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RAILI KAUPPI
pioneering philosopher
1920-1995
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Logician and epistemologist Raili Kauppi was the first woman in Finland
to earn a doctorate in the field of philosophy. She also was the first,
and for years the only, female professor of philosophy in Finland and
in Scandinavia. Kauppi won international recognition as a Leibniz scholar.

Raili Kauppi's doctoral dissertation entitled Über die Leibnizsche Logik
mit besonderer Berücksichtigung des Problems der Intension und Extension
(1960) is an internationally acclaimed detailed analysis of the logic of
Leibniz. In 1985 Garland Publishers in the United States republished it
in its collection of fourteen most important Leibniz studies.
Kauppi developed a theory of concept systems and related intentional
logic in her work Einführung in die Theorie der Begriffsysteme (1967).

Even though Leibniz was Kauppi's most important source of inspiration,
she wanted to set an example through her own work that great thinkers
should not be studied merely for the sake of historical interest.
Their thoughts should not be imitated, but developed further. Besides
logic and epistemology, Kauppi was actively involved in the study of
value theory and the history of philosophy.

Before her academic career, Raili Kauppi worked for a long time as a
librarian and student adviser, and, at the same time, worked on her
dissertation. After completing her doctorate, she continued her career
as a librarian, first as assistant head librarian and then as lecturer
in library science at the University of Tampere. In 1964 Kauppi was
appointed to docentships both at the University of Tampere and the
University of Helsinki. In 1969 she was appointed to the Chair of
Philosophy at the University of Tampere. The field of her chair was
logic and epistemology.

Risto Vilkko

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1 Raili Kauppi 1980. Photo: Hannu Teriö/ Aamulehti

2 Niilo Kaila lecturing on the geometry of Apollonius in yje
mathematics club of the City of Helsinki Library, December 5, 1946.
Photo: Raili Kauppi archive, University of Tampere.

3 Library club. In front: Director of the City of Helsinki Library
Uuno Saarnio and Raili Kauppi (from back). At the table, from right:
Vuokko Majara, Annikki Ruuskanen, Hilkka and Teuvo Rasku, Helvi
Länsimäki and Pirkko Perkiö. At the back under the picture miss Kytölä,
and to the left from Uuno Saarnio, a club member called the schoolmistress.
Photo: Raili Kauppi archive, University of Tampere.

4 Philosophy Club members from the City of Helsinki Library
visiting the Philosofhy Club of the City of Tampere Library,
July 1, 1951.
Photo: Raili Kauppi archive, University of Tampere.

Raili Kauppi bibliography

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