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Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Philosophy Rolf George passed away on April 28^th, 2025. Born in Germany in 1930, Prof. George studied German Literature and History at the University of Munster before coming to the United States on a Fullbright Fellowship in 1953. He earned his PhD at Michigan State University in 1963, where he completed a dissertation onÌýInfinity and Continuity in 18^thÌýCentury Philosophy.ÌýÌýHe held positions at the Michigan State and at California State University at San Fernando beforehe joined the brand-new Philosophy Department at the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ in 1966. He served as Chair of the Department from 1980 to 1985, and then as Associate Dean, Graduate Studies from 1986 to 1990. He also served on the University Senate and the Board of Governors. Prof. George held Visting Professorships at Gottingen, Hamburg, and at Pittsburgh’s Centre for Philosophy of Science.Ìý

Prof. George was an internationally respected scholar with an admirably broad range of expertise: he published extensively on historical figures from the 18^thÌýto the 20^thÌýCentury, with particular attention to Kant, Bolzano, Brentano, and Carnap. He was a skilled translator of philosophical works from German to English, starting with Carnap’sÌýThe Logical Structure of the WorldÌý(1967), and ending with Bolzano’s four volumeTheory of ScienceÌý(2013, with Paul Rusnock). He also worked in formal logic and the philosophy of science, among other topics.Ìý

He retired in 1996 but remained a major presence in the Department in retirement, publishing research, taking part in reading groups, attending talks, and visiting the lunchroom to chat with friends, students and colleagues about Philosophy. Former students and colleagues recall, above all, the way his approach to Philosophy was enriched by his keen and generous sense of humour.Ìý