Charlie Dunbar Broad
Encyclopedia
C. D. Broad was an English
epistemologist, historian of philosophy
, philosopher of science
, moral philosopher
, and writer on the philosophical aspects of psychical research. He was known for his thorough and dispassionate examinations of argument
s in such works as Scientific Thought, published in 1923, The Mind and Its Place in Nature, published in 1925, and Examination of McTaggart
's Philosophy, published in 1933.
Broad's essay on "Determinism, Indeterminism, and Libertarianism" in Ethics and the History of Philosophy (1952) introduced the philosophical terms "occurrent causation" and "non-occurrent causation", which became the basis for today's "agent causal" and "event causal" distinctions in the debates on Libertarian Free Will
.
, in Middlesex
, England
. He was educated at Dulwich College
from 1900 until 1906. He gained a scholarship to study at Trinity College, Cambridge
in 1906. In 1910 he graduated with First-Class Honours
, with distinction.
In 1911, he became a Fellow of Trinity College. This was a non-residential position, which enabled him to also accept a position he had applied for as an assistant lecturer at St Andrews University. He was later made a lecturer at St Andrews University, and remained there until 1920. He was appointed professor at Bristol University in 1920, and worked there until 1923, when he returned to Trinity College as a College lecturer. He was a lecturer in 'moral science' in the Faculty of philosophy at Cambridge University
from 1926 until 1931. In 1931, he was appointed 'Sidgwick Lecturer' at Cambridge University. He kept this role until 1933, when he was appointed Knightbridge Professor of Moral Philosophy
at Cambridge University, a position he held for twenty years, until 1953.
Broad was President of the Aristotelian Society
from 1927–1928, and again from 1954-1955. He was also President of the Society for Psychical Research
in 1935 and 1958.
Broad was openly homosexual at a time when homosexual acts were illegal. (In 1952, the mathematician, logician and philosopher Alan Turing
was convicted of 'gross indecency' for admitting to a sexual relationship with another man.) In March 1958, Broad along with fellow philosophers A.J. Ayer and Bertrand Russell
, writer J.B. Priestley, and 27 others, sent a letter to The Times
which urged the acceptance of the Wolfenden Report
's recommendation that homosexual acts should 'no longer be a criminal offence'.
New series of events would then originate which he called "continuants." These are essentially causa sui
.
Peter van Inwagen
says that Broad formulated an excellent version of what van Inwagen has called the "Consequence Argument" in defense of incompatibilism
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
epistemologist, historian of philosophy
History of philosophy
The history of philosophy is the study of philosophical ideas and concepts through time. Issues specifically related to history of philosophy might include : How can changes in philosophy be accounted for historically? What drives the development of thought in its historical context? To what...
, philosopher of science
Philosophy of science
The philosophy of science is concerned with the assumptions, foundations, methods and implications of science. It is also concerned with the use and merit of science and sometimes overlaps metaphysics and epistemology by exploring whether scientific results are actually a study of truth...
, moral philosopher
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
, and writer on the philosophical aspects of psychical research. He was known for his thorough and dispassionate examinations of argument
Argument
In philosophy and logic, an argument is an attempt to persuade someone of something, or give evidence or reasons for accepting a particular conclusion.Argument may also refer to:-Mathematics and computer science:...
s in such works as Scientific Thought, published in 1923, The Mind and Its Place in Nature, published in 1925, and Examination of McTaggart
J. M. E. McTaggart
John McTaggart was an idealist metaphysician. For most of his life McTaggart was a fellow and lecturer in philosophy at Trinity College, Cambridge. He was an exponent of the philosophy of Hegel and among the most notable of the British idealists.-Personal life:J. M. E. McTaggart was born in 1866...
's Philosophy, published in 1933.
Broad's essay on "Determinism, Indeterminism, and Libertarianism" in Ethics and the History of Philosophy (1952) introduced the philosophical terms "occurrent causation" and "non-occurrent causation", which became the basis for today's "agent causal" and "event causal" distinctions in the debates on Libertarian Free Will
Free will
"To make my own decisions whether I am successful or not due to uncontrollable forces" -Troy MorrisonA pragmatic definition of free willFree will is the ability of agents to make choices free from certain kinds of constraints. The existence of free will and its exact nature and definition have long...
.
