Michael Friedman (1947-2025)
Michael Friedman, professor emeritus of philosophy at Stanford University, has died.
Professor Friedman was well-known for his work in philosophy of science and on Kant, the history of Twentieth Century philosophy, the interaction between science and philosophy, and the relationship between analytic and Continental philosophy. His books include Foundations of Space-Time Theories: Relativistic Physics and Philosophy of Science (1983), Kant and the Exact Sciences (1992), Reconsidering Logical Positivism (1999), A Parting of the Ways: Carnap, Cassirer, and Heidegger (2000), Kant’s Construction of Nature: A Reading of the Metaphysical Foundations of Natural Science (2013), A Post-Kuhnian Philosophy of Science (2014) as well as several edited collections. You can learn more about his writings here and here.
Friedman joined the faculty at Stanford in 2000. Prior to that, he was a professor at Indiana University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard University. He held visiting appointments over the years at several institutions and was an Honorary Professor at Western University. He earned his PhD from Princeton and his BA from Queens College.
He was 77 years old.
(via Alan Richardson)
Michael was a great scholar, mentor, and friend. He was also seemingly unendingly cheerful, which is not easy for a Kant scholar to be.
Dear Alan
I am sorry to hear about your loss. I know you two were very close.
Michael was a regular at Western Ontario, when I was a graduate student there in the 1990s. He was working at Illinois then, but he had a special appointment at UWO, where he would come each spring for about 2 weeks. I am sure a large part of his motivation for coming was the opportunity to visit and discuss philosophy with Bill Demopoulos (they were good friends and collaborators). But his visits gave us, the students and faculty at UWO, an opportunity to hear what he was working on as he would give a number of seminars or colloquia each visit. That was very rewarding and memorable.
I also recall his move to Indiana. It coincided with a number of other really great hires, such as Anil Gupta, infusing new life into the program there.
Oh, this is really sad news. I learned a lot from his wonderful work, and on the several occasions that I met him, he was unfailingly kind, and generous with his time, and really lovely to talk to. I will really miss running into him.
I never had the chance to interact with Professor Friedman personally, but his work has profoundly influenced me. As a Kantian, I feel his passing as a deep and unexpected loss—I had hoped for many opportunities to engage with him. I will always remain grateful for the impact he had on me.
On behalf of the entire Queens College Community, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the entire family.
May he Rest in Peace,