A. J. Ayer

Sir Alfred Jules "Freddie" Ayer ( AIR; 29 October 1910 – 27 June 1989) was an English philosopher who became professionally established through his exposition of major theses of logical positivism in Language, Truth, and Logic (1936). The work's dismissal of metaphysics, and endorsement of emotivism was the cause of much controversy and debate.

Following his education at the University of Oxford, and a period of study and discussion with Moritz Schlick and the Vienna Circle over the winter of 1932 –1933, from 1933 to 1940 he lectured on philosophy Christ Church, Oxford (his alma mater). After serving as a Special Operations Executive and MI6 agent during the Second World War, Ayer soon after became Grote Professor of the Philosophy of Mind and Logic at University College London from 1946 until 1959. He returned to Oxford to become Wykeham Professor of Logic at New College, a chair he held until his retirement in 1977/1978. He was knighted in 1970.

Ayer was known for his advocacy of humanism, and was the second president of the (then) British Humanist Association 1965-1970. He was also president of the Homosexual Law Reform Society for a time; remarking that "as a notorious heterosexual I could never be accused of feathering my own nest."