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John Foster (philosopher)

April 10, 2024

John Andrew Foster (5 May 1941 - 12 March 2009), known as John Foster, was a British philosopher and tutorial Fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford, from 1966 to 2005 (and then a Emeritus Fellow until his death in 2009). He authored several books, including The Case for Idealism (1982) and A World for Us: The Case for Phenomenalistic Idealism (2008). His A. J. Ayer (1985) was described by Anthony Quinton as "the only serious monograph" about Ayer's philosophy".[1]

John Foster
Born
John Andrew Foster

(1941-05-05)5 May 1941
London, England
Died12 March 2009(2009-03-12) (aged 67)
London, England
Notable workA World for Us (2008)
SchoolAnalytic philosophy
InstitutionsBrasenose College, Oxford
Doctoral advisorA. J. Ayer
Main interests
Metaphysics
Notable ideas
Phenomenalistic idealism

Biography edit

Foster was born in North London on 5 May 1941 and grew up in Southgate.[2] He studied at Mercers' School, but had to transfer to the City of London School to do A-levels after Mercers' closure (about which he wrote a letter to The Times in protest).[2] He started studying classics at Lincoln College, Oxford, but transferred to psychology, philosophy and physiology after discovering a distaste for studying ancient history. Foster stayed a further year at Lincoln, after obtaining a First in 1964, and began a D.Phil. The support of his doctoral supervisor, A. J. Ayer, ensured Foster’s election to a Stone-Platt Junior Research Fellowship at New College in 1965 and, a year later, to his tutorial Fellowship at Brasenose.[2] He retained this position until ill health finally forced his early retirement, as a "Mr" in 2005.[2] (As Peter J. N. Sinclair notes, most Brasenose Arts tutors of Foster's generation, never completed a doctoral thesis).[2]

Foster was a devoted Christian and an outspoken pro-life campaigner. Foster met his wife-to-be Helen in 1963 and the two married in Royal Tunbridge Wells in 1967. He joined the Church of England. In 1989 both John and Helen converted from Anglicanism to Roman Catholicism.[2]

Foster died on 1 January 2009.

Philosophical work edit

In 2008, he put forward a thesis called phenomenalistic idealism, which combines phenomenalism and idealism.[3][4]

Works edit

Books authored

  • (1982) The Case for Idealism. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London. ISBN 0-7100-9019-6.[5]
  • (1985) A. J. Ayer. Routledge & Kegan Paul, Boston. ISBN 0415203899.[6]
  • (1991) The Immaterial Self: A Defence of the Cartesian Dualist Conception of Mind. Routledge, New York. ISBN 9780415156332.[7]
  • (2000) The Nature of Perception. Oxford University Press, Oxford. ISBN 978-0198237693.[8]
  • (2004) The Divine Lawmaker: Lectures on Induction, Laws of Nature, and the Existence of God. Oxford University Press, Oxford. ISBN 978-0199250592.[9][10]
  • (2008) A World for Us: The Case for Phenomenalistic Idealism. Oxford University Press, Oxford. ISBN 0-19-929713-4[11]

Select papers/chapters

Notes and references edit

  1. ^ Quinton, Anthony (1996) "Alfred Jules Ayer". Proceedings of the British Academy, 94, pp. 280–281."The only serious monograph about his philosophy is that of John Foster, a most loyal, but penetratingly critical, admirer, which came out in 1985, in good time for him to enjoy it."
  2. ^ a b c d e f Sinclair, Peter (2010). "John Foster Remembered" (PDF). The Brazen Nose: 135–141.
  3. ^ Garrett, Brian Jonathan (2010). "John Foster, A World For Us: The Case for Phenomenalistic Idealism. Review". Philosophy in Review. XXX (6): 397–399.
  4. ^ Foster, John (2008). A World for Us: The Case for Phenomenalistic Idealism. Oxford University Press, Oxford. ISBN 0-19-929713-4.
  5. ^ Kincaid, Harold (1984). "Review of The Case for Idealism". The Philosophical Review. 93 (3): 465–468. doi:10.2307/2184553. ISSN 0031-8108. JSTOR 2184553.
  6. ^ Brueckner, Anthony L. (1989). "Review of A. J. Ayer". The Philosophical Review. 98 (1): 97–104. doi:10.2307/2185374. ISSN 0031-8108. JSTOR 2185374.
  7. ^ Armstrong, D. M. (1993). "Review of The Immaterial Self: A Defence of the Cartesian Dualist Conception of the Mind". The Philosophical Review. 102 (2): 272–274. doi:10.2307/2186043. ISSN 0031-8108. JSTOR 2186043.
  8. ^ Crane, Tim (2002). [Review] "The Nature of Perception" by John Foster and "Perception and Reason" by Bill Brewer. The Times Higher Education Supplement 1
  9. ^ Fales, Evan (9 September 2004). "The Divine Lawmaker: Lectures on Induction, Laws of Nature, and the Existence of God". Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  10. ^ Oppy, Graham (1 January 2006). "John Foster, THE DIVINE LAWMAKER: LECTURES ON INDUCTION, LAWS OF NATURE, AND THE EXISTENCE OF GOD" (PDF). Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers. 23 (1): 111–116. doi:10.5840/faithphil200623112. ISSN 0739-7046.
  11. ^ Seager, William (7 April 2009). "Review of A World for Us: The Case for Phenomenalistic Idealism". Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews. ISSN 1538-1617.

