Ernst von Glasersfeld

Ernst von Glasersfeld (March 8, 1917, Munich – November 12, 2010, Leverett, Massachusetts) was a German philosopher and emeritus professor of psychology at the University of Georgia. He was also a research associate at the Scientific Reasoning Research Institute and an adjunct professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Glasersfeld is renowned for his development of radical constructivism, a theory that emphasizes the subjective construction of knowledge. His academic journey involved studying mathematics at the University of Vienna before emigrating due to Nazi threats. He lived and worked in Ireland and Italy, collaborating with Silvio Ceccato. Glasersfeld's intellectual influences included Giambattista Vico, Jean Piaget's genetic epistemology, Bishop Berkeley, and James Joyce. He received numerous honors and awards, including honorary doctorates and medals from various institutions. The Ernst von Glasersfeld Archive at the University of Innsbruck preserves his literary estate.