Abstract

This article proposes an interpretive key to Bernard Williams’s philosophy. It posits the idea that at its core, his philosophy consists in the following interconnected epistemological and metaphysical views: (1) scientific realism, (2) metaphysical naturalism, (3) methodological pluralism, (4) anthropological contingentism and (5) a post-analytical/humanistic understanding of philosophy. These are extracted in the first two sections. The third section provides a demonstration of how this interpretation can be applied vis-à-vis Williams’s critique of morality. The text concludes with some critical remarks on Williams’s metaphilosophical position.