1001Philosophers

Georg Henrik von Wright 1916 – 2003

Georg Henrik von Wright (1916 – 2003) was a Finnish philosopher of the Contemporary era, associated with Analytic Philosophy.

Georg Henrik von Wright was a Finnish philosopher and logician, Wittgenstein's chosen successor at Cambridge, and one of his three literary executors. Returning to Helsinki, he produced a vast body of work in modal and deontic logic, action theory, and the philosophy of the social sciences. His paper Deontic Logic of 1951 founded the formal study of norms, while The Logical Problem of Induction, Norm and Action, and Explanation and Understanding shaped a generation of analytic philosophers. He was an exemplary editor of Wittgenstein's Nachlass and wrote with care on the human condition under the threat of technological and ecological crisis.

Key facts

Nationality
Finnish
Era
Contemporary
Movements
Analytic Philosophy

Selected quotes

  • Attributed to Georg Henrik von Wright:

    “An act is the bringing about, by an agent, of a change in the world.”

  • Attributed to Georg Henrik von Wright:

    “Deontic logic is the logic of normative discourse.”

  • Attributed to Georg Henrik von Wright:

    “Practical reasoning issues in action, not in propositions.”

  • Attributed to Georg Henrik von Wright:

    “Causality and explanation are two faces of the same understanding.”

  • Attributed to Georg Henrik von Wright:

    “Norms exist only as the substance of human practices.”

Frequently asked about Georg Henrik von Wright

When did Georg Henrik von Wright live?
Georg Henrik von Wright was born in 1916 and died in 2003.
Where was Georg Henrik von Wright from?
Georg Henrik von Wright was a Finnish philosopher of the Contemporary era.
What philosophical movements is Georg Henrik von Wright associated with?
Georg Henrik von Wright was associated with Analytic Philosophy.
What was Georg Henrik von Wright known for?
Georg Henrik von Wright was a Finnish philosopher and logician, Wittgenstein's chosen successor at Cambridge, and one of his three literary executors.
How many quotes are attributed to Georg Henrik von Wright?
There are 5 attributed quotations from Georg Henrik von Wright in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.