William T. Blackstone | |
|---|---|
| Born | William Thomas Blackstone, Jr. December 8, 1931 Augusta, Georgia, United States |
| Died | November 14, 1977 (aged 45) |
| Occupation | Academic |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | Duke University (PhD) |
| Thesis | The Ethics of Francis Hutcheson (1957) |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | University of Georgia |
William Thomas Blackstone, Jr. (December 8, 1931 – November 14, 1977) was an American academic and philosopher.
A graduate of Elon College and Duke University, Blackstone established himself as a career academic at the University of Florida and University of Georgia. He stayed with the latter until his death, leading its philosophy department from 1964 until 1972 and holding other key academic positions within the university. He served on the editorial boards of prominent and regional philosophical journals and held presidencies of various professional groups, alongside serving on the Executive Committee of the American Philosophical Association.
Throughout his life, Blackstone published several books and articles on topics relating to the philosophy of religion, ethics, and the concept of freedom. He saw praise for his work during his life, gaining three awards from the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology as well as various awards from the University of Georgia. Following his death, his work was recognised by a memorial issue of Social Theory and Practice and dedications from his contemporaries in other works.