Hugh Mellor
Encyclopedia
David Hugh Mellor is an English philosopher.
Mellor was born on 10 July 1938 in London
. After studying chemical engineering
at university, he took up philosophy. His main work has been in metaphysics
.
Mellor was Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge
and Fellow of Darwin College
from 1971 to 2005. As a professor he was the subject of extensive media coverage as the main opponent of the conferment of an honorary degree to the French philosopher Jacques Derrida
. He was also a Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the university
.
He was president of the Aristotelian Society
from 1992 to 1993, and is a member of the Humanist Philosophers' Group of the British Humanist Association
.
In retirement Mellor now holds the title of Emeritus Professor.
Mellor was born on 10 July 1938 in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. After studying chemical engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
at university, he took up philosophy. His main work has been in metaphysics
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
.
Mellor was Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge
Faculty of philosophy cambridge
The University of Cambridge was the birthplace of the 'analytical' school of philosophy in the early 20th century.Today it is still a centre for philosophy. The most recent Research Assessment Exercise gave Cambridge the highest possible score...
and Fellow of Darwin College
Darwin College, Cambridge
Darwin College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.Founded in 1964, Darwin was Cambridge University's first graduate-only college, and also the first to admit both men and women. The college is named after the family of one of the university's most famous graduates, Charles Darwin...
from 1971 to 2005. As a professor he was the subject of extensive media coverage as the main opponent of the conferment of an honorary degree to the French philosopher Jacques Derrida
Jacques Derrida
Jacques Derrida was a French philosopher, born in French Algeria. He developed the critical theory known as deconstruction and his work has been labeled as post-structuralism and associated with postmodern philosophy...
. He was also a Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the university
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.
He was president of the Aristotelian Society
Aristotelian Society
The Aristotelian Society for the Systematic Study of Philosophy was founded at a meeting on 19 April 1880, at 17 Bloomsbury Square which resolved "to constitute a society of about twenty and to include ladies; the society to meet fortnightly, on Mondays at 8 o'clock, at the rooms of the Spelling...
from 1992 to 1993, and is a member of the Humanist Philosophers' Group of the British Humanist Association
British Humanist Association
The British Humanist Association is an organisation of the United Kingdom which promotes Humanism and represents "people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs." The BHA is committed to secularism, human rights, democracy, egalitarianism and mutual respect...
.
In retirement Mellor now holds the title of Emeritus Professor.