Larry loved teaching, writing, and the interactions that refined his ideas and arguments about philosophy and law. Colleagues, students, institutions, and readers of Larry’s work are invited to comment.
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I have such wonderful personal memories of him, and learned so much from his work (as we all did).
Alan Rocke, Case-Western Reserve University
A couple of months ago, I sent to the press a recently completed book on the genesis of Dewey’s theory of inquiry, which I will dedicate to Larry’s memory. I remember it was a personal “sport” between Larry and me to criticize Popper’s research theory. When I wrote my book on Dewey’s inquiry theory, all those criticisms constantly resonated.
Godfrey Guillamin, Metropolitan Autonomous University, Mexico City
He meant so much to so many of us.
I feel like half my career was a sustained argument with him.
Jarrett Leplin, Philosophy, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
He was one of the very best of my graduate teachers and also one of the first. I had a class with Larry on Whewell and Mill my second semester at Pitt (Spring 1970), and it changed how I thought about history and how I did it. I loved sparring with him, and I think he liked it too. I still use Progress and Its Problems as one of the basic texts in my basic Philosophy of Science class.
Rick Creath, President’s Professor, Arizona State University
I have such wonderful personal memories of him, and learned so much from his work (as we all did).
Alan Rocke, History, Case-Western Reserve University
I participated in Larry’s first NEH seminar on Naturalized Epistemology; it was a seminal event. I then published a defense of non-foundational accounts of science in the journal Larry founded, Studies in History and Philosophy of Science. Working with Larry was a very large stepping stone in my career, opening many avenues of inquiry. Five years later I participated in Rachel’s NEH seminar as well. I have fond memories of both times in Hawai’i. Rest in Peace.
In memory of Larry Laudan – a brief tribute
Down the years Larry Laudan had many fans, me included. He was much admired and respected both as a thinker and a person. Nobody reading his papers or his books needs telling he was a rigorous thinker who followed the available evidence as he saw it wherever it led regardless of however much it tested prevailing opinion. Nor was it any different in face-to-face encounters. The far fewer who had the benefit of engaging directly with him profited greatly from battling over what they or he were struggling to figure out. Larry was not one to stand on ceremony but neither was he one to skimp on generosity, kindness or affability. When ideas were at stake it was pretty much a life-and-death matter. My impression was he was hellbent at pinning things down and getting the doubters to see where they were going astray.
Like most who fought with and against what Larry committed to print I see his writings as falling into three main groups, two of which influenced me early on and for a considerable time later. First there are the investigations devoted to the history of the methodology of science, still to my mind of sterling significance. They were the result of much digging and anyone interested in how scientific inquiry was conceived since 1700, especially the method of hypothesis and scientific methodology in the nineteenth century, can hardly do better than turn to his Science and Hypothesis. And not only in the first instance.
Secondly there is the work Larry is best known for, his advocacy of an alternative to the views of Thomas Kuhn, Paul Feyerabend and Imre Lakatos on theory choice and scientific progress. What he put on the table about problem solving, the so-called pessimistic induction and the allures of relativism could not be ignored, and even those of us who balked partly if not wholly at his conclusions could not ignore what he said in Progress and Its Problems and Science and Values. We felt we had to do our level best to show where he was going wrong, no easy task.
Thirdly there is his late turn to the philosophy of law and the role of evidence in criminal trials. This fell well out of my area of interest at the time, but I am told by people in the know that it is no less important, meticulously argued and challenging than his earlier work.
I was fortunate to have met Larry during a sabbatical year over thirty years ago when he was at still at the University of Pittsburgh. A paper of mine on what I called overdetermined problems in science caught his eye and he took me, still very much a beginner, under his wing. During the year we had many discussions about the history and philosophy of science, discussions that influenced me and steered my thinking throughout the 1980s.
Subsequently we corresponded regularly and I was lucky enough to have had the opportunity to team-teach a class with him when he moved to Virginia Polytechnic Institute. One topic that occupied us in those days that sticks very much in my mind is the existence and nature of deep disagreement in science. I also vividly recall resisting his anti-realist tendencies with examples from the history of geology, notably what I took to be the unimpeachable fact of the Ice Age in the geologically recent past. Needless to say on both scores Larry parried my arguments as fast as I was able to formulate them.
Later on we kept in touch but more desultorily and we increasingly parted company when it came to philosophy. I became more and more absorbed in figuring out Wittgenstein’s thought, something Larry had next to no time for, indeed rather the opposite. I doubt he realized or would have been happy to learn that this turn in my interest was partly fueled by our discussions of scientific disagreement.
