A. E. Heath

Archie Edward Heath (6 August 1887[1] – 18 May 1961)[2][3] was a philosopher and philosophy professor.[4][5] Alongside his contemporary Ludwig Wittgenstein, he significantly influenced the 'Swansea School of Philosophy'.[6][7] He was President of the Rationalist Press Association 1949-1954.[8]

A. E. Heath
Born
Archie Edward Heath

6 August 1887
Died18 May 1961(1961-05-18) (aged 73)
Occupation(s)Philosopher; Professor of Philosophy
EmployerUniversity College, Swansea
OrganizationRationalist Press Association

Career

Heath was a teacher at Oundle School,[9] and subsequently science master at Bedales School, where one of the students he encouraged was Robin Hill, who went on to be a plant biochemist.[10] He was later a lecturer at the universities of Manchester and Liverpool.[9]

From 1925-52,[9] Heath was Professor of Philosophy at University College, Swansea.[10] While there, he was an influence on both American philosopher Rush Rhees (who worked as an assistant professor alongside Heath)[11] and British philosopher Peter Winch.[12]

A humanist, Heath was a Director of the Rationalist Press Association 1946 to 1958; its President 1949-54, and Vice President from 1955 until his death.[9] Heath was the editor of Scientific Thought in the Twentieth Century, published in 1951.[2] This contained contributions from high profile thinkers including A. J. Ayer, Ronald Fisher, Peter Medawar, and Sir Harold Spencer Jones.[2] Albert Einstein, wrote Rationalist Press Association's Board of Directors congratulating them on the volume.[2]

Heath wrote the introduction to Susan Stebbing's Ideals and Illusions, published as part of the Thinker's Library in 1948 (first published in 1941). He described Stebbing as someone who had "scared academic persons because she not only professed rationality but also lived it. She made criticism an act of grace."[13]

Death

Heath's funeral was conducted at Swansea by H. J. Blackham, who quoted Heath's words during the humanist ceremony: "The study of human beings, in all their complex doings between a sleep and a sleep, is an endless source of interest and puzzlement."[9]

References
  1. "1939 Register". www.findmypast.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  2. Cooke, Bill (2004). The gathering of infidels : a hundred years of the Rationalist Press Association. Internet Archive. Amherst, N.Y. : Prometheus Books. ISBN 978-1-59102-196-4.
  3. "England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1858-2019". www.findmypast.co.uk. 1962. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  4. HEATH, Archie Edward (1887-1961) philosopher.
  5. Archives, The National. "The Discovery Service". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  6. "Lot 155 - Heath (Archie Edward, 1887-1961). An archive". www.dominicwinter.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  7. "Wittgenstein in Swansea – Wittgenstein Initiative". Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  8. "News and Notes". The Literary Guide. December 1954. pp. v.
  9. "Humanist Front". The Humanist. July 1961. p. 223.
  10. "Hill, Robert [Robin] (1899–1991), plant biochemist". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/49777. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  11. Phillips, D. Z. (2004-09-23). Rhees, Rush (1905–1989), philosopher. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/65652.
  12. "Winch, Peter Guy (1926–1997), philosopher". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/65661. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  13. Stebbing, L. Susan (1948). Ideals And Illusions. Watts & Co.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.