William Mitchell (philosopher)

Mitchell was educated at the University of Edinburgh where he graduated with a Master of Arts degree with first class honors in 1886, followed by a doctor of science in 1891 from the Department of Mental Science. At Edinburgh, Mitchell's thesis was supervised by Alexander Campbell Fraser, and he was assistant to Henry Calderwood.{{cite encyclopedia |author-last=Boucher |author-first=David |editor-last=Brown |editor-first=Stuart |encyclopedia=Dictionary of Twentieth-Century British Philosophers: 2 Volumes |title=Mitchell, William (1861–1962) |url= |edition=First |year=2005 |publisher=Thoemmes |series= |volume= |location= |id= |isbn=978-1843710967 |oclc= |doi= |pages=687–689 |url-status= |quote= }}

Mitchell was an enthusiast for literary societies, and was in 1883 a foundation member of the South Australian Literary Societies' Union, served as its president in 1901, and remained a staunch supporter of the Union in 1937.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41639469 |title=Record Debating Season For Literary Union |newspaper=The Advertiser (Adelaide) |location=South Australia |date=28 April 1937 |access-date=29 June 2018 |page=25 |via=National Library of Australia}} Mitchell was Professor of English Language, Literature, Mental and Moral Philosophy at the University of Adelaide from 1894–1922. He also held the position of Vice-Chancellor from 1916–1942 and was Chancellor from 1942–1948.{{Harvnb|Davies|2003|p=92}}

Mitchell wrote about issues overlapping philosophy of mind and science, neurology, quantum theory and philosophical psychology.{{Cite journal |last=Davies |first=W. Martin |date=1999-09-01 |title=Sir William Mitchell and the 'new mysterianism' |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/00048409912349031 |journal=Australasian Journal of Philosophy |volume=77 |issue=3 |pages=253–273 |doi=10.1080/00048409912349031 |issn=0004-8402}}{{Cite thesis |title=A mind's own place : the thought of Sir William Mitchell / William Martin Davies. |url=https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/handle/2440/21723 |date=2001 |degree=Thesis |language=en |first=W. Martin |last=Davies}}

His work is the subject of a book by W. Martin Davies, The Philosophy of Sir William Mitchell, 1861–1962 : A Mind's Own Place (2003) {{ISBN|0-7734-6733-5}}.

He is also the benefactor of The Professor Sir William Mitchell Prize for Philosophy, Level II, and gives his name to the South Australian Electoral District of Mitchell.

On 18 January 1900, William Mitchell married Marjory Erlistoun Barr Smith (1868 – 3 August 1913), fourth daughter of Robert Barr Smith. Their daughter Joanna "Nan" Mitchell (1900– ) married Major David Thompson, of Farnham House, Farnham Royal. Buckinghamshire c. 1 May 1925.

Mitchell was knighted in 1927.{{Cite web|url=http://www.iep.utm.edu/mitchell/|title = Mitchell, William | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy}}

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• {{cite book | last = Davies | first = W. Martin | year = 2003 | chapter = Sir William Mitchell, K.C.M.G. (1861–1962): Philosopher and Chancellor of the University of Adelaide | editor = Healey, John | title = S.A.'s Greats: The men and women of the North Terrace plaques | publisher = Historical Society of South Australia | location = Kent Town, South Australia | isbn = 0-9579430-0-8 }}

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• [https://iep.utm.edu/mitchell/ William Mitchell] article in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

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Category:1861 births

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Category:People from Falkirk

Category:20th-century Australian philosophers

Category:Scottish emigrants to Australia

Category:Academic staff of the University of Adelaide

Category:Vice-chancellors of the University of Adelaide

Category:Australian men centenarians

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