006, S. 118, ISBN 978-3492241885.”
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2005· 3 entries
“L'unità dell'Occidente su un'unica idea, su una sola fede, su un'unica religione, sarebbe la fine dell'Occidente, la nostra capitolazione, il nostro assoggettamento incondizionato all'idea totalitaria (da Come io vedo la filosofia e altri saggi, Armando Editore, Roma, 2005, p. 142 ISBN 8883589998)”
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“Und dann müssen wir noch Schulen einführen, um die Kinder aus dem Weg zu schaffen: der eigentliche Zweck von Schulen." - Die erkenntnistheoretische Position der Evolutionären Erkenntnistheorie. S. 132 books.google. In: Alles Leben ist Problemlösen. S. 127-144. 2. Aufl. 2005, München, Piper”
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“La ricerca della verità è possibile soltanto se parliamo chiaramente e semplicemente ed evitiamo tecnicismi e complicazioni non necessari. Dal mio punto di vista, mirare alla semplicità e alla chiarezza è un dovere morale degli intellettuali: la mancanza di chiarezza è un peccato e la pretenziosità è un delitto. (da La scienza la filosofia e il senso comune, Armando Editore, 2005, p. 27)”
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2003· 1 entry
Awarded Montyon Prize (2003).
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2001· 1 entry
“La storia dell'evoluzione suggerisce che l'universo non abbia mai smesso di essere creativo o «inventivo». (da Karl Popper, John C. Eccles, L'io e il suo cervello, a cura di Barbara Continenza, traduzione di Giuseppe Mininni, Armando Editore, 2001)”
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1999· 1 entry
“On Freedom" in All Life is Problem Solving (1999)”
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1998· 1 entry
“, 1998 (ISBN 978-2-0812-3364-5), chap. II. Les deux visages du sens commun, 3 Divergence avec les autres approches, p. 87-88”
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1994· 8 entries
Died 1994-09-17.
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“You can choose whatever name you like for the two types of government. I personally call the type of government which can be removed without violence "democracy", and the other "tyranny.”
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“Good tests kill flawed theories; we remain alive to guess again.”
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“Philosophers should consider the fact that the greatest happiness principle can easily be made an excuse for a benevolent dictatorship. We should replace it by a more modest and more realistic principle — the principle that the fight against avoidable misery should be a recognized aim of public policy, while the increase of happiness should be left, in the main, to private initiative.”
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“Those who promise us paradise on earth never produced anything but a hell.”
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“I appeal to the philosophers of all countries to unite and never again mention Heidegger or talk to another philosopher who defends Heidegger. This man was a devil. I mean, he behaved like a devil to his beloved teacher, and he has a devilish influence on Germany. ... One has to read Heidegger in the original to see what a swindler he was.”
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“I think so badly of philosophy that I don't like to talk about it. ... I do not want to say anything bad about my dear colleagues, but the profession of teacher of philosophy is a ridiculous one. We don't need a thousand of trained, and badly trained, philosophers — it is very silly. Actually most of them have nothing to say.”
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“It seems to me that I may be living too long. Indeed: my nearest relations have all died, and so have some of my best friends, and even some of my best pupils. However, I do not have a reason to complain. I am grateful and happy to be alive, and still be able to continue with my work, if only just. My work seems to me more important than ever.”
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1993· 1 entry
Won Otto Hahn Peace Medal (1993).
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1992· 10 entries
Won Goethe Medal (1992).
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Awarded Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy (1992).
