John L. Pollock was an American philosopher known for influential work in epistemology, philosophical logic, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence.
Pollock was born in Atchison Kansas, January 28, 1940. He was a 1958 graduate of St. Louis Park High School. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1961, majoring in physics, philosophy and mathematics. In 1965 he earned a doctorate at the University of California, Berkeley, and held a succession of faculty positions at the State University of New York at Buffalo, the University of Rochester and the University of Michigan. In 1978 he joined the faculty of the University of Arizona.
At his death on September 29, 2009, he was a Regents Professor of Philosophy and Cognitive Science at the University of Arizona. His extensive published writings include 13 books and more than 100 essays in professional journals. He was a gifted photographer and he enjoyed challenging outdoor activities. For many years he was the leader of Southern Arizona Mountain Biking Association. He is survived by his wife, Lilian Jacques, and daughters, Katherine Pollock and Erika Burkhalter.