Frank Ramsey was a brilliant Cambridge philosopher, mathematician, and economist who died in 1930 at 26 having made landmark contributions to decision theory, game theory, mathematics, logic, semantics, philosophy of science, and the theory of truth. This rich biography tells the story of his extraordinary life and intellectual achievement.
Cheryl Misak offers a strikingly new view of the reception of American pragmatism in England. Supposedly it never recovered from the attacks of Russell and Moore; but Misak shows that Frank Ramsey, under the influence of Peirce, developed a pragmatist position of great promise, and that he transmitted that pragmatism to his friend Wittgenstein.
Cheryl Misak advocates for reestablishing truth as a fundamental element in moral and political philosophy through a pragmatic lens. She defines true beliefs as those that remain unchallenged by experience and inquiry, presenting this view as a significant advancement over the theories of notable thinkers like Rawls and Habermas. Misak's perspective emphasizes that even amidst conflict and diversity, our moral and political convictions strive for truth and are open to critique.