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Parfit: A Philosopher and His Mission to Save Morality Hardcover – April 18, 2023

by David Edmonds (Author)

128 ratings

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From the bestselling coauthor of Wittgenstein’s Poker, an entertaining and illuminating biography of a brilliant philosopher who tried to rescue morality from nihilism

Derek Parfit (1942–2017) is the most famous philosopher most people have never heard of. Widely regarded as one of the greatest moral thinkers of the past hundred years, Parfit was anything but a public intellectual. Yet his ideas have shaped the way philosophers think about things that affect us all: equality, altruism, what we owe to future generations, and even what it means to be a person. In Parfit, David Edmonds presents the first biography of an intriguing, obsessive, and eccentric genius.

Believing that we should be less concerned with ourselves and more with the common good, Parfit dedicated himself to the pursuit of philosophical progress to an extraordinary degree. He always wore gray trousers and a white shirt so as not to lose precious time picking out clothes, he varied his diet as little as possible, and he had only one serious non-philosophical interest: taking photos of Oxford, Venice, and St. Petersburg. In the latter half of his life, he single-mindedly devoted himself to a desperate attempt to rescue secular morality—morality without God—by arguing that it has an objective, rational basis. For Parfit, the stakes could scarcely have been higher. If he couldn’t demonstrate that there are objective facts about right and wrong, he believed, his life was futile and all our lives were meaningless.

Connecting Parfit’s work and life and offering a clear introduction to his profound and challenging ideas, Parfit is a powerful portrait of an extraordinary thinker who continues to have a remarkable influence on the world of ideas.

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A Seminary Co-Op Notable Book of the Year"

"A Prospect Book of the Year: Lives"

"A FiveBooks Best Philosophy Book of the Year"

"Offering more than a thinker’s life and career, Parfit is a crash course in the evolution of moral philosophy, and the best account I have read of what “doing philosophy” entails. . . . Superb."---Heller McAlpin, Wall Street Journal

"Parfit is written engagingly, ably balancing philosophy and biography. Readers outside the field will find Edmonds’s descriptions of Parfit’s philosophical contributions fascinating and clear. . . . Parfit’s philosophy was philosophy at its best and Parfit is an excellent introduction to that philosophy and the life in which it grew to occupy such a central role."---Oliver Traldi, Washington Post

"The best intellectual biography I’ve ever read."---Paul Bloom, author of The Sweet Spot

"

Edmonds has pulled it off, and few could be better suited to the task. . . . He writes stylishly, with a light touch. The book is packed with anecdotes that leaven the discussion of Parfit’s weighty professional output.

"---Sarah Richmond, Times Literary Supplement

"Parfit made contributions to questions about identity, future generations, and freedom, but his central project was to argue for the objective nature of morality. Edmonds’s companionable biography tracks this work while assembling a portrait of how Parfit grew from a young boy with strong moral intuitions to a kind, perfectionistic man who believed that the stakes of his mission were so high that he should devote almost all of his waking hours to it." ― New Yorker

"A lively new biography." ― The Economist

"

[Edmonds] manages to make Parfit’s cloistered, eccentric life of the mind a source of endless astonishment. . . .It is surely the best biography of a philosopher since Ray Monk’s hitherto peerless Ludwig Wittgenstein: The Duty of Genius.

"---Julian Baggini, Prospect

"This fascinating biography. . .combines lucid philosophical exegesis with astute psychological analysis. Edmonds clearly loves his subject. . . and he documents his life with exhaustive honesty."---Jane O’Grady, Literary Review

"This is both a fabulous book and a necessary biography of a significant Oxford academic who a lot of people have sort of heard of but can’t quite place. . . . It will be a curiously dull reader to complete this volume and not be affected by some of the powerful ideas that are raised along the way."---Richard Lofthouse, QUAD

"A fascinating and important person. I do highly recommend the biography."---Diane Coyle, Enlightened Economist