Looking back on the years I knew Larry – and naturally Rachel as well – I can only appreciate his influence both positive and negative. I was lucky to have met him early on and to have had the opportunity to debate issues in the history and philosophy of science at length with him. He was less than a year older than me but I always looked upon him as senior and was then and now grateful for his wise and steady counsel. Larry could be a tough taskmaster, especially in print, but personally he was nothing short of a “bloody fine bloke”.
I only wish I had known him more and had been in closer contact during the years after Virginia Tech. Our diverging interests notwithstanding, he would have kept me on my toes, and I should like to think I would have served as a useful sounding board for him as he pressed ahead and plowed new ground.
University of Ottawa, Canada
Larry Laudan has died. Besides being a great philosopher, Larry was a wonderful person. He had a huge influence in my life and work, and played an essential role in my decision to become a legal philosopher. I met him in Girona (Spain) in 2011, when I was invited to a philosophy of law workshop with lots of famous people. I had no idea what I was doing there, but Larry liked my work and reserved the seat next to his during the conference dinner to convince me to work on evidence law. It worked. I invited him to Bogotá in 2013 and we spent a few days talking about his work in legal theory. The photo is from that visit. Repeatedly during the following years I went back to his book “Truth, Error, and Criminal Law” to understand difficult distinctions and to enjoy the clarity of his writing. I last saw him in Mexico in 2015 during a workshop that I helped organize and, as always, he was his graceful and generous self. My condolences to his wife Rachel Laudan. He will be missed.
Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
Ha fallecido Larry Laudan, uno de los grandes en filosofía de la ciencia. Su libro “El progreso y sus problemas” marcó un giro importante en el campo, y sus trabajos posteriores no hicieron más que confirmar su enorme talento. Fue el crítico más influyente del realismo científico.
Professor Antonio Dieguez, University of Malaga, Spain, was kind enough to write this long, considered obituary in the Spanish newspaper El Confidencial.
https://www.elconfidencial.com/cultura/2022-09-02/larry-laudan-obituario-filosofia-de-la-ciencia_3483766/
I am deeply saddened to learn that Larry passed away last month. I was one of Larry’s students at Virginia Tech. I have always regarded him as my favorite teacher of all time. He profoundly impacted my world view and was always so engaging.
@christianmunthe
“Truth, Error and the Criminal Law” is a splendid book! I recommend it to anyone interested in the ethics and philosophy of legal process, legal evidence/proof and punishment.
University of Gothenburg, Sweden
How sad. Just learned that Larry Laudan recently passed away. He was a great thinker and writer. I fell in love with his work when I read his paper on the demarcation problem, which is brilliant. He will be missed. RIP.
@StathisPsillos
RIP Larry Laudan
He was one of the last few giants of the profession. A truly HPS thinker. His Science and Hypothesis has been one of the very best books, defining the whole field of History of philosophy of science.
University of Athens, Greece
I did not know Larry Laudan personally, but he is my academic-grandfather – the supervisor of my supervisor. I did have a skype conversation with him, the year he was moving from Texas to Kentucky, in which we discussed, among other things, his influential paper “A Confutation of Convergent Realism”. This paper of Laudan’s, along with van Fraassen’s Scientifc Image, (as I argue in Resisting Scientfic Realism) did much to set the terms of the contemporary realism/anti-realism debates in philosophy of science. Both of them provide us with compelling reasons to resist scientific realism! Both give us reason to be sceptical about theoretical knowledge. Incidentally, Laudan is credited with presenting us with a version of the Pessimistic Induction in that paper – this is the standard reading of “Confutation”. In fact, Laudan’s principal aim in that paper is to sever the connection between the truth (or approximate true) of a theory and its empirical success (there is a parallel argument severing the link between the genuine reference of our theoretical terms and empirical success). Above, Howard Sankey rightly notes the great value of Laudan’s book Scence and Values (which includes a lightly reworked version of Confutation). In fact, Science and Values has been cited over 2000 times. His impact in philosophy of science persists!
Aarhus Universitet, Denmark
I have taught *Truth, Error, and Criminal Law* for years to a great many pre-law students. It is an excellent and underappreciated book. Most of its central topics are of ongoing concern. The topics are theoretically important and have tremendous practical significance as well.
I remember wondering what Larry would come up with when I first learned he was taking up legal epistemology. I was not surprised that the work was quite good – it is Larry Laudan’s work after all.
I was surprised, however, that the work is as truly terrific as it is: bold no-nonsense excellence of lasting value.
