Damon Mcknight
Australian philosophy has had an outsized influence on the field, especially in the 20th century, with some universities in other countries having multiple Australians on their faculty. Australian philosophers have contributed to a diverse range of schools of thought, including idealism, Catholic neo-scholasticism, Marxism, and feminist philosophy. Australian philosophers have also been associated with Australian materialism, which hypothesises a relation of identity between mental processes and physical processes in the brain. Some well-known Australian philosophers include J.J.C. Smart, David Chalmers, and Peter Singer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Analytical | Realism |
| Objectivist theories of morality | Utilitarianism |
| Atheism | Scientific realism |
| Continental philosophy | Materialism |
| Feminism | Idealism |
| Strong international influence | Marxism |
| Forceful style | Catholic neo-scholasticism |
| High citation counts | Indigenous traditions |
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What You'll Learn
Australian philosophy's outsized influence
Australian philosophy has had an outsized influence on the global philosophical discourse, especially in the middle and late 20th century. The field continues to showcase a broad Australian footprint, with several prominent Australian philosophers making significant contributions to various philosophical traditions and schools of thought.
One notable example of Australian philosophy's influence is the development of "Australian materialism" by J.J.C. Smart and David Armstrong. This school of thought posits a relation of identity or literal sameness between mental processes and physical processes in the brain. While this view was initially considered too crude to be taken seriously in philosophy, it gained traction as science seemed to support it. Smart and Armstrong's work sparked intense debates during the 1960s and 1970s, with philosophers discussing the pros and cons of "the scientific worldview" and its reductionist tendencies.
Another influential figure in Australian philosophy is Peter Singer, known for his theories on "animal liberation" and his opposition to the "sanctity of human life" in bioethics. Singer, a utilitarian like Smart, has applied his outlook to various controversial topics, including the infanticide of severely disabled children. He has also been central to the "effective altruism" movement, which aims to maximise the impact of charity and everyday actions.
Australian philosophers have also made notable contributions to the philosophy of religion. For instance, John Anderson promoted atheism, which was later continued by John Mackie in his book "The Miracle of Theism." More recently, Graham Oppy has defended atheism in several books. Additionally, some Australian philosophers, such as Samuel Alexander and Peter Forrest, have developed non-standard views of God.
The philosophical scene in Australia has been described as unusually strong, with many Australian philosophers achieving significant international recognition and influencing the curricula of prestigious universities worldwide. This influence extends beyond academia, with Australian philosophers like Daniel Ross engaging with film and translation in addition to their philosophical endeavours.
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Realism and its proponents
Australian philosophy has had an outsized influence on the field, especially in the 20th century. One of the most influential figures in Australian philosophy is John Anderson, who is considered Australia's most original thinker. Anderson's philosophy, known as Australian realism or Australian materialism, asserts that "whatever exists...is real" and exists independently of human thought or experience. This view, also known as metaphysical realism, is contrasted with non-realist views such as skepticism and solipsism. Anderson's philosophy also rejected the existence of any deity or extraordinary entities, instead proposing that there was nothing more to being than the spatio-temporal system.
Anderson's influence extended to a number of prominent philosophers, including David Malet Armstrong, J. L. Mackie, Ullin Place, J. J. C. Smart, and David Stove. These thinkers are known as the Sydney School and further developed Anderson's ideas, particularly in the philosophy of mathematics. Smart and Place, in particular, argued for the identity of mental and physical processes, a view known as the mind-brain identity theory. This theory, along with their arguments for utilitarianism in ethics, contributed to the development of Australian materialism.
Other notable Australian philosophers include Peter Singer, who is known for his work in bioethics and the effective altruism movement, and Frank Jackson and David Chalmers, who have argued against materialism and in favor of a non-reductive physicalism. Raimond Gaita, John Finnis, and Jenny Teichman are also mentioned for their contributions to traditional and objectivist theories of morality.
Overall, Australian philosophy has been characterized by its analytical approach, with a strong presence in universities and a significant influence on international philosophical debates. Realism, particularly in the form of Australian materialism, has been a prominent feature of Australian philosophical thought.
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Australian materialism
David Malet Armstrong, a student of Anderson's, further developed the ideas of Australian materialism. In his 1968 book, *A Materialist Theory of the Mind*, Armstrong defended realism about universals, stating that properties like the colour blue exist as a common reality across all blue things. Armstrong's philosophy, known as "Australian realist", also explored the ontology of space and time, considering space as a real entity rather than merely relational properties of distance.
