Horace Romano Harré produced a vast body of work across philosophy, psychology, and the sciences, bridging academic divides through an interdisciplinary approach. Born in Āpiti, New Zealand, in 1927, he moved between continents to hold permanent academic positions in Auckland, Oxford, and Washington, D.C., until his death in 2019 at the age of 92.
Early Education and Career
Harré completed his initial studies at the University of New Zealand, earning a BSc in mathematics in 1948 and a Master's degree in philosophy in 1952. He spent his early career teaching mathematics at King's College, Auckland, and at the University of Punjab in Lahore. He later moved to the United Kingdom to study at University College, Oxford, where he completed a B.Phil. under the supervision of J. L. Austin in 1956. Following a fellowship at the University of Birmingham and a lecturing post at the University of Leicester, he returned to Oxford in 1960.
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Upon his return to Oxford in 1960, Harré served as the University Lecturer in Philosophy of Science, succeeding Friedrich Waismann. As a Fellow of Linacre College, he played a central role in founding the Honours School of Physics and Philosophy. His work during this period encompassed ontology, the philosophy of mathematics, and the philosophy of science. He maintained this affiliation with Linacre College until 1995.
Advancements in Realism and Ethogenics
Harré was a significant influence on the development of critical realism. His 1970 publication, The Principles of Scientific Thinking, and his 1975 collaboration with E. H. Madden, Causal Powers, were foundational to the field. He also supervised doctoral students including Roy Bhaskar, Patrick Baert, German Berrios, and Jonathan Smith. Beyond realism, Harré developed a method known as ethogenics, outlined in his 1972 work The Explanation of Social Behaviour, authored with Paul F. Secord. This framework sought to understand how individuals assign significance to their actions.
Later Appointments and Research
Following his retirement from Oxford, Harré joined the psychology department at Georgetown University in 1995, where he served as a Distinguished Research Professor until 2016. Simultaneously, he held a post as the Director of the Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science at the London School of Economics from 2009 to 2011. Throughout his career, he lectured at institutions including Binghamton University, George Mason University, and Aoyama University. In his final years, he focused on the philosophy of chemistry, serving as the honorary president of the International Society for the Philosophy of Chemistry.
Fast facts
- Born: 1927, Āpiti, New Zealand
- Died: 2019
- Educated: University of New Zealand; University College, Oxford
- Citizenship: United Kingdom, New Zealand
- Distinguished Research Professor: Georgetown University (1995-2016)
- Honorary doctorate: Vrije Universiteit Brussel (1986)
- Honorary doctorate: Massey University (2012)
Questions readers ask
What was ethogenics?
It was a research method developed by Harré to understand how individuals attach significance to their actions within social systems.
Which universities employed Harré?
He held posts at the University of New Zealand, King's College, University of Punjab, University of Birmingham, University of Leicester, Linacre College (Oxford), Georgetown University, and the London School of Economics.
Achievements
- Held posts at London School of Economics and Political Science, Georgetown University and King's College, Auckland
- Fields: philosophy
