Frank Cameron Jackson
Encyclopedia
Frank Cameron Jackson is an Australian philosopher, currently Distinguished Professor and former Director of the Research School of Social Sciences at Australian National University
. In 2007-2008, he also became a regular visiting professor
of philosophy at Princeton University
. His research focuses primarily on philosophy of mind
, epistemology, metaphysics
, and meta-ethics
.
.
Jackson studied mathematics and philosophy at the University of Melbourne
and received his Ph.D. in philosophy from La Trobe University
. He taught at the University of Adelaide
for a year in 1967. In 1978, he became chair of the philosophy department at Monash University
. In 1986, he joined Australian National University
(ANU) as Professor of Philosophy and Head of the Philosophy Program, Research School of Social Sciences. At ANU, he served as Director of the Institute of Advanced Studies from 1998 to 2001 and Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 2001. He was appointed as Distinguished Professor at ANU in 2003. He now spends half of each year at Princeton University, and only one month per year at the ANU.
Jackson was awarded the Order of Australia
in 2006 for service to philosophy and social sciences as an academic, administrator, and researcher. Jackson delivered the John Locke lectures
at the University of Oxford
in 1995. His father had delivered the 1957-8 lectures, making them the first father-son pair to do so.
, epistemology, metaphysics
, and meta-ethics
.
In philosophy of mind, Jackson is known, among other things, for the knowledge argument against physicalism
—the view that the universe is entirely physical (i.e., the kinds of entities postulated in physics). Jackson motivates the knowledge argument
by a thought experiment
known as Mary's room
. Jackson phrases the thought experiment as follows:
(As a side note, this thought-experiment was dramatised in the three-part Channel 4
documentary "Brainspotting." It also forms the central motif of author David Lodge
's novel Thinks... (2001). Jackson makes an appearance in Lodge's novel as, of course, himself.)
Jackson used the knowledge argument, as well as other arguments, to establish a sort of dualism
, according to which certain mental states, especially qualitative ones, are non-physical. The view that Jackson urged was a modest version of epiphenomenalism
—the view that certain mental states are non-physical and, although caused to come into existence by physical events, do not then cause any changes in the physical world.
However, Jackson has since rejected the knowledge argument, as well as other arguments against physicalism
:
Jackson argues that the intuition-driven arguments against physicalism (such as the knowledge argument
and the zombie argument
) are ultimately misleading.
Jackson is also known for his defense of the centrality of conceptual analysis to philosophy; his approach, set out in his Locke Lectures and published as his 1997 book, is often referred to as "the Canberra plan" for how to do philosophy.
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
. In 2007-2008, he also became a regular visiting professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of philosophy at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. His research focuses primarily on philosophy of mind
Philosophy of mind
Philosophy of mind is a branch of philosophy that studies the nature of the mind, mental events, mental functions, mental properties, consciousness and their relationship to the physical body, particularly the brain. The mind-body problem, i.e...
, epistemology, metaphysics
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
, and meta-ethics
Meta-ethics
In philosophy, meta-ethics is the branch of ethics that seeks to understand the nature of ethical properties, statements, attitudes, and judgments. Meta-ethics is one of the three branches of ethics generally recognized by philosophers, the others being normative ethics and applied ethics. Ethical...
.
Biography
Frank Cameron Jackson was born in 1943. His father, Allan Cameron Jackson, was also a philosopher and student of Ludwig WittgensteinLudwig Wittgenstein
Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein was an Austrian philosopher who worked primarily in logic, the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of language. He was professor in philosophy at the University of Cambridge from 1939 until 1947...
.
Jackson studied mathematics and philosophy at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
and received his Ph.D. in philosophy from La Trobe University
La Trobe University
La Trobe University is a multi-campus university in Victoria, Australia. It was established in 1964 by an Act of Parliament to become the third oldest university in the state of Victoria. The main campus of La Trobe is located in the Melbourne suburb of Bundoora; two other major campuses are...
. He taught at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
for a year in 1967. In 1978, he became chair of the philosophy department at Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
. In 1986, he joined Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
(ANU) as Professor of Philosophy and Head of the Philosophy Program, Research School of Social Sciences. At ANU, he served as Director of the Institute of Advanced Studies from 1998 to 2001 and Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 2001. He was appointed as Distinguished Professor at ANU in 2003. He now spends half of each year at Princeton University, and only one month per year at the ANU.
Jackson was awarded the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in 2006 for service to philosophy and social sciences as an academic, administrator, and researcher. Jackson delivered the John Locke lectures
John Locke lectures
The John Locke Lectures are a series of annual lectures in philosophy given at the University of Oxford. They are one of the world's most prestigious academic lecture series, comparable to the Gifford Lectures given in Scottish universities...
at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1995. His father had delivered the 1957-8 lectures, making them the first father-son pair to do so.
Work
Jackson's philosophical research is broad, but focuses primarily on the areas of philosophy of mindPhilosophy of mind
Philosophy of mind is a branch of philosophy that studies the nature of the mind, mental events, mental functions, mental properties, consciousness and their relationship to the physical body, particularly the brain. The mind-body problem, i.e...
, epistemology, metaphysics
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
, and meta-ethics
Meta-ethics
In philosophy, meta-ethics is the branch of ethics that seeks to understand the nature of ethical properties, statements, attitudes, and judgments. Meta-ethics is one of the three branches of ethics generally recognized by philosophers, the others being normative ethics and applied ethics. Ethical...
