William Henry Chamberlin (philosopher)

William Henry Chamberlin
Chamberlin c. 1914
Born(1870-02-12)February 12, 1870
DiedMay 9, 1921(1921-05-09) (aged 51)
Alma materUniversity of Utah
University of Chicago
EraModern philosophy
SchoolPersonalism
InstitutionsBrigham Young University (1909–1916)
University of Utah (1917–1920)
Main interests
Mormonism, higher criticism
Notable ideas
Spiritual realism
Signature

William Henry Chamberlin Jr. (February 12, 1870 – May 9, 1921) was an American Mormon philosopher, theologian, and educator. His teachings and writings worked to reconcile Mormonism with the theory of evolution. He taught philosophy and ancient languages as well as science and math at several Latter-day Saints (LDS) institutions including Brigham Young University in the early 20th century. He was one of four educators at Brigham Young University whose teaching of evolution and attempts to reconcile it with Mormon thought, although strongly popular with students, generated controversy among university officials and the LDS community. Chamberlin has been called "Mormonism's first professionally trained philosopher and theologian."[1]

  1. ^ McLachlan, James M. (Winter 1996). "W. H. Chamberlin and the Quest for a Mormon Theology" (PDF). Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. 29 (4): 151–167. doi:10.2307/45228303. JSTOR 45228303. S2CID 254328273.