James Doull
Encyclopedia
James Alexander Doull was a Canadian
philosopher and academic who was born and lived most of his life in Nova Scotia
. His father was the politician
, jurist
, and historian
John Doull
. From the late 1940s until the mid 1980s he taught in the Department of Classics
at Dalhousie University
in Halifax
. He was himself educated at Dalhousie as well as at the University of Toronto
, Harvard University
, and the University of Oxford
, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.
In 2003 the University of Toronto Press
published a substantial volume containing a number of his works together with commentary provided by former colleagues and students. The appearance of this compilation, which also contains biographical details upon which this article is largely based, is perhaps among the reasons that Doull is now rather better known than he was at any point during his life. It contains writings on Greek poetry; the culture of ancient Rome; ancient, medieval, and modern philosophy; and twentieth-century politics; and certain key figures (such as Plato
, Augustine, and Hegel) receive particular attention. In general the collection reflects Doull's deep conviction that the western philosophical tradition as a whole remains of great relevance and also his special interest in Hegel, with whose philosophical position Doull was in close agreement. Indeed his Hegelian views (especially his judgement that Hegel had been successful in his attempt to articulate in the form of self-developing concepts the inner content of the Christian revelation) were no doubt a major reason that he was regarded as outside the philosophical mainstream.
He studied with Werner Jaeger
at Harvard, and during the course of his life met a number of important figures (Gilson
for example) in twentieth-century philosophy; but he did not in general show much sign of having been formed philosophically by those he met, or indeed by anyone after Hegel. The Canadian philosopher Charles Norris Cochrane
, with whom he studied in Toronto, is perhaps the only notable exception to this.
He greatly admired the playing of the Canadian pianist Glenn Gould
, with whom he shared, in addition to an extraordinary independence of mind, a vision of Canadian spiritual life (which for Doull encompassed such spheres as politics, art, religion, and philosophy) that combined both a receptivity to the possibilities of the new world and a strong sense of continuity with the European past. Hans-Georg Gadamer
expressed surprise at having encountered a person of such comprehensive erudition in North America. Emil Fackenheim
called him the only Hegelian. His colleague and friend George Grant
said of him: 'Of all the Canadians of my generation, he certainly has the clearest intellect of any I have known. Nothing I would ever have to say about philosophy will compare to his knowledge of it'.
Many of his published articles can be found in the journal Dionysius
, of which he was one of the founding Editors and in connection with which he was (together with his fellow Editors A.H. Armstrong and R.D. Crouse) remarkably successful in recruiting as Editorial Advisors many distinguished scholars, among whom were Werner Beierwaltes
, Henry Chadwick
, Mary T. Clark
, Emil Fackenheim
, Eugene Fairweather, J.N. Findlay, Hans-Georg Gadamer
, George Grant
, Malcolm Ross
, Wilfred Cantwell Smith
, and George Williams
. He also published a number of essays in the electronic journal Animus
, the tenth Volume of which was devoted to essays on his life and thought.
In 1989 he was admitted honoris causa to the degree of Doctor Civilis Legis
(DCL) of the University of King's College
in Halifax.
His papers have been deposited in the James Alexander Doull Archive at the Grenfell Campus of the Memorial University of Newfoundland
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
philosopher and academic who was born and lived most of his life in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. His father was the politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
, and historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
John Doull
John Doull
John Doull was a lawyer, judge and politician. He represented Pictou County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly as a Conservative member from 1925 to 1933....
. From the late 1940s until the mid 1980s he taught in the Department of Classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
at Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
in Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
. He was himself educated at Dalhousie as well as at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, and the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.
In 2003 the University of Toronto Press
University of Toronto Press
University of Toronto Press is Canada's leading scholarly publisher and one of the largest university presses in North America. Founded in 1901, UTP has published over 6,500 books, with well over 3,500 of these still in print....
published a substantial volume containing a number of his works together with commentary provided by former colleagues and students. The appearance of this compilation, which also contains biographical details upon which this article is largely based, is perhaps among the reasons that Doull is now rather better known than he was at any point during his life. It contains writings on Greek poetry; the culture of ancient Rome; ancient, medieval, and modern philosophy; and twentieth-century politics; and certain key figures (such as Plato
Plato
Plato , was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the...
, Augustine, and Hegel) receive particular attention. In general the collection reflects Doull's deep conviction that the western philosophical tradition as a whole remains of great relevance and also his special interest in Hegel, with whose philosophical position Doull was in close agreement. Indeed his Hegelian views (especially his judgement that Hegel had been successful in his attempt to articulate in the form of self-developing concepts the inner content of the Christian revelation) were no doubt a major reason that he was regarded as outside the philosophical mainstream.