.
In philosophy of mind, Jackson is known, among other things, for the knowledge argument against physicalism
Physicalism
Physicalism 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...
—the view that the universe is entirely physical (i.e., the kinds of entities postulated in physics). Jackson motivates the knowledge 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:...
by a thought experiment
Thought experiment
A thought experiment or Gedankenexperiment considers some hypothesis, theory, or principle for the purpose of thinking through its consequences...
known as Mary's room
Mary's room
Mary's room is a philosophical thought experiment proposed by Frank Jackson in his article "Epiphenomenal Qualia" and extended in "What Mary Didn't Know"...
. Jackson phrases the thought experiment as follows:
(As a side note, this thought-experiment was dramatised in the three-part Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
documentary "Brainspotting." It also forms the central motif of author David Lodge
David Lodge (author)
David John Lodge CBE, is an English author.In his novels, Lodge often satirises academia in general and the humanities in particular. He was brought up Catholic and has described himself as an "agnostic Catholic". Many of his characters are Catholic and their Catholicism is a major theme...
's novel Thinks... (2001). Jackson makes an appearance in Lodge's novel as, of course, himself.)
Jackson used the knowledge argument, as well as other arguments, to establish a sort of dualism
Dualism (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....
, according to which certain mental states, especially qualitative ones, are non-physical. The view that Jackson urged was a modest version of epiphenomenalism
Epiphenomenalism
In philosophy of mind, epiphenomenalism, also known as Type-E Dualism, is a view that "mental" states do not have any influence on "physical" states.-Background:...
—the view that certain mental states are non-physical and, although caused to come into existence by physical events, do not then cause any changes in the physical world.
However, Jackson has since rejected the knowledge argument, as well as other arguments against physicalism
Physicalism
Physicalism 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...
:
Jackson argues that the intuition-driven arguments against physicalism (such as the knowledge argument
Mary's room
Mary's room is a philosophical thought experiment proposed by Frank Jackson in his article "Epiphenomenal Qualia" and extended in "What Mary Didn't Know"...
and the zombie argument
Philosophical zombie
A philosophical zombie or p-zombie in the philosophy of mind and perception is a hypothetical being that is indistinguishable from a normal human being except in that it lacks conscious experience, qualia, or sentience...
) are ultimately misleading.
Jackson is also known for his defense of the centrality of conceptual analysis to philosophy; his approach, set out in his Locke Lectures and published as his 1997 book, is often referred to as "the Canberra plan" for how to do philosophy.
Publications
A partial list of publications by Frank Jackson:- (1975) "Grue", Journal of Philosophy, LXXI, pp. 113-131.
- (1977) Perception: A Representative Theory, Cambridge University Press.
- (1979) "On Assertion and Indicative Conditionals", Philosophical Review, LXXXVIII, 4, pp. 565-589.
- (1982a) "Epiphenomenal Qualia", Philosophical Quarterly, 32, 127, pp. 127-136.
- (1982b) "Functionalism and Type-Type Identity Theories", Philosophical Studies, 42, pp. 209-225. (with R. Pargetter and E.W. Prior.)
- (1984a) "Weakness of Will", Mind, XCIII, 369, pp. 1-18.
- (1984b) "Petitio and the Purpose of Arguing", Pacific Philosophical Quarterly, 65, 1, pp. 26-36.
- (1985) "On the Semantics and Logic of Obligation", Mind, XCIV, 374, pp. 177-196.
- (1986) "Oughts, Options, and Actualism", Philosophical Review, XCV, 233-255 (With R. Pargetter).
- (1986) "What Mary didn't Know", Journal of Philosophy, 83, 5, pp. 291-295.
- (1987) Conditionals, Basil Blackwell.
- (1988) "Functionalism and Broad Content", Mind, XCVII, 387, pp. 381-400 (with P. Pettit).
- (1990) "In Defence of Folk Psychology", Philosophical Studies, 59, 1, pp. 31-54 (with P. Pettit).
- (1991) "Decision-theoretic Consequentialism and the Nearest and Dearest Objection", Ethics, 101, 3, pp. 461-482.
- (1996) The Philosophy of Mind and Cognition, Basil Blackwell (with David Braddon-Mitchell).
- (1997) From Metaphysics to Ethics: A Defense of Conceptual Analysis, Oxford University Press.
- (1998a) "A Problem for Expressivism', Analysis, 58, 4, pp. 239-51 (with Philip Pettit).
- (1998b) Mind, Method, and Conditionals: Selected Essays, Routledge.
- (2001) "Conceptual Analysis and Reductive Explanation", Philosophical Review, 110, 3, pp. 315-360 (with David J. Chalmers).
- (2003) "Mind and Illusion", in Minds and Persons, Anthony O'Hear (ed), Cambridge University Press, pp. 251-271. Online text
External links
- Frank Jackson - homepage at ANU's Research School of Social Sciences.
- Education Unis between a rock and a hard choice Opinion piece on La Trobe UniversityLa Trobe UniversityLa Trobe University is a multi-campus university in Victoria, Australia. It was established in 1964 by an Act of Parliament to become the third oldest university in the state of Victoria. The main campus of La Trobe is located in the Melbourne suburb of Bundoora; two other major campuses are...
website.