Anthony Kenny, professor emeritus of philosophy at the University of Oxford, well-known for his work on the philosophy of mind and history of philosophy, has died.

Professor Kenny wrote widely on the philosophy of mind, history of philosophy, and philosophy of religion. He is especially recognized for his work on Wittgenstein, Thomas Aquinas, and Descartes, including his critique of Cartesian dualism. Professor Kenny is the author of numerous articles and books. Some of his more well-known books include Descartes (1968), The Five Ways: St. Thomas Aquinas’ Proofs of God’s Existence (1969), Wittgenstein (1973), Aquinas (1980), What I Believe (2006), and A New History of Western Philosophy (2010).  You can read more about his work here.

Professor Kenny was on the faculty at the University of Oxford for his entire career, from 1963 until his retirement in 2001. He also lectured at a number of institutions, including the University of Edinburgh, the University of Glasgow, the University of Cambridge, Columbia University, the University of Chicago, the University of Washington, the University of Michigan, the University of Minnesota, Cornell University, Stanford University, and the Rockefeller University. He earned his DPhil from the University of Oxford in 1961.

He died on August 3rd, 2026.