"Very readable."---Nigel Warburton, The New European

"Rich and dense. . . . Parfit is a tremendous fabric of stories, memories, references, personal testimonies, research material and original quotations, and it is an equally, tremendously, heartfelt invitation to feel and engage with the rhythm and presence of a life. It is absorbing, fascinating, replete with occasions for pause and reflection, full of echoes of lives past, lives lived, lives almost obsessively examined."---Mika Provata-Carlone, Bookanista

"[A] gripping biography."---Joe Humphreys, The Irish Times

"Superb, terrific. . . [Edmonds] reconstructs a whole new world."---Cass Sunstein

"Lively and amusing. . . . It is likely to be the place where some readers with less philosophical training first encounter teletransporter cases, future Tuesday indifference, and the repugnant conclusion. They are in good hands. . . . A great read."---David Phillips, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

"It’s hard to imagine a more sympathetic, fair-minded, and appropriately skilled biographer for Parfit than David Edmonds. . . . [An] excellent biography."---Frank B. Farrell, Commonweal Magazine

"David Edmonds has written an exemplary biography. It is thorough, revealing, and yet sympathetic, and written by someone who admires the life of someone he nevertheless confesses to find a very puzzling subject."---Simon Blackburn, Society

"A sharp and sympathetic biography."---Michael Gibson, City Journal

"Dave Edmonds is an adept populariser of recondite ideas and his book about Derek Parfit, the mysterious and reclusive philosopher who spent most of his adult life at All Souls College, is essential reading."---Jason Cowley, The Times

"David Edmonds, himself philosophically trained, is a very engaging writer on the subject of philosophers’ lives. . . . He treats his reader with respect, but knows that a spoonful of gossip, or biography, helps the philosophy go down. I recommend [Parfit] highly."---Theodore Dalrymple, The Lamp

"This superb biography reveals him as a genius to some, a fool to others, eccentric to all." ― The Telegraph

Review

“Picture in your head: ‘a philosopher.’ Does he have a wild mane of white hair? Does he ride an old-fashioned bike everywhere, speak in a British accent? Does he have eccentric habits, like carrying a vodka bottle full of water? Does he spend every second of his life trying to solve the most important problems of human existence, and is everyone who meets him in awe of his intellect? The person you imagined existed. His name was Derek Parfit, he was utterly fascinating and delightful and brilliant, and with this book David Edmonds has painted him a beautiful, thorough, and compelling portrait.”—Michael Schur, creator of The Good Place and author of How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question

“In his monumental biography of the moral philosopher Derek Parfit, David Edmonds renders the movements of a quicksilver mind, the allure of a charismatic personality, the drama of a cloistered life.”—Sylvia Nasar, author of A Beautiful Mind

“Although Derek Parfit led a uniquely cloistered existence, immersed in his work, his life was not without drama, as David Edmonds’s sympathetic but not uncritical biography shows. This is likely to be the definitive biography of this irresistibly intriguing, indefatigable, and finally elusive thinker: for many, the great moral philosopher of our time.”—Joyce Carol Oates

“To write an entertaining biography of the philosopher on whom, of all those I have encountered, the label ‘genius’ best fits, is quite a feat. David Edmonds does that in this beautifully written and thoroughly researched volume that also offers fascinating glimpses of academic philosophy and life in Oxford during the past sixty years.”—Peter Singer, author of Ethics in the Real World

“Derek Parfit’s electrifyingly original philosophy transformed thinking about who we are, what matters in life, and how we should care about the future. And the man was as original as his work. In this revelatory and fascinating biography, David Edmonds describes how the young Parfit’s many passions contracted into a fervent, all-consuming search for moral truth.”—Larissa MacFarquhar, author of Strangers Drowning: Impossible Idealism, Drastic Choices, and the Urge to Help

“Derek Parfit was perhaps the most important philosopher of his era. This scintillating and insightful portrait of him is one of the best intellectual biographies I have read.”—Tyler Cowen, author of Stubborn Attachments: A Vision for a Society of Free, Prosperous, and Responsible Individuals