Life
Broad was born in HarlesdenHarlesden
Harlesden is an area in the London Borough of Brent, northwest London, UK. Its main focal point is the Jubilee Clock which commemorates Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee....
, in Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He was educated at Dulwich College
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
from 1900 until 1906. He gained a scholarship to study at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
in 1906. In 1910 he graduated with First-Class Honours
British undergraduate degree classification
The British undergraduate degree classification system is a grading scheme for undergraduate degrees in the United Kingdom...
, with distinction.
In 1911, he became a Fellow of Trinity College. This was a non-residential position, which enabled him to also accept a position he had applied for as an assistant lecturer at St Andrews University. He was later made a lecturer at St Andrews University, and remained there until 1920. He was appointed professor at Bristol University in 1920, and worked there until 1923, when he returned to Trinity College as a College lecturer. He was a lecturer in 'moral science' in the Faculty of philosophy at Cambridge University
Faculty of philosophy cambridge
The University of Cambridge was the birthplace of the 'analytical' school of philosophy in the early 20th century.Today it is still a centre for philosophy. The most recent Research Assessment Exercise gave Cambridge the highest possible score...
from 1926 until 1931. In 1931, he was appointed 'Sidgwick Lecturer' at Cambridge University. He kept this role until 1933, when he was appointed Knightbridge Professor of Moral Philosophy
Knightbridge Professor of Philosophy
The Knightbridge Professorship of Philosophy is the senior professorship in philosophy at the University of Cambridge.One of the oldest professorships in Cambridge, the chair was founded in 1683 by John Knightbridge, fellow of Peterhouse....
at Cambridge University, a position he held for twenty years, until 1953.
Broad was President of the Aristotelian Society
Aristotelian Society
The Aristotelian Society for the Systematic Study of Philosophy was founded at a meeting on 19 April 1880, at 17 Bloomsbury Square which resolved "to constitute a society of about twenty and to include ladies; the society to meet fortnightly, on Mondays at 8 o'clock, at the rooms of the Spelling...
from 1927–1928, and again from 1954-1955. He was also President of the Society for Psychical Research
Society for Psychical Research
The Society for Psychical Research is a non-profit organisation in the United Kingdom. Its stated purpose is to understand "events and abilities commonly described as psychic or paranormal by promoting and supporting important research in this area" and to "examine allegedly paranormal phenomena...
in 1935 and 1958.
Broad was openly homosexual at a time when homosexual acts were illegal. (In 1952, the mathematician, logician and philosopher Alan Turing
Alan Turing
Alan Mathison Turing, OBE, FRS , was an English mathematician, logician, cryptanalyst, and computer scientist. He was highly influential in the development of computer science, providing a formalisation of the concepts of "algorithm" and "computation" with the Turing machine, which played a...
was convicted of 'gross indecency' for admitting to a sexual relationship with another man.) In March 1958, Broad along with fellow philosophers A.J. Ayer and Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, and social critic. At various points in his life he considered himself a liberal, a socialist, and a pacifist, but he also admitted that he had never been any of these things...
, writer J.B. Priestley, and 27 others, sent a letter to The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
which urged the acceptance of the Wolfenden Report
Wolfenden report
The Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution was published in Britain on 4 September 1957 after a succession of well-known men, including Lord Montagu, Michael Pitt-Rivers and Peter Wildeblood, were convicted of homosexual offences.-The committee:The...
's recommendation that homosexual acts should 'no longer be a criminal offence'.
Psychical research
Broad argued that if research showed that psychic events occur, this would challenge philosophical theories in at least five ways:- Backward causation, the future affecting the past, is rejected by many philosophers, but would be shown to occur if, for example, people could predict the future.
- One common argument against dualismDualism (philosophy of mind)In philosophy of mind, dualism is a set of views about the relationship between mind and matter, which begins with the claim that mental phenomena are, in some respects, non-physical....