University of Notre Dame, US
This brings back memories: Larry and Rachel were visitors to Melbourne HPS for several months in 1984. The manuscript of Science and Values was circulated before their arrival. Larry gave a series of lectures that, from memory, were primarily based on Science and Values. I remember him drawing large circles on the board to represent the holist view of science that he associated with Kuhn. But I also remember him presenting the view that the rules of scientific method should be analysed as empirically evaluable hypothetical imperatives in those lectures. I don’t recall him calling this view “normative naturalism” at the time, though this is the label he later applied to the view in his 1987 APQ paper. Because of those lectures I’ve always seen a close connection between normative naturalism and the view about the aims of science that he developed in Science and Values. Apart from those lectures, I recall a number of very helpful discussions I had with Larry: we met to discuss a paper I had written about Quine and Kuhn; and, at one point, I remember Larry explaining Barry Barnes’s finitism to me. At one point, Larry presented his paper on the demise of the demarcation problem to the departmental seminar. Alan Musgrave was also there as a visitor, and there was quite an interesting discussion of how to understand the point of Popper’s falsifiability criterion. I remember seeing Larry walking away from the university very late one night: he later explained that he had developed the habit of writing in the middle of the night while he was a graduate student.
University of Melbourne, Australia
He was an absolute gem. I took that Legal Epistemology seminar in law school, one of my favorite classes. He had a great sense of humor, even in discussing arcane facets of evidence. I too will miss him dearly.
College of Law, University of Oklahoma
Although we’ve never met, I learned much from your work on geology and food history, and from your husband’s work in philosophy of science. I can’t fathom your loss, but I hope it provides some small comfort that his contributions will live on in my memory and teaching.
History, UMass Amherst
Dear Rachel,
This brings back warm memories of the time that you and Larry spent in Melbourne HPS back in 1984. That was the highlight of the year, especially for the small group of postgrads who were working in the philosophy of science.
All best wishes,
Howard
Hasta Pronto
Maestro Larry Laudan
1941 – 2022
De Colombia, lo cito “Finalizamos con el interrogante de Larry Laudan ¿Por qué un estándar de prueba subjetivo y ambiguo no es un estándar?” de mi libro TRATADO DE LA PRUEBA JUDICIAL impreso por Ediciones Nueva Jurdíca. Gran maestro sus aportes los seguiremos estudiando, descanse en paz
https://www.ddanos.com/
Without “Progress and its problems” I would never have started, let alone finished, my PhD. My condolences, and gratitude for his work.
Sorbonne
The life that you and Larry led together is amazing, full of adventure and fulfillment. We in the field only know you two through your incredibly influential work, but to see it paired with such love and spirit is inspirational. Thank you for sharing.
University of California Riverside
Me enteré con mucha tristeza y nostalgia del fallecimiento de Larry. Siento muchísimo su pérdida y me imagino el dolor por el que está pasando.
En el poco tiempo que lo traté, el Prof. Larry dejó en mi una admiración muy profunda no sólo como filósofo sino como ser humano; me tendió la mano en un momento muy difícil para mí. Guardo con mucho cariño el recuerdo de cuando fuimos a comer con ustedes dos en Perisur y luego a tomar el café a su casa.
Ana y yo le enviamos un fuerte abrazo con mucho cariño. En todo lo que podamos apoyarla cuente con nosotros.
Y aquí en México tiene en nosotros una familia que siempre le dará la recibirá con gusto en nuestra casa las veces que quiera venir.
Mis más sinceras condolencias.
Con cariño,
Rubén
Universidad Veracruzana
Dear Rachel,
I’m so sorry to receive news of Larry’s passing. I went to graduate school to study the work of John Locke but Larry’s Progress and its Problems convinced me that the interesting questions were at the intersection of history and philosophy of science. I published a review article of this book as a graduate student and was more than pleasantly surprised to receive a three page letter from Larry, encouraging me to continue to explore some of the questions raised in my review. At the time, I was considering a pivot to law school, but Larry’s generosity was all the motivation I needed to complete my doctorate. I was thrilled a few years later to have the opportunity to participate in the conference organized by Larry, Rachel and Arthur Donovan on testing theories of scientific change … perhaps my most memorable experience in academia. Thank you for this! Larry will be missed.
University of Toronto, Canada
Hoy supimos, por comunicación de su esposa Rachel, del fallecimiento de Larry Laudan. Uno de los grandes filósofos de la ciencia y epistemólogos del último siglo. Un grande también por su mirada hacia el derecho. Una persona extraordinaria y un amigo. ¡Una gran tristeza!
Recuerdo aún mi emoción el día que visitando a Juan Antonio Cruz Parcero en el instituto de filosóficas ví el nombre de Larry en la puerta de un despacho. Lo había leído y estudiado, pero nunca pensé en llegarlo a conocer. Más tarde Larry me invitó a un miniforo en la UNAM y allí empezó nuestra relación. Guardo hermosos recuerdos de discusiones, en México y en España, y hermosos recuerdos de tiempo compartido contigo y con él, siempre maravillosos anfitriones, de veladas en vuestra casa y de comidas en Girona (Larry siempre comiendo cordero…).
De él aprendí muchísimo, no solo por sus escritos. Lamentamos muchísimo su fallecimiento, que sentimos como la pérdida de un maestro y un amigo.
