Rudolf Carnap was a prominent 20th-century philosopher known for his work in logic, philosophy of language, and philosophy of science. Born in 1891 in Germany, he became a leading figure in the Vienna Circle, a group of philosophers and scientists advocating for logical positivism, which emphasizes the verification of knowledge through empirical observation. Carnap's contributions include the development of formal languages and the idea that philosophical problems should be addressed using scientific methods. He wrote extensively on topics such as logical syntax and semantic theory, influencing later thinkers in both analytic philosophy and the philosophy of science.