Hugh S. R. Elliot
Hugh Samuel Roger Elliot | |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 April 1881 |
| Died | 6 May 1930 (aged 49) |
| Occupation | Science writer |
Hugh Samuel Roger Elliot (3 April 1881 – 6 May 1930), best known as Hugh S. R. Elliot was an English science writer.[1]
Biography[]
Elliot was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. Following the outbreak of the Second Boer War in late 1899, he obtained a commission as second lieutenant in the Coldstream Guards on 17 February 1900, and served on the staff as signaling officer in South Africa from 18 June 1901.[2][1] He was back as a regular officer in his regiment from September 1902,[3] but resigned from the army later the same year.[4]
His son Herbert Elliot was born June 3, 1909.[5]
He identified as a scientific materialist and was highly critical of metaphysical speculation.[6][7] In his book Modern Science and the Illusions of Professor Bergson (1912), he attacked Henri Bergson's vitalist and non-scientific ideas.[8][9][10][11][12] Elliot expounded three principles of scientific materialism: the uniformity of law, the non-existence of teleology and the denial of any entity that cannot be expressed in terms of matter and motion.[7][13] H. P. Lovecraft was influenced by Elliot's materialism.[14]
Elliot was honorary secretary of the Savile Club (1909-1917).[15] In 1914, he translated Jean-Baptiste Lamarck's Zoological Philosophy.[16] He was the editor of The Annual Register (1915-1920).[17]
Elliot was an expert bridge player.[17]
Death[]
Elliot died in an aeroplane crash during an altitude test in Hampton on 6 May 1930.[1] An inquest concluded a verdict of "accidental death" and did not attribute negligence to his instructors.[18]
Publications[]
Books
- Man Versus State (1907)
- Beasts and Men, Being Carl Hagenbeck's Experiences for Half a Century Among Wild Animals (1912) [translator]
- Modern Science and the Illusions of Professor Bergson (1912) [with a preface by Ray Lankester][10]
- Zoological Philosophy: An Exposition with Regard to the Natural History of Animals (1914) [translator of the French by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, including extensive commentary and perspective]
- Herbert Spencer (1917)[19]
- Punishment and Crime. In C. E. Fanning. (1917). Selected Articles on Capital Punishment. The H. W. Wilson Company.
- Modern Science and Materialism (1919)[20]
- Human Character (1922)
- The New Philosophy of Science. In John Alexander Hammerton. (1992). Illustrated Encyclopaedia of World History. Volume 8. Mittal Publications.
Selected papers
- Elliot, Hugh. (1915). A Survey of the Problem of Vitalism. Science Progress in the Twentieth Century (1906-1916) 9 (35): 413-427.
- Elliot, Hugh. (1916). A Defence of Scientific Materialism I. The Hibbert Journal 14: 551-562.
- Elliot, Hugh. (1916). A Defence of Scientific Materialism II. The Hibbert Journal 14: 799-808.
- Elliot, Hugh. (1916). Scientific Materialism. The Hibbert Journal 15: 317-320.
- Elliot, Hugh; Mercier, Charles A. (1917). A Great Philosopher, Herbert Spencer. Science Progress (1916-1919) 12 (45): 143-146.
- Elliot, Hugh. (1921). Relativity and Materialism. Nature 108: 432.
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Hicks, G. Dawes. (1930). Mr. Hugh S. R. Elliot. Nature 125: 786-787.
- ^ Hart′s Army list, 1902
- ^ "No. 27474". The London Gazette. 16 September 1902. p. 5961.
- ^ "No. 27481". The London Gazette. 10 October 1902. p. 6411.
- ^ Barker, G. F. Russell; Stenning, Alan H. (1928). The Record of Old Westminsters. Volume II. London: Chiswick Press. p. 1046
- ^ Baylis, Charles Augustus. (1965). Metaphysics. pp. 29-30
- ^ Jump up to: a b Nielsen, Kai. (1971). Reason and Practice: A Modern Introduction to Philosophy. Harper & Row. p. 340
- ^ Anonymous. (1912). Review: A Materialist Critic Of Bergson: Modern Science And The Illusions Of Professor Bergson by Hugh S. R. Elliot. The British Medical Journal 1 (2684): 1303.
- ^ Dewey, John. (1912). Reviewed Work: Modern Science and the Illusions of Professor Bergson by Hugh S. R. Elliot, Ray Lankester. The Philosophical Review 21 (6): 705-707.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Jennings, H. S. (1913). Reviewed Work: Modern Science and the Illusions of Professor Bergson by Hugh S. R. Elliot, E. Ray Lankester. The Journal of Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Methods 10 (13): 353-358.
- ^ Smith, R. (1913). Review: Modern Science and the Illusions of Professor Bergson by Hugh S. R. Elliot. International Journal of Ethics 23 (2): 216.
- ^ Bowler, Peter J. (2001). Reconciling Science and Religion: The Debate in Early-Twentieth-Century Britain. University of Chicago Press. pp. 348-349
- ^ Jones, A. H. (1920). Review: Modern Science and Materialism by Hugh Elliot. The Philosophical Review 29 (5): 495-497.
- ^ Joshi, S. T. (2001). A Dreamer and a Visionary: H.P. Lovecraft in His Time. Liverpool University Press. p. 293. ISBN 0-85323-936-3
- ^ Anonymous. (1923). The Savile Club, 1868 to 1923. London: Savile Club. pp. 91-94
- ^ Anonymous. (1915). Review: The "Zoological Philosophy" Of Lamarck: Zoological Philosophy by J. B. Lamarck; Hugh Elliot. The British Medical Journal 1 (2823): 252-253.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Anonymous. (8 May 1930). The Late Mr Hugh Elliot: Expert Bridge Player and Writer. The Scotsman. p. 12
- ^ Anonymous. (10 May 1930). Mr Hugh Elliot's Death: Story of Fatal Air Crash During Altitude Test. The Scotsman. p. 16
- ^ Small, Albion W. (1917). Review: Herbert Spencer by Hugh Elliot. The American Historical Review 23 (1): 157-159.
- ^ Ayres, C. E. (1920). Review: Modern Science and Materialism by Hugh Elliot. American Journal of Sociology 26 (2): 249-250.
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- 1881 births
- 1930 deaths
- Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge
- English atheists
- English science writers
- English sceptics
- Critics of Theosophy
- Materialists