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    Carmelics

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    J.J.C. Smart — Carmelics
    Thinkers/J.J.C. Smart
    J.J.C. Smart

    J.J.C. Smart

    contemporaryAnalytic Philosophy

    1920 – 2012

    J.J.C. Smart (1920–2012) was an Australian analytic philosopher whose work spanned philosophy of mind, ethics, and metaphysics. He is best known for defending the mind-brain identity theory (type physicalism) and act utilitarianism, and for engaging seriously with philosophy of religion from a naturalist perspective.

    WWikipedia

    Notable Achievements

    1

    Developed and defended the type identity theory of mind (mind-brain identity theory)

    2

    Championed act utilitarianism in moral philosophy

    3

    Advocated scientific realism and a physicalist metaphysics

    4

    Engaged critically with cosmological and ontological arguments from a naturalist standpoint

    5

    Co-authored 'Atheism and Theism' with J.J. Haldane, modeling rigorous philosophical debate across worldviews

    Positions & Arguments

    (2)

    Philosophy of Language

    claim

    We must distinguish between the radical empiricist's meaning of 'meaning' (epistemic reduction) and a more common-sensical meaning of 'meaning' (factual reference).

    Truth & Knowledge

    claim

    We must distinguish between the radical empiricist's meaning of 'meaning' (epistemic reduction) and a more common-sensical meaning of 'meaning' (factual reference).

    Natural Theology

    claim

    The cosmological argument does not rely on notions central to the ontological argument and, if sound, gives us reason to think that the necessary being exists rather than not.

    At a Glance

    Ideas

    2

    Topics

    3

    Era

    contemporary

    Tradition

    Analytic Philosophy

    Topic Influence

    Truth & Knowledge1
    Natural Theology1
    Philosophy of Language1

    Related Thinkers

    Immanuel Kant3 sharedBertrand Russell3 sharedDavid Hume3 sharedAristotle3 sharedPlato3 sharedRené Descartes3 sharedF. Schlegel3 sharedDavid Hilbert3 shared

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