Bernard Williams
- Born:
- September 21, 1929, Colchester, Essex, England
- Died:
- June 10, 2003, Oxford, England
- Nationality:
- British
- Profession(s):
- Moral Philosopher, Political Philosopher
Early Life and Education
- Educated at Littlegarth School and Eton College.
- Studied Classics at Balliol College, Oxford, graduating with a First.
- Held a fellowship at All Souls College, Oxford.
Career and Major Achievements
- Fellow and Tutor in Philosophy at New College, Oxford (1959-1964).
- Professor of Philosophy at Bedford College, London (1964-1967).
- Knightbridge Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge (1967-1979).
- Provost of King's College, Cambridge (1979-1987).
- White's Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Oxford (1990-1996).
- Deutsch Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley (1988-2003; part-time from 1996).
Notable Works
- Morality: An Introduction to Ethics (1972)
- Problems of the Self (1973)
- Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy (1985)
- Shame and Necessity (1993)
- Truth and Truthfulness: An Essay in Genealogy (2002)
Legacy and Impact
Bernard Williams was a highly influential moral philosopher known for his critiques of utilitarianism, Kantianism, and other dominant ethical theories. He emphasized the importance of personal integrity, historical context, and the complexities of human motivation in moral reasoning. Scholars researching james j asher biography of williams will find abundant material on his nuanced perspectives.