Elizabeth Anscombe

This episode of "In Our Time" features Melvyn Bragg and guests Rachael Wiseman, Constantine Sandis, and Roger Teichmann discussing the life and philosophical contributions of Elizabeth Anscombe. The discussion covers Anscombe's early life, her relationship with Wittgenstein, her critique of non-cognitivism and consequentialism, particularly her opposition to Oxford University awarding Harry Truman an honorary degree for his role in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which she considered mass murder. The panel also explores Anscombe's work on intention, her engagement with Aristotle, and her views on moral philosophy and the use of the first-person pronoun. The conversation further examines her influence on virtue ethics and philosophy of action, as well as personal anecdotes about her unconventional character.