David Lewis
David Lewis
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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David Lewis was an American philosopher and logician who is widely recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to the fields of modal logic and philosophy of language.
Birth and Death Dates
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David Lewis was born on December 28, 1941, in Oberlin, Ohio. He passed away on October 14, 2001.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Nationality: American
Profession(s): Philosopher, Logician
Early Life and Background
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Lewis grew up in a family that valued education. His father was a professor at Oberlin College, where Lewis later attended as an undergraduate student. He developed a strong interest in philosophy during his college years, particularly under the influence of Willard Van Orman Quine. After completing his BA degree in 1962, Lewis went on to earn his PhD from Harvard University in 1967.
Major Accomplishments
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Lewis made significant contributions to modal logic and philosophy of language. He introduced the concept of "counterfactuals" and developed a rigorous framework for analyzing them using possible-world semantics. His work on counterfactuals, which involves considering alternative scenarios or possibilities, has had far-reaching implications in various fields, including law, economics, and artificial intelligence.
Lewis's philosophical ideas also extended to other areas, such as the nature of reality, time, and causation. He proposed the "modal realism" theory, which posits that all possible worlds exist simultaneously. This idea challenged traditional notions of space and time, contributing significantly to ongoing debates in philosophy of science and metaphysics.
Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Lewis's notable works include:
Counterfactuals (1973) - a seminal book on the subject that introduced possible-world semantics.
On the Plurality of Worlds (1986) - a comprehensive treatment of modal realism, where Lewis outlines his theory in detail.
Lewis was also an influential teacher and mentor. He taught at various universities throughout his career, including Princeton University, where he held the position of Stuart Professor of Philosophy from 1970 until his retirement in 1998.
Impact and Legacy
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David Lewis's work has had a lasting impact on philosophy, logic, and beyond. His concept of counterfactuals has been applied in numerous fields, such as law (in assessing causation and responsibility) and economics (in modeling decision-making under uncertainty). In philosophy, his modal realism theory continues to shape discussions about the nature of reality and time.
Lewis's influence can also be seen in the work of other prominent thinkers. For example, philosophers like Robert Stalnaker and Frank Jackson have built upon Lewis's ideas on possible-world semantics and counterfactuals.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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David Lewis is widely quoted and remembered due to his groundbreaking contributions to modal logic and philosophy of language. His work on counterfactuals has had far-reaching implications across various disciplines, making him a revered figure in the intellectual community.
Quotes by David Lewis
The medium does convey a large part of the message. There is a ladder of emotional temperature attached to communications, and e-mail tend to the coldest of the lot.
The combined company will be stronger from a distribution and product standpoint. Nevertheless, we do not expect the merger of the two companies to alleviate the pressures from low fixed product sales and the challenging interest-rate environment.
A good documentation trail and good content will help you down the road with unexpected liability.
Clubs seem to be dropping left and right. Improving the image, doing more in terms of crime prevention that'll maybe cause more shops to move back in. And that's in everyone's best interest.
It was not something they had to worry about setting up or something they had to worry about monitoring.
Suppliers are struggling to meet demand at the moment. It has come very late. A month or two ago, there was virtually no demand. But they've all jumped on the bandwagon in the past two or three weeks.