P. F. Strawson
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P. F. Strawson | |
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| Born | 23 November 1919 |
| Died | 13 February 2006 |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Philosopher |
| Known for | Descriptive metaphysics; philosophy of language; philosophy of mind |
| Notable work | Individuals; Introduction to Logical Theory |
P. F. Strawson was a philosopher whose work addressed language, metaphysics, and the structure of conceptual schemes. He is associated with ordinary language philosophy and with efforts to describe the basic categories underlying everyday thought and discourse.
His work emphasized description of existing conceptual practices rather than their revision or replacement.
Early life and education
Strawson was born in London, England. He was educated at St Paul’s School and later attended the University of Oxford, where he studied philosophy, politics, and economics.
After military service during World War II, he returned to Oxford and began an academic career there.
Philosophy of language
Strawson examined reference, meaning, and the use of expressions in context. He criticized purely formal approaches to language that abstracted away from ordinary usage.
His work addressed issues such as presupposition and the conditions under which statements can be evaluated as true or false.
Descriptive metaphysics
In Individuals (1959), Strawson distinguished between descriptive metaphysics, which aims to describe the structure of our conceptual framework, and revisionary metaphysics, which seeks to replace it.
He argued that certain categories, such as persons and physical objects, are fundamental to how experience is organized.
Critique of logical theories
Strawson criticized aspects of earlier logical and semantic theories, including elements of Russell’s theory of descriptions. He argued that some logical reconstructions misrepresent how language functions in practice.
These critiques focused on conceptual adequacy rather than formal consistency.
Philosophy of mind
Strawson addressed issues concerning persons, mental states, and responsibility. He examined how concepts of intention, emotion, and agency operate within interpersonal practices.
His work emphasized the social and normative dimensions of mental concepts.
Relationship to institutions
Strawson spent most of his academic career at Oxford, where he taught and published extensively. He played a role in shaping post-war British philosophy through teaching and administrative service.
He did not establish a formal school but influenced discussion through widely read texts.
Limits and uncertainty
Strawson’s descriptive approach has been criticized for conservatism and for resisting theoretical revision. Critics question whether description alone can address deep philosophical problems.
Debate continues regarding the scope and limits of descriptive metaphysics.
Status
P. F. Strawson is regarded as a central figure in mid-twentieth-century British analytic philosophy. His work remains relevant to discussions of language, metaphysics, and mind.