Næss, Arne (1912–2009)

As professor of philosophy in Oslo between 1939 and 1970, Arne Næss contributed to a strengthening of the position of philosophy in Norwegian academic life. During the German occupation (1940–5) he played an active part in the resistance movement. In the 1940s and 1950s he was the inspiration for and centre of a group of students of philosophy and social science, the ‘Oslo School’, whose members became influential in the later development of these fields. His philosophical thinking passed through an early ‘scientistic’ period of radical empiricism to ‘possibilist’ and pluralist views, and an undogmatic scepticism. After resigning his professorship in 1970, he became the protagonist of a version of ecological philosophy, ‘deep ecology’. He has always been an admirer of Spinoza and has also sought inspiration in Spinozism for his ecological philosophy.