J. L. Austin: Philosopher and D-Day Intelligence Officer
bThe first biography of the philosopher who became a mastermind of Allied intelligence in World War Two./b

Austere, witty, and formidable, J. L. Austin (1911-1960) was the leader of Oxford Ordinary Language Philosophy and the founder of speech-act theory. This book—the first full-length biography of Austin—enhances our understanding of his dominance in 1950s Oxford, examining the significance of his famous Saturday morning seminars, and his sometimes tense relationships with Gilbert Ryle, Isaiah Berlin, A. J. Ayer, and Elizabeth Anscombe. Throwing new light on Austin's own intellectual development, it probes the strengths and weaknesses of his mature philosophy, and reconstructs his late unpublished work on sound symbolism.

Austin's philosophical work remains highly influential, but much less well known is his outstanding contribution to British Intelligence in World War Two. The twelve central chapters thus investigate Austin's part in the North African campaign, the search for the V-weapons, the preparations for D-Day, the Battle of Arnhem, and the Ardennes Offensive, and show that, in the case of D-Day, he played a major role in the ultimate Allied victory.

While exploring Austin's dramatic and romantic personal history, Rowe pays close attention to his harsh schooling and pre-war affair with a married Frenchwoman; his wartime marriage, bomb injury, and response to a colleague's murder; and his post-war family life, the growing influence of America, and his tragically premature death. Adding considerably to our knowledge of World War Two, and Austin's diverse and enduring influence, this biography reveals the true complexity of his character, and the full range and significance of his achievements.
1142860807
J. L. Austin: Philosopher and D-Day Intelligence Officer
bThe first biography of the philosopher who became a mastermind of Allied intelligence in World War Two./b

Austere, witty, and formidable, J. L. Austin (1911-1960) was the leader of Oxford Ordinary Language Philosophy and the founder of speech-act theory. This book—the first full-length biography of Austin—enhances our understanding of his dominance in 1950s Oxford, examining the significance of his famous Saturday morning seminars, and his sometimes tense relationships with Gilbert Ryle, Isaiah Berlin, A. J. Ayer, and Elizabeth Anscombe. Throwing new light on Austin's own intellectual development, it probes the strengths and weaknesses of his mature philosophy, and reconstructs his late unpublished work on sound symbolism.

Austin's philosophical work remains highly influential, but much less well known is his outstanding contribution to British Intelligence in World War Two. The twelve central chapters thus investigate Austin's part in the North African campaign, the search for the V-weapons, the preparations for D-Day, the Battle of Arnhem, and the Ardennes Offensive, and show that, in the case of D-Day, he played a major role in the ultimate Allied victory.

While exploring Austin's dramatic and romantic personal history, Rowe pays close attention to his harsh schooling and pre-war affair with a married Frenchwoman; his wartime marriage, bomb injury, and response to a colleague's murder; and his post-war family life, the growing influence of America, and his tragically premature death. Adding considerably to our knowledge of World War Two, and Austin's diverse and enduring influence, this biography reveals the true complexity of his character, and the full range and significance of his achievements.
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J. L. Austin: Philosopher and D-Day Intelligence Officer

J. L. Austin: Philosopher and D-Day Intelligence Officer

by M. W. Rowe
J. L. Austin: Philosopher and D-Day Intelligence Officer

J. L. Austin: Philosopher and D-Day Intelligence Officer

by M. W. Rowe

Hardcover

$38.95 
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Overview

bThe first biography of the philosopher who became a mastermind of Allied intelligence in World War Two./b

Austere, witty, and formidable, J. L. Austin (1911-1960) was the leader of Oxford Ordinary Language Philosophy and the founder of speech-act theory. This book—the first full-length biography of Austin—enhances our understanding of his dominance in 1950s Oxford, examining the significance of his famous Saturday morning seminars, and his sometimes tense relationships with Gilbert Ryle, Isaiah Berlin, A. J. Ayer, and Elizabeth Anscombe. Throwing new light on Austin's own intellectual development, it probes the strengths and weaknesses of his mature philosophy, and reconstructs his late unpublished work on sound symbolism.

Austin's philosophical work remains highly influential, but much less well known is his outstanding contribution to British Intelligence in World War Two. The twelve central chapters thus investigate Austin's part in the North African campaign, the search for the V-weapons, the preparations for D-Day, the Battle of Arnhem, and the Ardennes Offensive, and show that, in the case of D-Day, he played a major role in the ultimate Allied victory.

While exploring Austin's dramatic and romantic personal history, Rowe pays close attention to his harsh schooling and pre-war affair with a married Frenchwoman; his wartime marriage, bomb injury, and response to a colleague's murder; and his post-war family life, the growing influence of America, and his tragically premature death. Adding considerably to our knowledge of World War Two, and Austin's diverse and enduring influence, this biography reveals the true complexity of his character, and the full range and significance of his achievements.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780198707585
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication date: 08/11/2023
Pages: 688
Product dimensions: 9.50(w) x 7.20(h) x 2.20(d)

About the Author

M. W. Rowe, Honorary Researcher in Philosophy, University of East Anglia

M. W. Rowe is an Honorary Researcher in Philosophy at the University of East Anglia (UEA). He was educated at Cranbrook School and Cambridge and York Universities. He was formerly Head of English at Pocklington School, Yorkshire, Lecturer in Aesthetics at Birkbeck College, London, and Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at UEA. He is particularly interested in military history, linguistic philosophy, classical music, nineteenth- and twentieth-century literature, and the intersections between philosophy and literature. In addition to his work on J. L. Austin, he is currently supervising a recording of the complete works of Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst (1812-65).

Table of Contents

Part I: Pre-War1. Origins: c. 1670-19112. Childhood: 1911-19243. Shrewsbury: 1924-19294. Balliol: 1929-19335. Philosophy in Oxford: 1918-19336. All Souls: 1933-19357. Collingwood, C. I. Lewis, and Aristotle: 1935-19388. The Brethren, Politics, and Wittgenstein: 1937-1940Part II: War9. Jean and the Army: 1939-194110. MI14, Marriage, and North African Intelligence: 194111. Injury, Scotland, and the Desert War: 1941-194212. The Coming of the Martians: 194213. Norfolk House, Dieppe, and Torch: 194214. Skyscraper, Invade Mecum, and Exile: 194315. The Hunt for the V-Weapons: 1943-194416. At Peter Robinson's: 1943-194417. Towards D-Day: 194418. D-Day and the Battle of Normandy: 194419. Arnhem and the Ardennes: 1944-194520. War's End: 1945Part III: Post-War21. Post-War Britain and Oxford: 1945-194722. 'Other Minds': 1946-194723. Ordinary Language Philosophy: 1947-195924. The Oral and the Written: 1947-195925. Sense and Sensibilia: 1947-195926. Truth and Logic: 1950-195227. White's Professor: 1952-195428. Domestic Life and the Americans: 1952-195429. Harvard and Speech-Acts: 195530. Abilities and Excuses: 1956-195731. Royaumont and Anscombe: 195832. California, Semantics, and Sound Symbolism: 1958-195933. Ayer, Scandinavia, and the Gellner Controversy: 195934. Final Illness: 1959-1960
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