Martin Hollis

James Martin Hollis (14 March 1938 – 27 February 1998) was an English rationalist philosopher. His work centered on the "epistemological unity of mankind," the idea that shared percepts and concepts are fundamental to understanding. Influenced by P.F. Strawson, Hollis applied his rationalist approach to the social sciences. He was educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford, studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). He further studied at Berkeley and Harvard, where he encountered sociology and the works of Quine and Rawls. After a brief stint in the Foreign Office, Hollis began his academic career at the University of East Anglia in 1967. He rose to become a Professor, Senior Lecturer, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor. He also served as the editor of the journal *Ratio* and was a Justice of the Peace. Beyond his academic pursuits, Hollis was an avid player of games, including chess and bridge, and a designer of new games. His interest in rationality extended to puzzles, particularly logic puzzles, which he published widely. His notable works include 'Models of Man', 'Rationality and Relativism', and 'The Philosophy of Social Science'.