Skip to Navigation
University of Pittsburgh
Print This Page Print this pages

July 22, 1999

University acquires philosopher Hempel's papers

University acquires philosopher Hempel's papers

The University Library System has acquired the personal and professional papers of the late Carl G. Hempel, one of this century's most important philosophers.

Hempel, who died in 1997, studied under both Hans Reichenbach and Rudolf Carnap, who are among the founding fathers of modern scientific philosophy.

After emigrating from Germany in the 1930s, Hempel helped foster the rise of scientific philosophy in the United States, teaching at Pitt, Queens College, Yale and Princeton.

Hempel was a resident fellow at Pitt's Center for Philosophy of Science from 1977 to 1985 and was one of only two individuals named fellow honoris causa of the center.

The philosopher's books, papers, notes, correspondence, detailed diaries and teaching materials will become part of the University's Archives of Scientific Philosophy, which is housed within Hillman Library's special collections.

The holdings consist almost entirely of works devoted to the philosophy of science, logic, the philosophy of the mind and the philosophy of language. The Hempel collection will be put on microfilm to preserve the originals and make the materials accessible. Under a pre-existing agreement, a copy of the microfilmed collection will be given to the University of Konstanz in Germany.

The acquisition is made possible through the support of the Hillman Foundation.


Leave a Reply