“A delight-filled, page-turning romp through the life and thought of one of the world’s greatest moral philosophers—completely unknown to most but with ideas that could change the way we think about ourselves and the future of humanity.”—Ruth Chang, University of Oxford

“Derek Parfit was the most brilliant and original moral philosopher in well over a century. In certain ways saintly, he was also legendarily eccentric. David Edmonds’s eagerly awaited biography tells the fascinating story of Parfit’s life in a lively and engaging manner while also providing accessible explanations of his most important philosophical ideas. Both instructive and entertaining, this is greatly rewarding reading.”—Jeff McMahan, University of Oxford

“A beautifully written and psychologically sophisticated biography. Even readers who disagree with Parfit’s ideas will learn from and be moved by this fascinating book.”—Cheryl Misak, University of Toronto

“A wonderful read and splendidly done.”—Angus Deaton, Nobel Prize–winning economist and New York Times bestselling coauthor of Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Princeton University Press; First Edition (April 18, 2023)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 408 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0691225230
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0691225234
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #330,958 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #53 in Philosopher Biographies
- #287 in Philosophy of Ethics & Morality

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128 ratings

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Customers find the biography well-written, with one review noting it reads almost like a good novel. Moreover, the book effectively explains Parfit's work, with one customer highlighting its accessible explanations of his seminal ideas.

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7 customers mention "Biography"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the biography's explanation of Parfit's exciting work, with one customer noting its accessible explanations of his seminal ideas and another highlighting its great summary of Wittgenstein's work.

"Clearly, fluidly written. An interesting main character. Reads almost like a good novel. I cried at the end when Parfit died...." Read more

"...This biography deftly explains his exciting and unique pursuit of a fundamental moral philosophy and also his idiosyncratic lifestyle. I loved it...." Read more

"A brilliant biography, beautifully written about a unique genius who changed philosophy for the better...." Read more

"The most interesting biography I've ever read, though I would like even more philosophy than now it is with. Elegant writing indeed." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing style"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, describing it as well written, with one customer noting it reads almost like a good novel.

"Clearly, fluidly written. An interesting main character. Reads almost like a good novel. I cried at the end when Parfit died...." Read more

"...Edmonds writes with sensitivity and elan and his insights and knowledge of philosophy enlighten every chapter." Read more

"...Elegant writing indeed." Read more

"...David Edmonds has given us a marvelously sensitive and nuanced portrayal." Read more

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P. SHAVER
Fascinating individual
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2023
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Clearly, fluidly written. An interesting main character. Reads almost like a good novel. I cried at the end when Parfit died. Unusual for a nonfiction book.

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3 people found this helpful

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David Levy
Classic Edmondnds About a Classic Mind
Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2023
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David Edmonds is a treasure. So was Derek Parfit. This book, then, was wonderful. Parfit was a singular genius. This biography deftly explains his exciting and unique pursuit of a fundamental moral philosophy and also his idiosyncratic lifestyle. I loved it. What a mind, what a life, what a lovely weirdo.

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David Levy

Classic Edmondnds About a Classic Mind

Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2023
David Edmonds is a treasure. So was Derek Parfit. This book, then, was wonderful. Parfit was a singular genius. This biography deftly explains his exciting and unique pursuit of a fundamental moral philosophy and also his idiosyncratic lifestyle. I loved it. What a mind, what a life, what a lovely weirdo.

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toronto
Reasons for the Person
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2023
This is a finely written book, but with far too much trivial information about what he had for breakfast, etc. weighing it down. One can see the attempt to make it popular; still it would have benefitted from more philosophical argument and less of all the rest -- but other readers might disagree. Though it is hard to see how someone who wanted to read this book to get a first understanding of Parfit would wade through the mass of mundane details. The last part of the book (on On What Matters) is heavy on the printing problems, and light on the philosophical problems. Nevertheless, the sketches of the philosophy are pretty clear.

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Robert Leahy
brilliant
Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2025
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A brilliant biography, beautifully written about a unique genius who changed philosophy for the better. Edmonds writes with sensitivity and elan and his insights and knowledge of philosophy enlighten every chapter.

