Philosophy Bites Mark Rowe on J.L.Austin
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Mar 14, 2024 Learn about J.L. Austin's transition into philosophy, his role in World War II intelligence, and his innovative contributions to ordinary language philosophy. Explore his evolving views on philosophy, from linguistic clarity to speech acts, and his lasting legacy in post-war Oxford philosophy.
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Austin's Intelligence Prediction
- J.L. Austin correctly predicted German troop movements to North Africa early in WWII, impressing his superiors.
- This led to his leadership in D-Day landing intelligence, crucial for the operation's success.
Impact of Intelligence on D-Day
- Austin's meticulous intelligence work, including beach composition analysis, significantly reduced D-Day casualties.
- Expected casualties were up to 30%, but actual casualties were around 3%.
Ordinary Language Philosophy
- Ordinary language philosophy posits that philosophical problems stem from misusing ordinary expressions.
- Clarifying these expressions dissolves the problems, like the nonsensical question of "what time is it on the sun?".