This event is an open discussion of Dr Rowe’s recent and authoritative new biography of J L Austin— a fascinating figure, who was both one of the leading philosophers of the 20th Century, and as revealed in Rowe’s book, also a crucial figure in the history of military intelligence, responsible for the intelligence behind the D-Day landings of 1944.
This book – the first biography of Austin – throws new light on his personality, relationships, philosophical development, and tragically premature death; and emphasizes his importance as a senior Intelligence officer in World War Two, the inventor of speech-act theory, and the leader of Oxford Ordinary Language Philosophy 1945-60.
The event is chaired by Thomas Simpson, Associate Professor of Philosophy & Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government.
Author biography: Mark Rowe
Educated at Cambridge and York Universities, Mark Rowe taught philosophy at Birkbeck College and the University of East Anglia. In addition to many articles, he is also the author of three previous books: Philosophy and Literature: A Book of Essays (2004); Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst: Virtuoso Violinist (2008); and Philip Larkin: Art and Self (2011). He is currently supervising a complete recording of Ernst’s music on 7 CDs.