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“Unser erstes Ziel heute muß der Friede sein. Der ist sehr schwer zu erreichen in einer Welt wie der unseren, wo Leute wie Saddam Hussein und ähnliche Diktatoren existieren. Wir dürfen hier nicht davor zurückschrecken, für den Frieden Krieg zu führen." - Interview im SPIEGEL, 13/1992, S. 202ff http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-13682439.html”
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“[Karl Popper, La lezione di questo secolo, a cura di Giancarlo Bosetti, Marsilio, Venezia 1992]”
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“Science may be described as the art of systematic over-simplification. (da The Open Universe: An Argument for Indeterminism, 1992, p. 44. ISBN 0-415-07865-2)”
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“Die Ozonlöcher können seit Millionen Jahren existiert haben. Möglicherweise haben die keine Beziehung zu irgend etwas Modernem." - Interview im SPIEGEL, 13/1992, S. 202ff http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-13682439.html”
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“Wir müssen für die Freiheit planen und nicht nur für die Sicherheit, wenn auch vielleicht aus keinem anderen Grund als dem, daß nur die Freiheit die Sicherheit sichern kann." - Die offene Gesellschaft und ihre Feinde. Mohr, 7. Auflage 1992, Tübingen, S. 224”
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“der Versuch, den Himmel auf Erden einzurichten, erzeugt stets die Hölle. Dieser Versuch führt zu Intoleranz, zu religiösen Kriegen und zur Rettung der Seelen durch die Inquisition." - Die offene Gesellschaft und ihre Feinde. Band II, Mohr/Siebeck, Tübingen, 1992, S. 277 books.google.”
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Was awarded the Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy for "symbolising the open spirit of the 20th century" and for his "enormous influence on the formation of the modern intellectual climate"
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“The Open Universe : An Argument for Indeterminism (1992), p. 44”
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1991· 1 entry
Awarded honorary doctor of the University of Madrid Complutense (1991).
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1989· 3 entries
Awarded Catalonia International Prize (1989).
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“The Importance of Critical Discussion" in On the Barricades: Religion and Free Inquiry in Conflict (1989) by Robert Basil”
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Was the first awarded the Prize International Catalonia for "his work to develop cultural, scientific and human values all around the world"
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1988· 1 entry
“On Democracy", The Economist (1988)”
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1986· 1 entry
And the Federal Republic of Germany its Grand Cross with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit, and the peace class of the Order Pour le Mérite
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1985· 1 entry
Returned to Austria so that his wife could have her relatives around her during the last months of her life; she died in November that year
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1984· 1 entry
Awarded Prix Alexis de Tocqueville (1984).
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1982· 2 entries
Awarded Companion of Honour (1982).
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Said, "ever since his Logik der Forschung first came out in 1934, I have been a complete adherent to his general theory of methodology
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1981· 1 entry
Awarded Dr. Leopold Lucas Prize (1981).
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1980· 2 entries
Awarded Austrian Decoration for Science and Art (1980).
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Awarded Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order (1980).
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1977· 1 entry
Awarded honorary doctor of the University of Vienna (1977).
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1976· 1 entry
Awarded Benjamin E. Lippincott Award for The Open Society and Its Enemies (1976).
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1973· 2 entries
Awarded Sonning Prize (1973).
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Awarded honorary doctor of the University of Canterbury (1973).
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1972· 2 entries
“Objective Knowledge: An Evolutionary Approach (1972)”
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“[Karl Popper, La natura dei problemi filosofici, in Congetture e confutazioni, traduzione di G. Pancaldi, Il Mulino, Bologna 1972.]”
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1969· 2 entries
Though he remained intellectually active for the rest of his life
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With the condition that it should be kept secret until after his death, he summarised his position on God as follows: "I don't know whether God exists or not (
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1967· 1 entry
“Epistemology Without A Knowing Subject (1967)”
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1965· 3 entries
Awarded Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi (1965).
