In Popper’s Midrash: Is Karl Popper a Jewish philosopher?

Alexander Naraniecki (Deakin University )

This paper seeks to rewrite our understanding of Popper through an exploration of his thought in relation to twentieth century Jewish philosophers particularly Leibowtiz, Levinas and Wittgenstein. As most Popper scholars have written about Popper from an Anglo- analytic or philosophy of science perspective, this paper seeks to reposition Popper within, yet not limited to the ‘continental’ tradition. This paper builds upon existing scholarship on Popper’s formative Viennese environment and its Jewish context by Malachi Hacohen (2000), the Kantian basis for Popper’s philosophy (Naraniecki 2010), as well as new perspectives by Michael Fagenblat on the on the way Kantianism has helped to reframe fundamental features of Jewish thought such as an opposition to idolatry and theodicy. This paper argues that the central Kantian and Midrashic aspects that Flagenblat associates with the thought of Levinas and Leibowitz can also help to explain key characteristics of Popper’s philosophy.

Alex Naraniecki is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Centre for Citizenship and Globalisation. His current research project is entitled ‘New Foundations for Multiculturalism’ and he is currently working on various publications and research projects focusing on the development of multiculturalism in Australia as well as the role of recognition and dialogue in promoting intercultural relations. Alex is also involved in collaborative research projects within the Migration and Intercultural Relations Research Cluster.