Profesor titular de filosofía del derecho en la Universidad de Girona, Spain
Saddened to hear the passing of Larry Laudan, a trailblazer in the history and philosophy of science.
University of Minnesota
Larry Laudan was an incredible philosophical inspiration for so many of us… this is very sad 💔
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
This is very sad news. Larry Laudan was a major figure in philosophy of science, and his book Science and Relativism remains one of the best introductions to the field.
Lancaster University, England
Descartes brought me to philosophy. Larry brought me to HPS. I owe far more to Larry.
Case Western Reserve University, US
Larry Laudan was an important author who gave a decisive impetus to the studies on scientific realism and on the philosophy of science in general.
University of Palermo, Italy
Very saddened to hear about Larry Laudan passing away. His work has shaped and defined an entire field in philosophy of science especially for people like myself at the intersection of history and philosophy of science. My thoughts are with you. May he rest in peace.
University of Edinburgh, UK
Almost 40 years ago, Larry wrote me a letter of recommendation to go to graduate school in philosophy of science. Somehow I ended up a professor the department of history and philosophy of science that he founded at Pitt. Larry’s work is required reading here, as it should be, and his incredible legacy as a scholar is secure. We are celebrating 50 years of HPS at Pitt. I really wish that Larry could have joined us. We will raise a glass to his memory!
University of Pittsburgh, US
Goodness what a story. Thank you.
Professor Laudan was one of the great philosophers of science of the last fifty years, many of whose papers and books will be read, I expect, a century from now. I had the pleasure of being his colleague at the University of Texas at Austin, as he reinvented himself as a philosopher of law, especially the law governing proof in the criminal context, which led to his splendid book Truth, Error, and Criminal Law (Cambridge, 2006). He taught at many institutions during his long career, and co-founded with Adolf Grunbaum, the history and philosophy of science department at the University of Pittsburgh. You can get a sense of the breadth of his work, and its impact, from his Google Scholar page here.
I’ll share one anecdote, and open comments for remembrances by others. I first met Larry in the late 1990s, when he would come up to Austin to do research in the university libraries. He was just getting interested in the epistemology of law, as it were, and went to see the Dean of the Law School to find out who he should talk to on the faculty. The Dean sent him to me. I remember the day well. He knocked on the door, came in and introduced himself: “I’m Larry Laudan, I am a philosopher of science.” I had a couple of Laudan books on my shelf, and I remember saying, somewhat star struck, “I know who you are!” I greatly enjoyed talking with Larry during his time in Austin, and also arranged for him to teach a seminar on legal epistemology, which he did on a regular basis for a number of years, including after my departure from Austin. I also had a lovely time visiting Larry and his wife Rachel, also an historian and philosopher of science (geology in particular), in Mexico City, when he arranged for me to give some talks at UNAM. He was a great scholar and philosopher, and a convivial and warm human being. I will miss him greatly.
I’ve posted a memorial notice on my philosophy blog:
University of Chicago
Miss Rachel and Professor Larry’s family, I am a law student from Chile, during my studies I had a very big vocational crisis, but it was my love for philosophy that kept me in my studies, Among several books that I have read during my training, “Truth, Error, and Criminal Law” by Professor Laudan is the most Remarkable, Also, Doubt is one of the best books I’ve read on evidentiary reasoning and epistemology makes a masterful analysis, which never fails to impress me, that this work como outside of legal training, Sometimes a person outside our discipline is required to realize how closed-minded we are as law students, I was never able to meet Professor Larry, but it is a privilege to continue learning from his books and articles, my most sincere condolences.
Chile
Thank you so much for taking the trouble to say this, Matias. Good luck with your studies.
Hello Rachel,
I have just received a message from Andres Paez telling me about Larry. Such terrible and shocking news. I feel so sad and heartbroken about the news.
Just two days ago I was in Santiago talking with Andres and a few others over dinner about him – and sharing how big a mark he has left in our lives, how much we have learnt from him, and the extremely important way in which he shaped our intellectual interests and the kind of academics that we are.
I love him very much and I am for ever in gratitude with him. I will always remember him con mucho cariño y afecto, y con profundo agradecimiento.
Amalia Amaya, National Autonomous University of Mexico
Mil gracias Amalia.
Dear Rachel,
I’ve just heard the sad news that Larry is no longer with us. For me, he was a high-powered intellectual, a real scholar and, above all, a truly wonderful person. I thoroughly enjoyed his company each time we met. I can only imagine the magnitude of this loss for you and for the rest of Larry’s family. Please accept my deepest condolences. My son, Tomer, who took one of Larry’s classes at UT, sends his condolences as well.
Yours,
Alex
Justice Alex Stein
Israel Supreme Court