Ilkka Niiniluoto
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Ilkka Maunu Olavi Niiniluoto (born March 12, 1946 in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish philosopher and mathematician, serving as a professor of philosophy at the University of Helsinki since 1981. He is currently on leave from his position, having been appointed as rector of the University of Helsinki in August 1, 2003 for a five-year period. On 25 April, 2008, he was chosen to succeed Kari Raivio as chancellor of the University of Helsinki, beginning 1 June, 2008.
A main contribution to the philosophy of science, particularly to the topic of verisimilitude or truth approximation, is his Truthlikeness, (1987) Synthese Library, Springer. Another notable publication is Critical Scientific Realism, (2002) Oxford, Oxford University Press.
In 1990s, Niiniluoto among other university employees organized a plead to the consistory of the university to abolish ecclesiastic remnants from the university ceremonies.