University of Pittsburgh Library System

The ULS is a partner in the creation of a comprehensive digital critical edition of the complete works of Rudolf Carnap (1891-1970).

Carnap, a pioneer of Analytic Philosophy and a key figure in the Vienna Circle, profoundly shaped 20th-century thought. His extensive papers, primarily housed at the University of Pittsburgh’s Archives & Special Collections, have been a vital resource for scholars worldwide.

Benefits for the University of Pittsburgh

This 25-year €400,000-per year funded international collaboration affirms Pitt’s role as a global leader in philosophical scholarship.

Showcasing Unique Assets: Pitt's Archives of Scientific Philosophy (ASP) collection, which contains Carnap's papers, will gain unprecedented international visibility.

Strengthened Research Hub: ULS will provide high-quality digital scans and metadata, demonstrating its expertise in digital scholarship and preservation.

Fostering Intellectual Exchange: The Center for Philosophy of Science will host scholars from the RCD project, continuing the Center’s tradition of hosting scholars studying in the Archives of Scientific Philosophy and global researchers in the philosophy of science

Institutional Prestige: Partnering with leading German institutions on a major international humanities project significantly enhances Pitt's global academic reputation.

Benefits for the Global Scholarly Community

RCD will revolutionize access to Carnap's legacy, making his work newly explorable as a foundation of rational, science-based philosophy.

Unprecedented Access: Over 100,000 pages of his writings, diaries, and correspondence will be made available through an online digital facsimile edition on the new Virtual Archive of Logical Empiricism (VALEP) platform.

Definitive Critical Edition: RCD will produce an Open Access digital critical edition of selected key materials, alongside publications by Oxford University Press and Meiner Verlag.

Enhanced Research: For the first time, Carnap's logical deductions will be available as digital mathematical objects, enabling innovative research methods.

Broad Reach: A forthcoming student printed edition with English translations will bring Carnap's core works to a wide international audience.

“Carnap is a philosophical giant, and both the Center for Philosophy of Science and the Archives of Scientific Philosophy owe much to the philosophical tradition he created. We at the Center are delighted to be able to host the scholars who will work on this extraordinary, decade-long project.” -Edouard Machery, Distinguished Professor, Director of the Center for Philosophy of Science.

“The Rudolf Carnap Digital project represents a landmark shift in how we approach the stewardship of philosophical history. By transforming over 100,000 pages of physical manuscripts into a dynamic, open-access digital environment, the ULS is not just preserving the past—we are ensuring that Carnap’s logical insights are accessible to every researcher in the world, in formats that meet the demands of 21st-century scholarship.”
-Kornelia Tancheva, Hillman University Librarian and Director, University of Pittsburgh Library System.

Rudolf Carnap Digital transforms a historically significant physical archive into an open, dynamic digital resource, ensuring this cornerstone of modern philosophy remains accessible and central to scholarly inquiry for generations. Learn more at https://www.pittwire.pitt.edu/accolades-honors/2026/01/13/rudolf-carnap-digital-archive