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Freigeist
A page turner
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2023
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The most interesting biography I've ever read, though I would like even more philosophy than now it is with. Elegant writing indeed.

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5 people found this helpful

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454545
Over-hyped
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2024
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Like many readers, I was very taken by Ray Monk’s 1990 biography of Wittgenstein. It is a great summary of Wittgenstein’s work, and does a good job of explaining why he is the most famous 20th Century philosopher. Beyond that, it is an engaging description of a fascinating personality.
Edmonds’ publisher compares the Parfit book to Monk’s work—and it was a reason I got this book. But I see little similarity.
The Parfit work is not very psychologically insightful (I accept that some people think in terms of facts, not reasons) and in my view Parfit and his work come across as droll and colorless. Is it because Parfit is fundamentally not a very interesting person? Or would this have been more successful in the hands of another biographer? Facts argue that Parfit was well-known in philosophy, well-liked by colleagues, and spoke at many major universities. Yet, it is hard for me to see the fundamental contribution Parfit made to philosophy, despite Edmonds’ assertion about his importance.
It may be my limited understanding, I’ll accept that. I’m simply contrasting Parfit with Wittgenstein, (where the contributions are immense and obvious).
Edmonds seems to cover all the bases. He talks to the important people in Parfit’s life, and knew him during this working years. Since I’m not an academic philosopher, I’m simply left wondering why I should care about Parfit or his work.
That said, the book is well-written, easy to follow, without typos, has some nice photos, and is immaculately bound—an exceptionally nice book, published with much care.

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Doc Bobster
Parfit Matters
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2023
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For years I have recommended Parfit’s Reasons and Persons as the most psychedelic book I’ve ever read. But I knew nothing of the man behind the book. David Edmonds has given us a marvelously sensitive and nuanced portrayal.

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Amazon Customer
Brilliant! Does Parfit rescue morality from nihilism?
Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2023
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A brilliant philosopher gives up on the pleasures he once enjoyed as a boy and as a young man in order to devote the second part of his life to a fanatically obsessive search for moral truth! Does the man Peter Singer called "a philosophical genius" succeed? Read and find out! You learn a great deal about moral philosophy along the way.

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SY
Kept my attention
Reviewed in Canada on April 23, 2025
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Elegantly written and festooned with details.

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Alan Ryan
Fascinating but rather depressing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 20, 2023
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This is a meticulously researched and written account of the life and (up to a point)the work of perhaps the most highly regarded moral philosopher of the past forty years. It begins with an engaging account of the brilliant schoolboy and undergraduate who collected all the prizes, and went on to a lifetime as a Fellow of All Souls. But the last third of the life, when Parfit sacrificed everything to a not wholly successful search is deeply depressing, especially for readers who think Parfit’s obsession with moral objectivity was misguided.

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Brian Garrett
Warts and all...
Reviewed in Australia on April 24, 2023
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I think the most disturbing revelation in this biography is that Parfit regularly missed dessert at All Souls. What kind of chap does that? Pass on his apple crumble? Makes no sense. Although, in fairness, I suppose Parfit never believed in desert.

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Kindle Customer
Highly recommended
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 13, 2023
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This is an absolutely fascinating book from start to finish. It is well-researched, wonderfully written, and very inspiring! I am now very keen to read more of the author's work.

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M77
Great biography of brilliant and important philosopher
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 20, 2023
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Magnificent account of an exceptional thinker. Clearly written account of his ideas. Story of his life is witty and moving, tracing unusual arc of character as his focused more intensely and exclusively on philosophy. I was inspired by 'Reasons and Persons'; this book persuaded me to take the plunge into 'On What Matters'.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Kept my attention

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating but rather depressing

4.0 out of 5 stars Warts and all...

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended

5.0 out of 5 stars Great biography of brilliant and important philosopher

Kept my attention

Fascinating but rather depressing

Warts and all...

Highly recommended

Great biography of brilliant and important philosopher