Philippa Foot - Personal Life and Education

Personal Life and Education

Foot was the daughter of Esther Cleveland (who was born in the White House), and a granddaughter of U.S. President Grover Cleveland. Her paternal grandfather was Sir Frederick Albert Bosanquet, the Common Serjeant of London from 1900 to 1917.

Foot began her career in philosophy as a student and tutor at Somerville College, Oxford. She spent many hours there in debate with G.E.M. Anscombe, who persuaded her that non-cognitivism was misguided.

For many years Foot held the position of Griffin Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Los Angeles.

She was one of the founders of Oxfam and an atheist. She was at one time married to the historian M. R. D. Foot.

Read more about this topic:  Philippa Foot

Famous quotes containing the words personal, life and/or education:

    “Samuel Sewall, in a world of wigs,
    Flouted opinion in his personal hair;
    For foppery he gave not any figs,
    But in his right and honor took the air.”
    —Anthony Hecht (b. 1923)

    “The poet’s body even is not fed like other men’s, but he sometimes tastes the genuine nectar and ambrosia of the gods, and lives a divine life. By the healthful and invigorating thrills of inspiration his life is preserved to a serene old age.”
    —Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    “She gave high counsels. It was the privilege of certain boys to have this immeasurably high standard indicated to their childhood; a blessing which nothing else in education could supply.”
    —Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)