The Enzyklopädie Philosophie und Wissenschaftstheorie, an expansive reference work spanning eight volumes in its second edition, was spearheaded by the editorial leadership of Jürgen Mittelstraß. Born in 1936 in Düsseldorf, he remains a central figure in German philosophy, specifically concerning the rigorous investigation of scientific methodology and the historical development of modern inquiry.
Academic Formation
Between 1956 and 1961, Mittelstraß pursued studies in philosophy, history, and protestant theology across multiple institutions, including the universities of Bonn, Erlangen, Hamburg, and Oxford. He completed his doctorate at the University of Erlangen in 1961. By 1968, he finalized his habilitation, a period during which his intellectual framework was shaped by the principles of Erlanger Konstruktivismus.
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Mittelstraß joined the University of Konstanz in 1970, where he served as a full professor of philosophy of science until 2005. His teaching career also included positions at the University of Salzburg and the Technical University of Munich. From 2005 to 2015, he chaired the Austrian Science Council, influencing national science policy and institutional research strategies.
Scholarly Contributions
His bibliography includes foundational texts such as Die Rettung der Phänomene, Neuzeit und Aufklärung, and Die Möglichkeit von Wissenschaft. Beyond his monographic work, he directed the comprehensive Enzyklopädie Philosophie und Wissenschaftstheorie, published in four volumes between 1980 and 1996, with an expanded eight-volume second edition appearing from 2005 to 2018.
Institutional Recognition
Mittelstraß holds membership in numerous international bodies, including the Academia Europaea, the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, and the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities. His work has been acknowledged through the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize in 1989, the Lorenz Oken Medal in 1998, and the Nicholas Rescher Prize for Systematic Philosophy in 2012.
Fast facts
- Born: 1936, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Doctorate: 1961, University of Erlangen
- Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize: 1989
- Lorenz Oken Medal: 1998
- Nicholas Rescher Prize: 2012
- Chair, Austrian Science Council: 2005–2015
- Academic memberships include: Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Academia Europaea
Questions readers ask
What is his primary area of philosophical interest?
He focuses primarily on the philosophy of science.
Did he receive honorary degrees?
Yes, he has been awarded honorary doctorates from several institutions including the Humboldt University of Berlin, the Technical University of Berlin, and the University of Tartu.
Achievements
- Bavarian Order of Merit
- Order of Merit of Berlin
- Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Nicholas Rescher Prize for Systematic Philosophy — 2012
- Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize — 1989
- Held posts at University of Konstanz, Technical University of Munich and University of Salzburg
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