Professor of Philosophy Bas van Fraassen has been chosen to receive a lifetime achievement award from the Philosophy of Science Association, the first such honor the organization has given. He will receive the inaugural Hempel Award at the association’s biennial conference in San Diego on November 15–17.
The award, to be given every two years, is named after Carl Hempel, a major figure in the field of philosophy of science who died in 1997.
Philosophers of science study the assumptions, foundations, methods and implications of science, as well as its use and merit.
van Fraasen’s contributions to the field include coining the term “constructive empiricism,” which advocates a skeptical approach to scientific theories that says accepting a theory does not mean accepting that it is true, but merely that it is factually adequate.
His books include The Scientific Image, Laws and Symmetry, The Empirical Stance and Scientific Representation. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has served as president of the Philosophy of Science Association. van Fraassen joined SF State in 2008 after retiring from Princeton University, where he holds the title of professor emeritus. He has also taught at Yale University, University of Toronto and University of Southern California.