Famous Australian Philosophers

Australian moral philosopher, Peter Singer, is currently the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University. He specializes in applied ethics. He is best known for his book Animal Liberation, which is considered a seminal work in the animal liberation movement.  The Council of Australian Humanist Societies recognized him as the Australian Humanist of the Year in 2004.

Apart from teaching philosophy at the New York University and the Australian National University, David Chalmers has also gained fame for his study on the hard problem of consciousness. A TED speaker, he has also penned books such as The Conscious Mind. He also sings for the Zombie Blues band.

Australian philosopher J. L. Mackie is known for his invaluable contribution the philosophy of religion and metaphysics. He believed objective values don’t exist. Best known for his book Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong, he introduced ideas such as the argument from queerness that supported moral nihilism.

Philosopher and Utrecht University professor Rosi Braidotti was born in Italy but moved to Australia at 16. An academic whose research scope includes postmodern feminism and continental philosophy, she has also earned honorary degrees from various universities and the knighthood in the Netherlands. Her books include Nomadic Subjects.

Known as a pioneer of physicalism, British-Australian philosopher J. J. C. Smart laid the foundation of the Type Identity theory. A professor of philosophy, who spent most of life teaching at prestigious universities such as the Australian National University, Smart was also a skilled player of both cricket and hockey.

Australian-British philosopher Samuel Alexander initially rejected a fellowship at Lincoln College, Oxford, to study experimental psychology instead. He taught at Owens College for most of his life. He is best remembered for the philosophical ideas expressed in his book Space, Time and Deity, and for his interest in metaphysics.

Australian philosopher John Passmore taught in various universities across the world, including New Zealand’s University of Otago and the U.S.’s Brandeis University. A Companion of the Order of Australia, he had penned works such as Man's Responsibility for Nature and Philosophical Reasoning. His interests included history of philosophy.