G. E. M. Anscombe

British analytic philosopher

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Lived 1919–2001, aged 82United Kingdom

United Kingdom AcademicsAcademic

Wikipedia
41 languages
Cross-language footprint
Era
1919–2001
Aged 82
Awards
4
recognised works

Summary

Updated 2026-06-09

She coined "consequentialism" in a single 1958 essay that redirected how philosophers argue about right and wrong, and her book on intention remains the starting point for anyone trying to explain what it means to act on purpose.

Biography

About

Gertrude Elizabeth Margaret Anscombe was born 18 March 1919 and studied under Ludwig Wittgenstein at Cambridge, becoming the foremost authority on his work—she edited and translated Philosophical Investigations and much of what followed. A fellow at Somerville College, Oxford, and later a professor at Cambridge, she worked across philosophy of mind, action, language, logic, and ethics, anchoring her thought in analytical Thomism. In 1957 she published Intention, a monograph Donald Davidson called "the most important treatment of action since Aristotle" and now considered foundational to contem…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from G. E. M. Anscombe

G. E. M. Anscombe

said1975

Those who try to make room for sex as mere casual enjoyment pay the penalty: they become shallow. At any rate the talk that reflects and commends this attitude is always shallow.

— Contraception and Chastity (1975)

G. E. M. Anscombe

said1975

You can argue truly enough, for example, that general respect for the prohibition on murder makes life more commodious.

— Contraception and Chastity (1975)

G. E. M. Anscombe

said1975

The trouble about the Christian standard of chastity is that it isn't and never has been generally lived by; not that it would be profitless if it were.

— Contraception and Chastity (1975)

G. E. M. Anscombe

said1975