So with 620 votes cast, here's the 'top ten':
| 1. Bernard Williams (Condorcet winner: wins contests with all other choices) |
| 2. G.E. Moore loses to Bernard Williams by 291–256 |
| 3. G.E.M. Anscombe loses to Bernard Williams by 343–194, loses to G.E. Moore by 323–198 |
| 4. Philippa Foot loses to Bernard Williams by 369–163, loses to G.E.M. Anscombe by 280–230 |
| 5. R.M. Hare loses to Bernard Williams by 371–156, loses to Philippa Foot by 301–205 |
| 6. W.D. Ross loses to Bernard Williams by 363–147, loses to R.M. Hare by 245–220 |
| 7. John Dewey loses to Bernard Williams by 401–103, loses to W.D. Ross by 267–172 |
| 8. Charles L. Stevenson loses to Bernard Williams by 428–52, loses to John Dewey by 227–170 |
| 9. Richard B. Brandt loses to Bernard Williams by 414–46, loses to Charles L. Stevenson by 174–167 |
| 10. H.A. Prichard loses to Bernard Williams by 418–51, loses to Richard B. Brandt by 175–165 |
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Just outside the top ten were C.D. Broad (loses to Prichard by 182 to 155) and W.K. Frankena (who lost to Broad by 171-163). |
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Ralph Barton Perry, a major figure in American philosophy before and to some extent after WWII, the Edgar Pierce Professor of Philosophy at Harvard University, came in dead last. (Perry was sufficiently important that in the 1950s, Joel Feinberg wrote his dissertation on Perry at the University of Michigan, under the supervision of Charles Stevenson.) I confess to being surprised that Anscombe did so well, and that she beat Foot. I'm also puzzled by Dewey's strong showing. For my money, Williams, Foot, and Stevenson are the three most interesting, but, being fond of Nietzsche, I guess I would think that. Comments are open for reader reactions. Signed comments preferred. |
