Category: Allgemein

Peter Bieri (1944–2023) passed away on June 27, 2023, at the age of 79.

Bieri was influential in the development of analytic philosophy in the German-speaking world, among other things through the volumes he edited, Analytische Philosophie des Geistes (Hain 1981) and Analytische Philosophie der Erkenntnis (Athenäum 1987). He also expressed critical views on certain developments in analytic philosophy. He argued that an overly strong focus on formal argumentation sometimes makes philosophy resemble “hobby mathematics,” and that philosophical questions can sound like mere logical games (see his essay “Was bleibt von der analytischen Philosophie?” in DZPhil, 2007).

In 1993, Bieri was appointed to a professorship in philosophy at Freie Universität Berlin, which he relinquished in 2007. Under the pseudonym “Pascal Mercier,” he published numerous novels, including Perlmanns Schweigen (Albrecht Knaus 1995) and Nachtzug nach Lissabon (Hanser 2004).

On philpublica.de, links to obituaries can be found here in recognition of Peter Bieri’s achievements.

Holm Tetens has written an obituary for FU Berlin and the GAP.

June 3, 2023 marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Stegmüller, full professor of philosophy, logic, and philosophy of science at LMU Munich and a leading philosopher of science of the 20th century.

Stegmüller was one of the main figures responsible for analytical philosophy gaining a foothold again in Germany after the war, after the generation of the Vienna Circle had been driven out by the Nazis. In his honour, the Society for Analytical Philosophy awards the Wolfgang Stegmüller Prize every three years for outstanding work in analytical philosophy. Information about the prizewinners can be found here.

Further information about Wolfgang Stegmüller and his significance for analytical philosophy can also be found in the GAP President Elke Brendel’s greeting, delivered as part of the symposium marking the 100th anniversary of Wolfgang Stegmüller’s birth, “Quo Vadis? Analytical Philosophy in Germany Thirty Years after Wolfgang Stegmüller” (LMU Munich, June 29, 2023).

Ernst Tugendhat (1930–2023) died on March 13, 2023, at the age of 93. Tugendhat made a significant contribution to the re-establishment of analytical philosophy in Germany after the period of National Socialism. Stefan Gosepath has written a short obituary in tribute to Ernst Tugendhat’s achievements.

You can find photos from the conference “Philosophy and Public Sphere” here (Photographer: Philipp Plum).

The Board has disinvited Georg Meggle from the opening panel of the gap.11 Congress. You can find the Board’s statement here.

Addendum: Georg Meggle has withdrawn his support for the political appeal that was the reason for his disinvitation. The Board respects him for this.

Friedrich Kambartel passed away on April 25, 2022, at the age of 87. Kambartel had been associated with the GAP since its founding. Prior to that, he made significant contributions to the development of the reform university in Konstanz and its humanities since 1996. Pirmin Stekeler-Weithofer has written an obituary for the GAP honoring Friedrich Kambartel’s philosophical life’s work.

Today, March 3, 2022, our honorary member Franz von Kutschera turns 90. With his more than thirty monographs, von Kutschera has impressively expanded the scope of Analytical Philosophy.

The GAP appointed him its first honorary member in 1997. The University of Regensburg, where he held the Chair of Philosophy from 1968 until his retirement in 1998, is hosting a festive symposium in his honor at the end of July. In consultation with the board, Wolfgang Lenzen has written a detailed tribute, which you can find here.

The ILLC Amsterdam, together with a number of other institutions, is organizing Logic4Peace, an online logic fundraising event. All registration fees will be used for aid payments to Ukraine to support Ukrainian colleagues and Voices of Children. The GAP is participating in the organization of the conference.

Today, February 8, 2021, our honorary member Hans Albert turns 100 years old. On behalf of the board, Rainer Hegselmann has written a detailed tribute, which you can find here.

The article situates Hans Albert’s Critical Rationalism within German post-war philosophy and recalls the controversies in which this equally contentious and productive philosopher was involved, under the headings of the “Positivism dispute,” “fallibilism,” and “critique of religion.”

Today, 30 years ago, on 26 May 1990, the GAP was founded. To mark this anniversary, GAP President Geert Keil looks back and addresses the members in a video message.