Further reading edit

April 10, 2024
john, foster, philosopher, john, andrew, foster, 1941, march, 2009, known, john, foster, british, philosopher, tutorial, fellow, brasenose, college, oxford, from, 1966, 2005, then, emeritus, fellow, until, death, 2009, authored, several, books, including, case. John Andrew Foster 5 May 1941 12 March 2009 known as John Foster was a British philosopher and tutorial Fellow of Brasenose College Oxford from 1966 to 2005 and then a Emeritus Fellow until his death in 2009 He authored several books including The Case for Idealism 1982 and A World for Us The Case for Phenomenalistic Idealism 2008 His A J Ayer 1985 was described by Anthony Quinton as the only serious monograph about Ayer s philosophy 1 John FosterBornJohn Andrew Foster 1941 05 05 5 May 1941London EnglandDied12 March 2009 2009 03 12 aged 67 London EnglandNotable workA World for Us 2008 SchoolAnalytic philosophyInstitutionsBrasenose College OxfordDoctoral advisorA J AyerMain interestsMetaphysicsNotable ideasPhenomenalistic idealism Contents 1 Biography 2 Philosophical work 3 Works 4 Notes and references 5 Further readingBiography editFoster was born in North London on 5 May 1941 and grew up in Southgate 2 He studied at Mercers School but had to transfer to the City of London School to do A levels after Mercers closure about which he wrote a letter to The Times in protest 2 He started studying classics at Lincoln College Oxford but transferred to psychology philosophy and physiology after discovering a distaste for studying ancient history Foster stayed a further year at Lincoln after obtaining a First in 1964 and began a D Phil The support of his doctoral supervisor A J Ayer ensured Foster s election to a Stone Platt Junior Research Fellowship at New College in 1965 and a year later to his tutorial Fellowship at Brasenose 2 He retained this position until ill health finally forced his early retirement as a Mr in 2005 2 As Peter J N Sinclair notes most Brasenose Arts tutors of Foster s generation never completed a doctoral thesis 2 Foster was a devoted Christian and an outspoken pro life campaigner Foster met his wife to be Helen in 1963 and the two married in Royal Tunbridge Wells in 1967 He joined the Church of England In 1989 both John and Helen converted from Anglicanism to Roman Catholicism 2 Foster died on 1 January 2009 Philosophical work editIn 2008 he put forward a thesis called phenomenalistic idealism which combines phenomenalism and idealism 3 4 Works editBooks authored 1982 The Case for Idealism Routledge amp Kegan Paul London ISBN 0 7100 9019 6 5 1985 A J Ayer Routledge amp Kegan Paul Boston ISBN 0415203899 6 1991 The Immaterial Self A Defence of the Cartesian Dualist Conception of Mind Routledge New York ISBN 9780415156332 7 2000 The Nature of Perception Oxford University Press Oxford ISBN 978 0198237693 8 2004 The Divine Lawmaker Lectures on Induction Laws of Nature and the Existence of God Oxford University Press Oxford ISBN 978 0199250592 9 10 2008 A World for Us The Case for Phenomenalistic Idealism Oxford University Press Oxford ISBN 0 19 929713 4 11 Select papers chapters 1976 Meaning and Truth Theory in Gareth Evans John McDowell eds Truth and Meaning Essays in Semantics Oxford 1985 Berkeley on the physical world In John Foster amp Howard Robinson eds Essays on Berkeley A Tercentennial Celebration Oxford University Press 1985 Personhood and the Ethics of Abortion in ed J H Channer Abortion and the Sanctity of Human Life Paternoster Press 1992 The Construction of the Physical World In L E Hahn ed The Philosophy of A J Ayer Open Court 1993 The Succinct Case for Idealism In Howard Robinson ed Objections to Physicalism Clarendon Press pp 293 313 Notes and references edit Quinton Anthony 1996 Alfred Jules Ayer Proceedings of the British Academy 94 pp 280 281 The only serious monograph about his philosophy is that of John Foster a most loyal but penetratingly critical admirer which came out in 1985 in good time for him to enjoy it a b c d e f Sinclair Peter 2010 John Foster Remembered PDF The Brazen Nose 135 141 Garrett Brian Jonathan 2010 John Foster A World For Us The Case for Phenomenalistic Idealism Review Philosophy in Review XXX 6 397 399 Foster John 2008 A World for Us The Case for Phenomenalistic Idealism Oxford University Press Oxford ISBN 0 19 929713 4 Kincaid Harold 1984 Review of The Case for Idealism The Philosophical Review 93 3 465 468 doi 10 2307 2184553 ISSN 0031 8108 JSTOR 2184553 Brueckner Anthony L 1989 Review of A J Ayer The Philosophical Review 98 1 97 104 doi 10 2307 2185374 ISSN 0031 8108 JSTOR 2185374 Armstrong D M 1993 Review of The Immaterial Self A Defence of the Cartesian Dualist Conception of the Mind The Philosophical Review 102 2 272 274 doi 10 2307 2186043 ISSN 0031 8108 JSTOR 2186043 Crane Tim 2002 Review The Nature of Perception by John Foster and Perception and Reason by Bill Brewer The Times Higher Education Supplement 1 Fales Evan 9 September 2004 The Divine Lawmaker Lectures on Induction Laws of Nature and the Existence of God Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews Retrieved 25 May 2021 Oppy Graham 1 January 2006 John Foster THE DIVINE LAWMAKER LECTURES ON INDUCTION LAWS OF NATURE AND THE EXISTENCE OF GOD PDF Faith and Philosophy Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers 23 1 111 116 doi 10 5840 faithphil200623112 ISSN 0739 7046 Seager William 7 April 2009 Review of A World for Us The Case for Phenomenalistic Idealism Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews ISSN 1538 1617 Further reading edit Foster John Andrew in Trosky Susan M ed Contemporary Authors a bio bibliographical guide to current writers in fiction general nonfiction poetry journalism drama motion pictures television and other fields Vol 126 Detroit Gale Research 1989 ISBN 978 0 8103 1951 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Foster philosopher amp oldid 1187014780, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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