A. E. Heath

Archie Edward Heath (6 August 1887 – 18 May 1961) was a philosopher and philosophy professor. Alongside his contemporary Ludwig Wittgenstein, he significantly influenced the 'Swansea School of Philosophy'. He was President of the Rationalist Press Association from 1949 to 1954.

Career
Heath was a teacher at Oundle School, and subsequently science master at Bedales School, where one of the students he encouraged was Robin Hill, who went on to be a plant biochemist. He was later a lecturer at the universities of Manchester and Liverpool.

From 1925 to 1952, Heath was Foundation Professor of Philosophy at University College, Swansea. While there, he was an influence on both American philosopher Rush Rhees (who worked as an assistant professor alongside Heath) and British philosopher Peter Winch. D.Z. Phillips, a prominent member of the Swansea School said of Heath, in his biography of Winch, that he, “had an eye for philosophical talent”. His previous appointments had included R. I. Aaron, A. C. Ewing, H. B. Acton, W. B. Gallie, Karl Britton and later also R. F. Holland

A humanist, Heath was a Director of the Rationalist Press Association 1946 to 1958; its President from 1949 to 1954, and Vice President from 1955 until his death. Heath was the editor of Scientific Thought in the Twentieth Century, published in 1951. This contained contributions from high profile thinkers including A. J. Ayer, Ronald Fisher, Peter Medawar, and Sir Harold Spencer Jones. Albert Einstein, wrote Rationalist Press Association's Board of Directors congratulating them on the volume.

Heath wrote the introduction to Susan Stebbing's Ideals and Illusions, published as part of the Thinker's Library in 1948 (first published in 1941). He described Stebbing as someone who had "scared academic persons because she not only professed rationality but also lived it. She made criticism an act of grace."

Selected publications
1931: Thinking Ahead: The Place of Reflection in Civilisation London: BBC

1936: How we behave: an introduction to psychology London: Longmans, Green

1936: Learn and live; the consumer's view of adult education London: Methuen

1951: ''Scientific thought in the twentieth century. An authoritative account of fifty year's progress in science'' London: Watts

Death
Heath's funeral was conducted at Swansea by H. J. Blackham, who quoted Heath's words during the humanist ceremony: "The study of human beings, in all their complex doings between a sleep and a sleep, is an endless source of interest and puzzlement."