Herbert Feigl papers

Collection

Identifier: 1065

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The collection predominately consists of correspondence and manuscripts. Correspondents include Bar-Hillel, Carnap, Einstein, Frank, Hempel, Hook, Neurath, Oppenheim, Reichenbach, Russell, and other twentieth century philosophers and scientists. The collection contains manuscripts of important articles by Born, Carnap, Oppenheim, Popper, Reichenbach, Stegmüller, and others. In addition, there are notes, lectures, and other papers on topics such as philosophy, mathematics, the natural sciences and philosophical problems in psychology.

Dates

1921-1971

Creator

Feigl, Herbert (Person)

Language of Materials

English

Use of Materials

Items in this collection do not circulate and may be used in-house only.

Copyright

Requests for permission to quote from the Herbert Feigl papers should be arranged with the University of Minnesota Archives head.

Biographical Sketch of Herbert Feigl (1902-1988)

Herbert Feigl was born on December 14, 1902 in Reichenberg, Bohemia (Czech Republic). He studied mathematics, physics, psychology and philosophy at the University of Munich (1921-1922) and the University of Vienna (1922-1927), earning his Ph.D. in 1927. After completing his doctorate, Dr. Feigl was a lecturer in astronomy and philosophy of science at the Peoples' Institute in Vienna. During his time in Vienna, Dr. Feigl was a member of the "Vienna Circle" of philosophers, which developed the doctrine of logical positivism.

He immigrated to the United States in 1930 after accepting a Rockefeller Fellowship at Harvard University to study the logical foundations of physics. From 1931-1940, he was an instructor, assistant and associate professor of philosophy at the University of Iowa. Dr. Feigl joined the faculty at the University of Minnesota in 1941 as professor of philosophy. In 1953, Dr. Feigl founded the Center for Philosophy of Science at the University, and served as its first director until his retirement. The mission of the Center is to "encourage and fund original research primarily in the philosophy, logic, and methodology of science by its Members, Fellows, and collaborators." Member of the Center come from a wide array of departments on the University campus.

Dr. Feigl was awarded the title of Regents' professor in 1967, the highest honor bestowed upon the faculty at the University of Minnesota. He was named a fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1957) and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1971). He served as president of the American Philosophical Society, the Institute for the Unity of Science and the Western Division of the American Philosophical Association. Dr. Feigl retired from the University of Minnesota in 1971 as Regents' professor emeritus and director emeritus. Herbert Feigl died on June 1, 1988.

Extent

49 boxes (23 linear feet)

Additional Description

Abstract

Collection contains the papers of Herbert Feigl, Regents' professor emeritus of philosophy and director emeritus of the Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science at the University of Minnesota.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into five series:

Biographical and General
Correspondence
Lectures; Notes; Feigl's Papers
Manuscripts
Offprints

Other Finding Aid Available

A finding aid with a detailed contents list is available in University Archives, prepared by Stephen C. Wagner.

Related Materials

The Archives of Scientific Philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh and the Philosophisches Archiv at the Universität Konstanz, Germany, possess microfilms of the entire Herbert Feigl collection.

Processing Information

The Herbert Feigl papers were processed and described in 1990-1991 by Stephen C. Wagner on behalf of the Archives of Scientific Philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh.