Professor of Philosophy of Science at Bielefeld University, Germany, Dr Martin Carrier, was awarded the title of doctor honoris causa of the Department of History and Philosophy of Science of the NKUA’s School of Science. The awarding ceremony took place on Thursday, 20 March 2025, at 19:00, at the Great Hall of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Addressing the honouree was the Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos.
Immediately afterwards, Professor of Theoretical Philosophy at the Department of History and Philosophy of Science of the University of Athens, Dr Chrysostomos Mantzavinos, presented the work and personality of the honouree.
This was followed by the awarding ceremony:
The Chair of the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, Professor Anthony Hatzimoysis, read the Department’s Resolution, the Award, and the Honorary Diploma.
Next, the Dean of the School of Science, Professor Aristeidis Parmakelis, invested the honouree with the gown of the School.
The ceremony closed with the honouree, Dr Martin Carrier, delivering a speech entitled ‘Science Under Attack: Dealing With Failure in Science and With Science Denial’.
In his address to the honouree, the Rector of the University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, said, among other things, the following: ‘Dr Carrier’s academic career is distinguished by significant research in key areas of expertise. His contribution to the study of the dynamic evolution of scientific theories and the interconnection between philosophy on the one hand and practical and applied scientific research on the other has been decisive.
Underlying the honouree’s work is the tenet that philosophy, whether as a theoretical pursuit or as practice, must be in ongoing dialogue with science in today’s reality.
Science, a cognitive activity with intersubjective validity, constitutes a dynamic process. In other words, it is the opposite of dogmatic insistence: an incessant inquiry and re-examination of our understanding of the universe. This constant search and revision feeds back into philosophical reflection, often rendering outdated beliefs that had prevailed for centuries, and presents old questions in a new light, which philosophy is called upon to revisit and possibly answer.
Today’s conferment of the honorary doctorate upon Dr Martin Carrier is in recognition of his decisive contribution to the field of Philosophy of Science, including his efforts to highlight the various ways in which philosophy and science interact.’
Photos: Dimitris Konstantinidis
