The Vienna Circle
Philosophers and scientists promoting logical positivism, scientific empiricism, and unified science.
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Narrative
The Vienna Circle was an influential group of philosophers and scientists who met regularly in Vienna during the 1920s and 1930s. Its unique culture centered on logical empiricism (also known as logical positivism), a philosophical movement that sought to unify science and reject metaphysics by emphasizing empirical observation and logical analysis as the sole sources of knowledge. The Circle fostered innovation through its rigorous methodology of interdisciplinary discussion and critical scrutiny of philosophical and scientific concepts, aiming to clarify language and eliminate pseudoscientific claims.
The group emerged in post-World War I Vienna, a vibrant intellectual hub, and was closely associated with the University of Vienna, particularly through Moritz Schlick's professorship. This environment, characterized by intellectual ferment and a reaction against speculative philosophy, provided fertile ground for the Circle's radical empiricist approach, enabling a collective genius focused on establishing a scientific worldview across various disciplines.
Key People
Chairperson / Founder
- Moritz Schlick
Key Members
- Rudolf Carnap
- Otto Neurath
- Hans Hahn
- Friedrich Waismann
- Herbert Feigl
- Viktor Kraft
- Karl Menger
- Kurt Gödel
- Carl Gustav Hempel
- Alfred Jules Ayer
Breakthroughs
- Logical Positivism/Empiricism: Developed and promoted this philosophical movement, asserting that only statements verifiable through empirical observation or logical analysis are meaningful. This fundamentally influenced 20th-century analytic philosophy and the philosophy of science.
- The Scientific Conception of the World: The Vienna Circle (1929): Their manifesto outlining their foundational principles, including the rejection of metaphysics, the unity of science, and the emphasis on logical analysis and empirical verification. This publication solidified their program and introduced their ideas to a broader audience.
- Unified Science Movement: Advocated for a "unified science" (Einheitswissenschaft), proposing a common language and methodology across all scientific disciplines to overcome disciplinary fragmentation and achieve a coherent scientific worldview. This led to efforts like the International Encyclopedia of Unified Science.
Related Entities
Influenced By
- Ernst Mach: His empiricist philosophy and critique of metaphysics were foundational.
- Ludwig Wittgenstein: His early work, particularly the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, was extensively discussed and influenced their views on language and logic.
- Gottlob Frege: His work in mathematical logic provided essential tools.
- Bertrand Russell: His work on logic and philosophy of mathematics was highly influential.
Influenced
- The Berlin Circle: A closely related group, sharing many philosophical tenets.
- Analytic Philosophy: The Vienna Circle significantly shaped the development of analytic philosophy in the English-speaking world.
- Philosophy of Science: Their work established many central questions and methods in the philosophy of science.