C. D. Broad
He examines classic arguments and unusual experiences rigorously, without accepting or rejecting them in advance.
Life
British philosopher (1887-1971), professor at Cambridge. He examines the major theories of perception, mind, ethics and time methodically, weighing each position. He also took psychical research seriously as a subject of inquiry.
Main works
Examines what physics can tell us about reality and what we perceive.
Surveys the theories of the relation between mind and body.
Presents major ethical theories (Spinoza, Butler, Hume, Kant, Sidgwick).
In his own words
« There is no important problem in any branch of philosophy which is not treated by Kant, and he never treated a problem without saying something illuminating and original about it. »
« It is true that our everyday view of the world is not quite naively realistic, but that is what it would like to be. »
Positions
click a row to see the evidenceLargely rejects the arguments for God's existence but judges religious experience probably veridical, and takes psychical research seriously.
Broad, Religion, Philosophy and Psychical Research (1953)
Defends emergentism: mental properties emerge from complex neurophysiological processes yet are distinct from physical ones; he also explores a 'compound theory' allowing survival.
Broad, The Mind and Its Place in Nature (1925)
Holds that free will is incompatible with determinism yet finds agent-causation unintelligible, so indeterminism does not rescue it either (free-will pessimism).
Broad, "Determinism, Indeterminism, and Libertarianism" (1934)