Susan Haack, a distinguished British philosopher renowned for her work in epistemology, logic, and the philosophy of science and law, passed away on March 10, 2026, in Miami, Florida, at the age of 80. Her intellectual contributions spanned decades, leaving an indelible mark on contemporary philosophy through her rigorous inquiry and innovative theories.

Born on July 23, 1945, in Buckinghamshire, England, Haack pursued her foundational education at the University of Oxford, earning a B.A. and B.Phil. She continued her advanced studies at the University of Cambridge, where she completed her Ph.D. in philosophy. Her early academic career saw her hold positions as a Fellow at New Hall, Cambridge, and as a lecturer, reader, and professor at the University of Warwick, establishing her reputation as a formidable scholar in the United Kingdom.

In 1990, Professor Haack transitioned to the University of Miami, where she became a Distinguished Professor in the Humanities, Cooper Senior Scholar in Arts and Sciences, and a professor of both philosophy and law. This dual appointment underscored the interdisciplinary nature of her work, particularly her profound engagement with legal epistemology and the philosophy of scientific evidence.

Haack was the author of numerous influential books, including "Deviant Logic" (1974), "Philosophy of Logics" (1978), and her seminal work, "Evidence and Inquiry: Towards Reconstruction in Epistemology" (1993). In this work, she introduced "Foundherentism," an original epistemological theory that sought to reconcile the strengths of foundationalism and coherentism while avoiding their respective pitfalls.

Her philosophical scope extended to critical examinations of scientism and feminism, as evidenced in works like "Manifesto of a Passionate Moderate: Unfashionable Essays" (1998) and "Defending Science – Within Reason: Between Scientism and Cynicism" (2003). She consistently advocated for intellectual integrity and a nuanced understanding of scientific inquiry, challenging prevailing dogmas and fads within academia.

Professor Haack's significant contributions were widely recognized. She was included in Peter J. King's "One Hundred Philosophers: The Life and Work of the World's Greatest Thinkers" in 2004 and was listed by the Sunday Independent, based on a BBC poll, as one of the ten most important women philosophers of all time in 2005. Among her many accolades, she received the prestigious Ulysses Medal from University College Dublin in 2016 and the Premio internacional de cultura juridica from the Universidad de Girona in 2020.

Susan Haack's legacy is that of a fiercely independent thinker who championed clarity, reason, and intellectual honesty. Her work continues to inspire scholars across disciplines, particularly in the philosophy of knowledge, science, and law. She is survived by her husband, Howard Burdick, and her family.