The philosophical archive at the University of Constance is a special archive and collection of personal papers (Nachlässe) pertaining to the history and philosophy of science, relating predominantly to the 20th century. Its tasks include the preservation, cataloguing, processing and editing of research-relevant scientific personal papers, and the support of research based upon these materials.
Our archive collaborates with the Archives for Scientific Philosophy of the University of Pittsburgh (USA). Since 1990 there has been an agreement between the universities of Constance and Pittsburgh for archival co-operation, which envisages the exchange of microfilm copies of the holdings of the respective archives and collaboration in the archival processing of the material.
Prof. Gereon Wolters is director of the archive, and Dr. Brigitte
Parakenings is the administrator. Those interested in consulting the
material should contact Dr. Parakenings (for postal
address and telephone numbers, see under “Addresses”). Dr. Parakenings
can also answer questions concerning restrictions on use and the
copyright on the material. There is no single rule for all of the
collections. In most cases, however, the archive holds the rights
(through agreements with the owners of the original documents, or with
individuals or institutions who hold the copyright) and in the case of
a planned edition will also negotiate.
Every scholar will be granted access to the collections in the rooms of
the Philosophical Archive. Those interested are requested to inform us
of their visit in advance. Use of the archive per post is also
possible. Questions can be answered and, upon payment of the relevant
costs, copies of materials can be made and forwarded. The usual
conditions of use apply.
The philosophical archive of the University of Constance holds
materials pertaining to the history and philosophy of science, and also documents relevant to the involvement of
philosophy and science in the National-Socialist period. These include
the personal papers of the following philosophers:
Ernst Mach, Hugo Dingler, Otto Neurath, Moritz Schlick, Alfred
Baeumler, Oskar Becker, Rudolf Carnap, Hans Reichenbach, Herbert Feigl,
Hans Jonas, Frank P. Ramsey, Wilhelm Kamlah, Bruno Thüring, Paul
Lorenzen, Paul Feyerabend.
Archives for the History of Quantum Physics
Microfilm copies consisting of 301 rolls. Inventary and account of the creation of the collection in book form.
A paper copy made from microfilm. The copies are bound in 93 volumes.
This is a copy of the so-called Cornell Copy, which was prepared in
1967/8 from Wittgenstein’s papers, as G.H. von Wright had copied them
(with several exceptions). Von Wright’s description first appeared in
Philosophical Reviews 78 (1969).
Here, the catalogue excerpts of the holdings prepared by the Philosophical Archive can be viewed and searched. The files are continually being expanded and are updated once each month.
For further information, please contact
Dr. Brigitte Parakenings
Philosophisches Archiv der
Universität Konstanz
D-78457 Konstanz
E-Mail: Brigitte.Parakenings@uni-konstanz.de
Phone: [+49] (0) 7531/88-3729
Fax: [+49] (0) 7531/88-2502