Bernard Williams
Full Name and Common Aliases
Bernard Arthur Owen Williams
Commonly referred to as Bernard Williams
Birth and Death Dates
June 21, 1929 – June 12, 2003
Nationality and Profession(s)
British philosopher, historian of philosophy, and a moral philosopher
He was also known for his contributions to the fields of ethics, political theory, and the history of ideas.
Early Life and Background
Bernard Williams was born on June 21, 1929, in West Hartlepool, England. His father was an accountant, and the family moved to London when Bernard was a young boy. He developed an interest in philosophy early on, which led him to study at Oxford University.
At Oxford, Williams was exposed to the works of Plato, Aristotle, and other influential philosophers. This exposure had a profound impact on his future academic pursuits. After completing his degree, he went on to serve in the Royal Navy during World War II.
Major Accomplishments
Williams made significant contributions to various fields, including ethics, political theory, and the history of ideas. Some of his notable works include:
"Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy": This book is considered one of Williams' most important contributions to the field of philosophy.
"Shame and Necessity": In this work, Williams explores the concept of shame in ancient Greek culture and its implications for modern ethics.
Notable Works or Actions
Williams was a prolific writer and philosopher. Some notable works include:
"Problems of the Self: Philosophical Papers 1956-1972"
"Making Sense of Humanity"
He also served as the President of the British Academy from 1991 to 1995.
Impact and Legacy
Bernard Williams' work has had a lasting impact on various fields, including philosophy, ethics, and politics. His writing style, which blended academic rigor with accessibility, made him a beloved figure in intellectual circles.
His contributions have inspired generations of scholars and thinkers. He will be remembered for his groundbreaking work in the history of ideas, as well as his ability to make complex philosophical concepts accessible to a broad audience.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Bernard Williams is widely quoted and remembered due to his significant contributions to philosophy, ethics, and politics. His work continues to be studied and debated by scholars around the world.
Quotes by Bernard Williams
I was attracted to opera when I was 15 or 16. A very rich man in England bankrupted himself to put on a lot of opera during the war, but he converted a lot of people, myself included, in the process.
Tragedy is formed 'round ideas it does not expound, and to understand its history is, in some part, to understand those ideas and their place in the society that produced it.
Philosophy is altogether less pure now. It's been impurified by science and social science and history.
Virtually the only subject in which one could ever get a scholarship to Oxford or Cambridge was classics. So I went to Oxford to study classics and, unlike Cambridge, it had a philosophy component, and I became completely transported by it.
I was interested in philosophy before I knew I was. That's to say, when I was at school, I used to argue with my friends about issues that turned out to be philosophical ones of some kind.
Contemporary moral philosophy has found an original way of being boring, which is by not discussing moral issues at all.
The people I really do dislike are the morally unimaginative kind of evolutionary reductionists who, in the name of science, think they can explain everything in terms of our early hominid ancestors or our genes, with their combination of high-handed tone and disregard for history. Such reductive speculation encourages a really empty scientism.
People have been predicting the death of philosophy since the 17th century. When I was a student, people were saying, 'We're in the last days of philosophy.' Then we were told in the '60s it would be replaced by sociology, then by literary criticism.
The majority of philosophers are totally humorless. That's part of their trouble.