C.D. Broad
contemporaryAnalytic Philosophy1887 – 1971
Charlie Dunbar Broad (1887–1971) was a British analytic philosopher at Cambridge whose meticulous, systematic style made him one of the most careful philosophical expositors of his era. He made significant contributions to the philosophy of time, philosophy of mind, perception, and ethics, and produced a definitive two-volume examination of McTaggart's metaphysics. His willingness to take seriously unorthodox positions—including psychical research—distinguished him from most contemporaries.
Notable Achievements
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Produced the authoritative critical analysis of McTaggart's A-series/B-series theory of time in 'An Examination of McTaggart's Philosophy' (1933–38)
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Developed a sophisticated theory of perception and sense-data in 'Scientific Thought' (1923) and 'The Mind and Its Place in Nature' (1925)
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Systematized and clarified debates in philosophy of mind, coining or refining terms still in use (e.g., 'emergentism')
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Contributed rigorous analysis to moral philosophy in 'Five Types of Ethical Theory' (1930)
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