Origins & Early Life

David Kellogg Lewis (September 28, 1941 – October 14, 2001) was an American philosopher. Lewis taught briefly at UCLA and then at Princeton University from 1970 until his death. He is closely associated with Australia, whose philosophical community he visited almost annually for more than 30 years. Lewis made significant contributions in the philosophy of mind, philosophy of probability, epistemology, philosophical logic, aesthetics, philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of time, and philosophy of science.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In most of these fields he is considered among the most important figures of recent decades. Lewis is most famous for his work in metaphysics, philosophy of language and semantics, in which his books On the Plurality of Worlds (1986) and Counterfactuals (1973) are considered classics. His works on the logic and semantics of counterfactual conditionals are broadly used by philosophers and linguists along with a competing account from Robert Stalnaker; together the Stalnaker–Lewis theory of counterfactuals has become perhaps the most pervasive and influential account of its type in the philosophical and linguistic literature. His metaphysics incorporated seminal contributions to quantified...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alan Mullery — Contemporary (Born in 1941) (1941): Iconic English footballer and manager known for his time at Fulham and Spurs.
• Alfonso XIII — Contemporary (Died in 1941) (1941): King of Spain (1886-1931), whose reign spanned constitutional crises and republican upheaval.
• Ann-Margret — Contemporary (Born in 1941) (1941): Swedish-American actress, dancer, and singer with a seven-decade career.
• Aaliyah — Contemporary (Died in 2001) (2001): Pioneering R&B artist known for redefining urban pop and hip hop sounds.
• Anthony Gordon (footballer) — Contemporary (Born in 2001) (2001): English professional footballer known for his time at Everton, Newcastle, and Barcelona.
• Anthony Quinn — Contemporary (Died in 2001) (2001): Passionate Mexican-American actor celebrated for earthy, vital roles in film and theater.
• Ben E. King — Shared historical date (09-28 · Born) (1938): Iconic American soul and R&B singer, celebrated for group hits and solo anthems.
• Bhagat Singh — Shared historical date (09-28 · Born) (1907): Iconic Indian revolutionary whose martyrdom inspired anti-colonial fervor.
• Éamon de Valera — Shared historical date (10-14 · Born) (1882): Dominant Irish statesman, leading figure in the establishment of modern Irish governance.
• Ben Whishaw — Shared historical date (10-14 · Born) (1980): Acclaimed English actor known for Shakespearean roles and voicing Paddington Bear.
• 1941 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1941
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• 2001 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2001
• October 14 (10-14) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on October 14