Access to the full content is only available to members of institutions that have purchased access. If you belong to such an institution, please log in or find out more about how to order.


Print

Contents

Von Wright, Georg Henrik (1916–2003)

DOI
10.4324/9780415249126-DD073-1
DOI: 10.4324/9780415249126-DD073-1
Version: v1,  Published online: 1998
Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://www.rep.routledge.com/articles/biographical/von-wright-georg-henrik-1916-2003/v-1

Article Summary

G.H. von Wright was one of the most influential analytic philosophers of the twentieth century. Born in Helsinki, Finland, von Wright did his early work on logic, probability and induction under the influence of logical empiricism. In 1948–51 he served as Ludwig Wittgenstein’s successor at Cambridge, but returned to his homeland and later became a member of the Academy of Finland. He did pioneering work on the new applications of logic: modal logic, deontic logic, the logic of norms and action, preference logic, tense logic, causality and determinism. In the 1970s his ideas about the explanation and understanding of human action helped to establish new links between the analytic tradition and Continental hermeneutics. Von Wright’s later works, which are eloquent books and essays written originally in his two native languages (Swedish and Finnish), deal with issues of humanism and human welfare, history and future, technology and ecology.

Print
Citing this article:
Niiniluoto, Ilkka. Von Wright, Georg Henrik (1916–2003), 1998, doi:10.4324/9780415249126-DD073-1. Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Taylor and Francis, https://www.rep.routledge.com/articles/biographical/von-wright-georg-henrik-1916-2003/v-1.
Copyright © 1998-2024 Routledge.

Related Searches

Periods

Related Articles