, that is the belief that minds are non-physical, and bodies physical, is that physical and non-physical things cannot interact. However, this would be shown to be possible if people can move physical objects by thought (telekinesis). - Similarly, philosophers tend to be skepticalSkepticismSkepticism has many definitions, but generally refers to any questioning attitude towards knowledge, facts, or opinions/beliefs stated as facts, or doubt regarding claims that are taken for granted elsewhere...
about claims that non-physical 'stuff' could interact with anything. This would also be challenged if mindMindThe concept of mind is understood in many different ways by many different traditions, ranging from panpsychism and animism to traditional and organized religious views, as well as secular and materialist philosophies. Most agree that minds are constituted by conscious experience and intelligent...
s are shown to be able to communicate with each other, as would be the case if mind-readingTelepathyTelepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
is possible. - Philosophers generally accept that we can only learn about the world through reasonReasonReason is a term that refers to the capacity human beings have to make sense of things, to establish and verify facts, and to change or justify practices, institutions, and beliefs. It is closely associated with such characteristically human activities as philosophy, science, language, ...
and perceptionPerceptionPerception is the process of attaining awareness or understanding of the environment by organizing and interpreting sensory information. All perception involves signals in the nervous system, which in turn result from physical stimulation of the sense organs...
. This belief would be challenged if people were able to psychically perceive events in other places. - PhysicalistPhysicalismPhysicalism is a philosophical position holding that everything which exists is no more extensive than its physical properties; that is, that there are no kinds of things other than physical things...
philosophers believe that there cannot be persons without bodies. If ghosts were shown to exist, this view would be challenged.
Free Will
Broad argued for "non-occurrent causation" as "literally determined by the agent or self." The agent could be considered as a substance or continuant, and not by a total cause which contains as factors events in and dispositions of the agent. Thus our efforts would be completely determined, but their causes would not be prior events.New series of events would then originate which he called "continuants." These are essentially causa sui
Causa sui
Causa sui denotes something which is generated within itself. This concept was central to the works of Baruch Spinoza, Sigmund Freud, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Ernest Becker, where it relates to the purpose that objects can assign to themselves...
.
Peter van Inwagen
Peter van Inwagen
Peter van Inwagen is an American analytic philosopher and the John Cardinal O'Hara Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. He previously taught at Syracuse University and earned his PhD from the University of Rochester under the direction of Richard Taylor and Keith Lehrer...
says that Broad formulated an excellent version of what van Inwagen has called the "Consequence Argument" in defense of incompatibilism
Incompatibilism
Incompatibilism is the view that a deterministic universe is completely at odds with the notion that people have a free will. Strictly speaking, there is a dichotomy between determinism and free will where philosophers must choose one or the other...
.
Works
- Perception, physics and reality. An Enquiry into the Information that Physical Science can Supply about the Real. London: Cambridge University Press, 1914 (PDF; 54,07 MB)
- Scientific thought. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., 1923
- The Mind and its place in nature. London: Kegan Paul, 1925
- The Philosophy of Francis Bacon. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1926
- Five types of ethical theory. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., 1930
- War Thoughts in Peace Time. London: Humphrey Milford, 1931
- An examination of McTaggart's philosophy. Vol. 1. Cambridge University Press, 1933
- Determinism, interdeterminism and libertarianism. Cambridge University Press, 1934
- An examination of McTaggart's philosophy. Vol. 2. Cambridge University Press, 1938
- Ethics and the History of Philosophy, London: Routledge, 1952; Reprint 2000, ISBN 0-415-22530-2
- Religion, Philosophy and Psychic Research, London: Routledge, 1953; Reprint 2000, ISBN 0-415-22558-2
- Human Personality and the Possibility of Its Survival. University of California Press, 1955
- Personal Identity and Survival. Society for Psychical Research, London 1958
- Lectures on Psychical Research. Incorporating the Perrott Lectures given in Cambridge University in 1959 and 1960. New York: Humanities Press, 1962 (contains Saltmarsh's Investigation of Mrs Warren Elliott's Mediumship)
- Induction, Probability, and Causation. Selected Papers of C. D. Broad, Dordrecht: Reidel, 1968.
- Broad's Critical Essays in Moral Philosophy, New York: Humanities Press, 1971.
- Leibniz: An Introduction, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1975, ISBN 0-521-20691-X
- Berkeley's Argument. Haskell House Pub Ltd., 1976
- Kant: An Introduction, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1978, ISBN 0-521-21755-5
- Ethics, Dordrecht: Nijhoff, 1985.
Further reading
- Paul A. Schilpp (ed.): Philosophy of C. D. Broad. Tudor Publishing Company, New York 1959