He was educated at Phillips Exeter Academy, Harvard University (major in mathematics), and, as a Marshall Scholar, at The Queen"s College, Oxford, where he intended to read Philosophy, Politics, and Economics but transferred to Literae Humaniores (1960).
He was noted for his collaboration with Peter Hacker and his disagreements with Michael Dummett. He pursued his doctorate (1963-1970) while teaching at the University of Kent and latterly as a Fellow of Street John"s College, Oxford. He was a Trustee of the Waismann Fund.
His other interests included real tennis and the harpsichord.
Alan is currently a professor of philosophy at Swarthmore College.
His topics of interest included Ludwig Wittgenstein, Gottlob Frege, Friedrich Waismann, Bertrand Russell, the Vienna Circle, and René Descartes.
