Influences on the Aufbau

Abstract Rudolf Carnap uses the term “influence” freely in his “intellectual autobiography”, referring to Bruno Bauch’s seminar on Kant (Carnap 1963, 3), and to “conversations with friends,” or noting “poetical” influences on his thought (Carnap 1963, 7). Yet he gives pride of place to Frege and Russell who “had the strongest effect on my thinking”, which later became more “radical and precise” “chiefly through the influence of Wittgenstein” (Carnap 1963, 11, 24). He thus presents a very clear line of influence on his philosophy while also placing it in broader contexts.