b. 1969
John Hawthorne is a contemporary analytic philosopher specializing in epistemology, metaphysics, and philosophy of language. He is best known for his work on knowledge, skepticism, and the epistemology of lottery propositions. His influential book Knowledge and Lotteries (2004) developed a sophisticated defense of intellectualism about practical reasoning and epistemic standards.
Developed the knowledge-theoretic treatment of lottery propositions in Knowledge and Lotteries (2004)
Advanced subject-sensitive invariantism as an alternative to contextualism in epistemology
Contributed to debates on epistemic standards, skepticism, and the relationship between knowledge and action
Co-authored The Reference Book (2012), addressing issues in philosophy of language and reference
Held chairs at Oxford, Rutgers, and USC, shaping contemporary analytic epistemology