The present Volume 4 of the Vienna Circle Yearbook is dedicated to
Otto Neurath, one of the leading figures of the Vienna Circle and one of
last polymaths representative of the vanished culture from which the
Circle emerged. Situating Neurath's work between the topoi of
Encyclopedism - as a theoretical, scientific tool of the `unfinished'
project of (post-) enlightenment - and Utopianism - as the resolve to
work for the systematic improvement of society and science - this volume
presents the most recent research as well as critical and updated
surveys and assessments of Neurath's many-faceted and impressive life
work. The contributions range from history and philosophy of science,
epistemology, sociology and economics to pictorial statistics (ISOTYPE)
and museology. Special attention is given to Neurath's methodological
holism and epistemological naturalism, as well as to the interrelations
of the different disciplines in Neurath's conception of the Unity of
Science. Most contributors agree that the historical and systematic
reconstruction of Neurath's conception of science leads to issues of
crucial relevance to the ongoing task of sharpening the instrument that
is science for its responsible application in the natural and social
world. The volume also includes Neurath's previously unpublished full
manuscript on visual education, a report on archival holdings concerning
Neurath's work and a review section focusing on recent publications on
Neurath and Logical Empiricism. An overview of the activities of the
Institute Vienna Circle 1996/97 concludes the volume.
Audience: Philosophers in general, philosophers of science and
historians of science, and sociologists. The book will also interest
scholars specialized in adult education, museology and economics
