Name H. Acton Role Philosopher | Region Western philosophy | |
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Born June 2, 1908 ( 1908-06-02 ) London Died June 16, 1974, Edinburgh, United Kingdom Books The illusion of the epoch Similar People Jeremy Shearmur, David Gordon, Arthur Seldon | ||
Philosophical era 20th-century philosophy | ||
H b acton top 5 facts
Harry Burrows Acton (June 2, 1908 – June 16, 1974), usually cited as H. B. Acton, was an English academic in the field of political philosophy, known for books defending the morality of capitalism, and attacking Marxism-Leninism. He in particular produced arguments on the incoherence of Marxism, which he described as a 'farrago' (in philosophical terms). His book The Illusion of the Epoch, in which this appears, is a standard point of reference. Other interests were the Marquis de Condorcet, Hegel, John Stuart Mill, Herbert Spencer, F. H. Bradley, Bernard Bosanquet and Sidney Webb.
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He had teaching positions at the London School of Economics, Bedford College, the University of Edinburgh where he occupied the Chair of Moral Philosophy, and the University of Chicago. He was editor of Philosophy, the journal of the Royal Institute of Philosophy, of which he was for a time Director. He was president of the Aristotelian Society from 1952 to 1953.
He is buried in Grange Cemetery in Edinburgh close to the main entrance.