A.C. Grayling is an internationally renowned philosopher, author and public intellectual. He is the author of more than 30 books on philosophy, including The Good Book, The God Argument, and The Meaning of Things. He is a professor of philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London, and a Supernumerary Fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford.
Anthony Clifford Grayling was born on 3 April 1949 in the small town of Barnet, Hertfordshire, England. He attended the local secondary school, and then went on to study at the University of Birmingham, graduating in 1971 with a B.A. Honours degree in Classics. He then studied for a masters degree in philosophy at the University of Sussex, where he was taught by the renowned philosopher, John Hospers. In 1981, Grayling completed his doctoral studies at the University of Oxford, where he was supervised by the philosopher Bernard Williams.
Grayling has held many prestigious academic appointments, including Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London (1991–2011), and Professor of Philosophy at the University of London (2006–2011). He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2000 and awarded an OBE for services to philosophy in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for 2012.
Grayling is widely respected for his prolific writing, which covers a range of philosophical topics. He has written books on such diverse topics as the meaning of life, the philosophy of education, the nature of understanding, the history of philosophy, and the relationship between religion and science. He is also a highly sought-after public speaker, giving talks on philosophy, literature and culture at venues around the world.
Grayling is a passionate advocate for human rights, and has been involved in a number of campaigns to promote human rights and to counter religious extremism. In 2016, he was one of the founding members of the advisory board of the International Humanist and Ethical Union.
Grayling is an avid reader, and loves to travel. He is married to the journalist and author, Margaret Drabble. They have two children, and live in London.