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And was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1976
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Popper revisited the idea of quantum indeterminacy as a source of human freedom
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1960· 2 entries
“Es dürfte uns gut tun, uns manchmal daran zu erinnern, dass wir zwar in dem Wenigen, das wir wissen, sehr verschieden sein mögen, dass wir aber in unserer grenzenlosen Unwissenheit alle gleich sind." - Von den Quellen unseres Wissens und unserer Unwissenheit. Vorlesung vor der Britischen Akademie am 20. Januar 1960. In: Vermutungen und Widerlegungen, Band 1, S. 45 books.google”
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“("It might be well for all of us to remember that, while differing widely in the various little bits we know, in our infinite ignorance we are all equal." - On the Sources of Knowledge and of Ignorance. Annual Philosophical Lecture before the Britsh Academy 20 January 1960. In: Conjectures and Refutations - The Growth of Scientific Knowledge. p. 38 books.google)”
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1959· 1 entry
“First translated into English in 1959”
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1958· 1 entry
“Für den Naturwissenschaftler ist die Spezialisierung eine Versuchung; für den Philosophen ist sie eine Todsünde." - Zurück zu den Vorsokratikern (Ansprache als Präsident der Aristotelian Society 13. Oktober 1958). In: Vermutungen und Widerlegungen - Das Wachstum der wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnis. S. 211 books.google”
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1957· 3 entries
Popper would dedicate The Poverty of Historicism to "memory of the countless men, women and children of all creeds or nations or races who fell victims to the fascist and communist belief in Inexorable Laws of Historical
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“The Poverty of Historicism (1957) Ch. 29 The Unity of Method”
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“The Poverty of Historicism (1957) Ch. 22 The Unholy Alliance with Utopianism”
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1953· 1 entry
“The Problem of Induction" (1953, 1974)”
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1949· 2 entries
Was appointed professor of logic and scientific method
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“("We should therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant." - The Open Society and Its Enemies, 1949, Routledge & K. Paul, p. 226 books.google)”
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1947· 1 entry
Popper co-founded the Mont Pelerin Society, with Friedrich Hayek, Milton Friedman, Ludwig von Mises and others, although he did not fully agree with the think tank's charter and ideology
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1946· 2 entries
Popper founded the Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method at the London School of Economics (LSE) and there lectured and influenced both Imre Lakatos and Paul Feyerabend, two of the foremost philosophers o
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After the Second World War, he moved to the United Kingdom to become a reader in logic and scientific method at the London School of Economics (LSE), a constituent School of the University of London, where, three years l
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1944· 2 entries
“I think I have learnt more from you than from any other living thinker, except perhaps Alfred Tarski.”
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Popper stated, "I think I have learnt more from you than from any other living thinker, except perhaps Alfred Tarski
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1937· 1 entry
Popper finally managed to get a position that allowed him to emigrate to New Zealand, where he became lecturer in philosophy at Canterbury University College of the University of New Zealand in Christchurch
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1936· 1 entry
Applying to the Academic Assistance Council to leave Austria, he described himself as "Protestant, namely evangelical but of Jewish origin
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1935· 2 entries
Of the consequences of Tarski's theory, to his intense joy
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And 1936, he took unpaid leave to go to the United Kingdom for a study visit
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1934· 1 entry
“one of the strongest motives for scientific discovery.”
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1933· 2 entries
“s theory, to his intense joy. The theory met critical objections to truth as correspondence and thereby rehabilitated it. The theory also seemed, in Popper”
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And prohibited any reference to his ideas
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1929· 1 entry
Obtained an authorisation to teach mathematics and physics in secondary school and began doing so
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1928· 2 entries
Studied at University of Vienna, Doctor of Philosophy (1928).
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Popper earned a doctorate in psychology, under the supervision of Karl Bühler—with Moritz Schlick being the second chair of the thesis committee
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1925· 1 entry
Went to the newly founded Pädagogisches Institut and continued studying philosophy and psychology
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1924· 1 entry
And started working at an after-school care club for socially endangered children
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1922· 1 entry
Did his matura by way of a second chance education and finally joined the university as an ordinary student
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1919· 2 entries
Had a profound effect on him: During a riot, caused by the Communists, the police shot several unarmed people, including some of Popper's friends, when they tried to free party comrades from prison
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Popper became attracted by Marxism and subsequently joined the Association of Socialist School Students
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1918· 1 entry
Studied at University of Vienna (1918).
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1902· 2 entries
Born 1902-07-28.
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Karl Popper was born in Vienna (then in Austria-Hungary) in 1902 to upper-middle-class parents.
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1856· 1 entry
His father, Simon Siegmund Carl Popper (1856–1932), was a lawyer from Bohemia and a doctor of law at the Vienna University.
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