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Obituary

Bernard Williams (1929-2003)

by A. W. Moore

Professor Sir Bernard Williams was one of the greatest twentieth-century British philosophers, renowned especially for his work in moral philosophy.

He was born on 21 September 1929. After studying Classics at Oxford and graduating in 1951, he held various academic posts in Oxford, London, Cambridge and Berkeley, before returning to Oxford as White's Professor of Moral Philosophy in 1991, a post which he held until his retirement in 1996. He made a number of contributions to public life, including chairing a Committee on Obscenity and Film Censorship which reported in 1979: the report was shelved by Mrs Thatcher's government, though many of its proposals have subsequently been implemented. He married twice, first Shirley Williams in 1955, and secondly Patricia Williams in 1974.

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