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John AustinEnglish philosopher
Date of Birth: 26.03.1911
Country:  Great Britain |
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Biography of John Austin
John Austin was born on March 26, 1911, in Lancaster, England. He received his education at Shrewsbury School and Balliol College, Oxford University. In 1933, he was elected a fellow of Oriel College, and in 1935, a fellow of Magdalen College.
Education and Career
After completing his education at Oxford, Austin became a prominent English philosopher. From 1952 to 1960, he served as a professor of moral philosophy at Oxford University. Throughout his career, Austin viewed his theories as tools that could and should be used in various fields to achieve optimal results.
Contributions to Philosophy
One of Austin's notable contributions was outlined in his work "Sense and Sensibilia" published in 1962. In this critical examination of the philosophical use of expressions related to sensory perception, Austin analyzed the distinctions between illusion and hallucination, different types of visual phenomena grouped under the term "illusion" (such as mirage, camouflage, and reflection), and the question of what constitutes an illusion versus genuine perception.
Austin carefully distinguished between the uses of words such as "looks," "is," and "seems," as well as the numerous applications of the word "real," which are inseparable from what is meant by "unreal" in a specific context. He explored the meaningfulness or meaninglessness of formulations put forward, rather than the truth or falsehood of various theories of sensory perception. Austin believed that the correct approach would be to "split hairs before they have grown."
Later Works and Legacy
In addition to "Sense and Sensibilia," Austin's other notable works include "Philosophical Papers" (1961) and "How to Do Things with Words" (1962). These collections of his lectures and articles were published posthumously. Austin passed away on February 8, 1960, in Oxford.
