July 21

Born in Prague in 1884, Philipp Frank studied engineering and physics before joining the Vienna Circle, a group of logical empiricists. He collaborated with Moritz Schlick and Rudolf Carnap to develop a scientific philosophy grounded in logical analysis. Frank fled Europe in 1938, emigrating to the United States where he taught at Harvard and Boston University. He authored influential works on the philosophy of science, applying his background in physics and mathematics to questions of scientific theory and methodology. His efforts helped popularize logical positivism, shaping the course of 20th-century philosophy. Frank's interdisciplinary approach bridged the gap between the sciences and the humanities, leaving a lasting impact on both fields until his death in 1966.