Nicholas St. John Green
Nicholas St. John Green (March 30, 1830 – September 8, 1876) is an American philosopher and lawyer, one of the members of The Metaphysical Club.[1] Green is known for his contributions in the field of law as well as his involvement in the formation of pragmatism. He has been named as the “grandfather of pragmatism” by Charles Pierce.[2]
Early life
Nicholas St. John Green, born March 30, 1830 in Dover, New Hampshire was a son of a Unitarian minister, James D. Green. Green earned the title of Bachelor of Arts on the Harvard University in 1851. After earning his law degree in 1861 he was a paymaster during the course of the Civil War.[2]
Career
After the war Nicholas St. John Green published some of his articles in American Law Review, which allowed him to become a lecturer at the Harvard University in 1870. Three years later he was given a position of professor of law at the University of Boston, which he accepted. While in Boston, he was also serving as the Acting Dean at the university.[1][2] Green's notable work includes the notion of multiple causes for every event, an idea which stood in opposition to the then widely accepted notion of single chain of causation.[1]
Death
Nicholas St. John Green died on September 8, 1876 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Selected works
- "Proximate and Remote Cause." American Law Review 4.2 (January 1870): 201-216.[3]
- "Contributory Negligence on the Part of an Infant." American Law Review 4.3 (April 1870): 405-416.[3]
- "Insanity in Criminal Law." Review of I. Ray, A Treatise on the Medical Jurisprudence of Insanity, 5th edn. American Law Review 5.4 (July 1871): 704-709.[3]
- "Some Results of Reform in Indictments." Review of Francis Wharton, Precedents of Indictments and Pleas. American Law Review 5.4 (July 1871): 732-735.[3]
- "Married Women." Review of J.P. Bishop, Commentaries on the Law of Married Women under the Statutes of the Several States and at Common Law and in Equity. American Law Review 6.1 (October 1872): 57-74.[3]
- "Slander and Libel." Review of John Townsend, A Treatise on the Wrongs called Slander and Libel, 2nd edn. American Law Review 6.4 (July 1872): 593-613.[3]
- "Torts Under the French Law." Review of M.A. Sourdat, Traité Général de la Responsabilité ou de l'Action en Dommages-in-térêts en dehors des Contracts. American Law Review 8.3 (April 1874): 508-529.[3]