Popper's Vienna. A contribution to the history of the ideas of critical rationalism

The following article traces the main elements of Karl Popper's philosophy and theory of science to the social, cultural and political environment of inter‐war Vienna. By providing a brief biographical sketch, both in terms of Popper's intellectual and social development, the author sets Popper's influential and somewhat contentious approach into historical context. Not only does the article show that Popper's ideas emerged from the very fertile intellectual ground of inter‐war Vienna, it abo shows how political and social conflicts of the time left their indelible mark of Popper's thinking.