We just learnt the unexpected death of Simo Knuuttila, with deep sadness. He was professor of Theological Ethics and the Philosophy of Religion at the University of Helsinki, 2008-2013 Head of the Finnish Centre of Excellence in Philosophical Psychology, Morality, and Politics in the Department of Systematic Theology, Academy of Finland. Simo Knuuttila was one of the most famous and most respected historians of medieval philosophy in the world. He was also a member of the Finnish Academy of Sciences since 1988 and a member of the Academia Europaea since 2004.
His contributions to the history of philosophy, ethics, philosophy of religion, theology and logic and his analyses of medieval doctrines about modality, being, mind and action have shaped the field for decades.
In 2011, he was awarded the Finnish Science Prize, worth 85,000 euros. The award was given to Knuuttila for, among other things, high-quality international research on the development stages of European philosophy and theology, as well as numerous prestigious positions of trust, translation work and active participation in science policy.
The International Institute of Philosophy, of which he was one of the most active
and faithful members, is deeply saddened by his death. We shall miss him a lot, and shall honour him in Bonn.
To his family and friends in Helsinki, and to the whole philosophical community in Finland and in Scandinavia we express our condolences.
Requiescat in pace!