The influence of Australian materialism extended to the philosophy of mathematics, with the “Sydney School” developing the Anderson-Armstrong "one level of reality" view. This Aristotelian realist philosophy of mathematics holds that mathematics studies properties such as symmetry, continuity, and order that can be realised in the physical world or any other possible world. However, Australian materialism faced criticism from philosophers such as Frank Jackson and David Chalmers, who argued that materialism could not adequately explain the subjective experience of consciousness.
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Utilitarianism and bioethics
Australian philosophy refers to the philosophical traditions of the people of Australia and its citizens abroad. It has been broadly in the tradition of Anglo-American analytic philosophy, but has also had representatives of a diverse range of other schools, such as idealism, Catholic neo-scholasticism, Marxism, and feminist and Asian philosophy. Australian philosophers have also typically taken a realist view of entities mentioned in science, such as forces, causes, minds, and properties or universals.
One of the most influential philosophers in Australian history is J. J. C. Smart, who is known for his work in "Australian materialism", which hypothesises a relation of identity between mental processes and physical processes in the brain. Smart also argued for utilitarianism in ethics – that good actions are those that have the best overall consequences in enabling pleasure and preventing pain.
Another influential Australian utilitarian is Peter Singer, who has applied utilitarianism to many areas, including bioethics. Singer is best known for his work in animal rights and his opposition to the 'sanctity of human life' outlooks in bioethics. For example, Singer has controversially argued that infanticide of severely disabled children can be acceptable if they have no prospect of a happy life. In addition, Singer has devoted much of his time and effort to social and political causes, such as animal rights, famine and poverty relief, environmentalism, and reproductive rights.
Singer's work in applied ethics and his activism in politics are informed by his utilitarianism, which holds that actions are right or wrong depending on the extent to which they promote happiness or prevent pain. Singer's utilitarian philosophy can be seen in his argument that buying new clothes to look "well-dressed" is unnecessary when the money could be used to provide for important needs, such as famine relief.
Overall, Australian philosophy has had an outsized influence on the field, especially in the middle and late 20th century, and continues to have a broad impact today.
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Feminism and feminist philosophy
Feminism in Australia has a long history, with the first examples of Australian feminism occurring during the mid-1800s to 1900. The early movement focused on securing basic human rights for women, including the right to vote, the right to stand for parliamentary election, and protection from sexual exploitation. Australia was the second country in the world to grant women the right to vote and the first to allow women to be elected to a national parliament. Since then, Australia has continued to make strides in feminism and gender equality, with women serving in public office and other fields.
One of the most influential figures in Australian feminism is Germaine Greer, whose 1970 book "The Female Eunuch" became a global bestseller. Greer's book challenged the traditional role of Australian housewives and suggested that it led to repression. Other prominent Australian feminists include Eva Cox, Jocelynne Scutt, and Julia Gillard, the country's first female prime minister.
Feminist activism in Australia has led to significant legislative changes, including laws against sex discrimination and the establishment of women's units in government departments. Australian feminists have also successfully fought for federally funded childcare and women's refuges. In education, inquiries, policies, regulations, and legislation have been put in place to address discrimination, promote equal opportunity, and address sexual harassment.
Australian feminist philosophy has also made significant contributions to international debates. Peter Singer, for example, is known for his opposition to the 'sanctity of human life' outlook in bioethics and his support for 'animal liberation'. Australian Materialism, associated with J.J.C. Smart and David Armstrong, has also had a significant influence on metaphysical and psychological interests.
Overall, feminism and feminist philosophy in Australia have a rich history and continue to play an important role in shaping the country's culture, laws, and academic discourse. The country has produced several notable feminist activists, authors, and scholars whose work has been recognised internationally.
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Frequently asked questions
Australian philosophy refers to the philosophical tradition of the people of Australia and its citizens abroad. It has been broadly in the tradition of Anglo-American analytic philosophy, but has also had representatives of a diverse range of other schools, such as idealism, Catholic neo-scholasticism, Marxism, and Asian philosophy.
Australian philosophers have typically taken a realist view of entities mentioned in science, such as forces, causes, minds, and properties or universals. Australian Materialism, associated with J.J.C. Smart and David Armstrong, hypothesises a relation of identity between mental processes and physical processes in the brain.
Some influential Australian philosophers include J.J.C. Smart, David Armstrong, John Anderson, Peter Singer, and David Chalmers.
Australian philosophy is known for its analytical and argumentative skills, as well as its realist and materialist tendencies. It has also been influenced by indigenous traditions, such as the attribution of moral authority outside the individual to "The Dreaming," which is connected to the relationship between human society and the land.
Australian philosophy has had an outsized influence on the field, particularly in the mid-to-late 20th century. Australian philosophers have made significant contributions to international debates and have been cited extensively. Australian thinkers have also held prominent positions at top universities worldwide, such as Princeton University.
