1906 – 1998
Nelson Goodman (1906-1998) was an influential American analytic philosopher known for his work in logic, philosophy of science, epistemology, and aesthetics. He is best known for formulating the 'new riddle of induction' (the grue paradox) and developing a nominalist, constructivist approach to worldmaking.
Formulated the 'new riddle of induction' (grue paradox) in Fact, Fiction, and Forecast
Developed constructive nominalism and the theory of worldmaking in Ways of Worldmaking
Authored Languages of Art, a foundational work in analytic aesthetics
Co-developed the calculus of individuals (mereology) with H.S. Leonard
Advanced irrealism and the rejection of a single privileged description of reality