David Armstrong dies 17 May 201417 May 2014 I received this message via the Australasian Association of Philosophy: The philosophical community will be saddened to learn that David Malet Armstrong died on the 13th of May after a long illness: two months shy of his 88th birthday. DMA or Armo, as he was affectionately known, is the most important philosopher that Australia has produced. Such has been his impact that he not only made major contributions to the philosophy of mind, epistemology and metaphysics, he also played a significant role in laying out the terrain and setting the agenda in those fields. As one reviewer put it when summing up Armstrong’s book What is a Law of Nature?, ‘all future work … starts here’. The Australasian Association of Philosophy expresses its sadness at David Armstrong’s death, and offers its condolences to his wife Jenny and her children and his sister Suzanne. The AAP, has placed a section on its website: http://www.aap.org.au/blog?mode=PostView&bmi=1553520, where people are welcome to visit and add their recollections of David. Please let people know about the page. I did not know him well, but I did meet him a few times… Australian stuff Logic and philosophy Metaphysics Philosophy
Evolution Religion and Tolerance 21 Jul 2010 The video from the Religion and Toleration conference I attended is now online (details below the fold). Read More
Epistemology Affirming the consequent and doing science and history 3 Jan 20123 Jan 2012 Here’s a conundrum for the simple minded: One of the classic fallacies is the fallacy of affirming the consequent: If P then Q, Q, therefore P It’s an obvious logical fallacy because there might be many reasons for Q. And yet, all science rests on doing just that. Suppose I… Read More
Ethics and Moral Philosophy God is dead, so be good for goodness sake 27 Apr 2010 Michael Ruse addresses the question of whether or not the lack of a God means atheists should rape and pillage. His answer and mine is no, we do things because we are humans and humans follow moral standards. Actually, I would take that a bit further and say, we are… Read More
I thought John Mackie was the most important philosopher Australia has produced. (Perhaps that’s because of my Gnu Atheist roots and Mackie’s ‘Miracle of Theism’?). Excepting our venerable host. But have never heard of this man who encapsulated all that was a major sporting team in London named after an armory.
Armstong is a candidate. But one of many, including several working philosophers. Chalmers actually is a much stronger candidate.
It’s such a pity that Dave is best known for his antithesis of materialism, while Armstrong was known for materialism, when Dave is such a nice guy, and Armstrong was not very nice to up and coming philosophers.
I have to disagree. He was always pleasant and friendly to me when I was young and indeed thereafter. And it certainly wasn’t because I agreed with his politics, which I did not.