He studied with Werner Jaeger
Werner Jaeger
Werner Wilhelm Jaeger was a classicist of the 20th century.Jaeger was born in Lobberich, Rhenish Prussia. He attended school at Lobberich and at the Gymnasium Thomaeum in Kempen Jaeger studied at the University of Marburg and University of Berlin. He received a Ph.D...
at Harvard, and during the course of his life met a number of important figures (Gilson
Étienne Gilson
Étienne Gilson was a French Thomistic philosopher and historian of philosophy...
for example) in twentieth-century philosophy; but he did not in general show much sign of having been formed philosophically by those he met, or indeed by anyone after Hegel. The Canadian philosopher Charles Norris Cochrane
Charles Norris Cochrane
Charles Norris Cochrane was a Canadian historian and philosopher who taught at the University of Toronto.He was educated at the University of Toronto and also at the University of Oxford, where he was taught and influenced by R.G...
, with whom he studied in Toronto, is perhaps the only notable exception to this.
He greatly admired the playing of the Canadian pianist Glenn Gould
Glenn Gould
Glenn Herbert Gould was a Canadian pianist who became one of the best-known and most celebrated classical pianists of the 20th century. He was particularly renowned as an interpreter of the keyboard music of Johann Sebastian Bach...
, with whom he shared, in addition to an extraordinary independence of mind, a vision of Canadian spiritual life (which for Doull encompassed such spheres as politics, art, religion, and philosophy) that combined both a receptivity to the possibilities of the new world and a strong sense of continuity with the European past. Hans-Georg Gadamer
Hans-Georg Gadamer
Hans-Georg Gadamer was a German philosopher of the continental tradition, best known for his 1960 magnum opus, Truth and Method .-Life:...
expressed surprise at having encountered a person of such comprehensive erudition in North America. Emil Fackenheim
Emil Fackenheim
Emil Ludwig Fackenheim, Ph.D. was a noted Jewish philosopher and Reform rabbi.Born in Halle, Germany, he was arrested by the Nazis on the night of November 9, 1938, known as Kristallnacht...
called him the only Hegelian. His colleague and friend George Grant
George Grant (philosopher)
George Parkin Grant, OC, FRSC was a Canadian philosopher, teacher and political commentator, whose popular appeal peaked in the late 1960s and 1970s. He is best known for his nationalism, political conservatism, and his views on technology, pacifism, Christian faith, and abortion...
said of him: 'Of all the Canadians of my generation, he certainly has the clearest intellect of any I have known. Nothing I would ever have to say about philosophy will compare to his knowledge of it'.
Many of his published articles can be found in the journal Dionysius
Dionysius (journal)
Dionysius is a scholarly journal published by the Department of Classics at Dalhousie University. It was established originally in 1977, and a new series began in 1998. It publishes articles on the history of ancient philosophy and theology, and has a special interest in the Aristotelian and...
, of which he was one of the founding Editors and in connection with which he was (together with his fellow Editors A.H. Armstrong and R.D. Crouse) remarkably successful in recruiting as Editorial Advisors many distinguished scholars, among whom were Werner Beierwaltes
Werner Beierwaltes
Werner Beierwaltes is a German academic born in 1931 in Klingenberg am Main. He is best known as a historian of philosophy, and his most important areas of specialization are Neoplatonism and German Idealism...
, Henry Chadwick
Henry Chadwick (theologian)
Henry Chadwick KBE was a British academic and Church of England clergyman. A former Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford — and as such also head of Christ Church, Oxford — he also served as Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge, becoming the first person in four centuries to have headed a college at...
, Mary T. Clark
Mary T. Clark
Sister Mary T. Clark, RSCJ is an American academic and civil rights advocate. She is best known as a scholar of the history of philosophy, and is associated especially with Augustine of Hippo. Much of her career was spent at Manhattanville College, from which she graduated in 1939 and with which...
, Emil Fackenheim
Emil Fackenheim
Emil Ludwig Fackenheim, Ph.D. was a noted Jewish philosopher and Reform rabbi.Born in Halle, Germany, he was arrested by the Nazis on the night of November 9, 1938, known as Kristallnacht...
, Eugene Fairweather, J.N. Findlay, Hans-Georg Gadamer
Hans-Georg Gadamer
Hans-Georg Gadamer was a German philosopher of the continental tradition, best known for his 1960 magnum opus, Truth and Method .-Life:...
, George Grant
George Grant (philosopher)
George Parkin Grant, OC, FRSC was a Canadian philosopher, teacher and political commentator, whose popular appeal peaked in the late 1960s and 1970s. He is best known for his nationalism, political conservatism, and his views on technology, pacifism, Christian faith, and abortion...
, Malcolm Ross
Malcolm Ross (literary critic)
Malcolm Mackenzie Ross, OC, FRSC, was a notable Canadian literary critic.-Education:Born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, the son of Cora Elizabeth Hewitson and Charles Duff Ross, Ross attended Fredericton High School before receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Philosophy from the...
, Wilfred Cantwell Smith
Wilfred Cantwell Smith
Wilfred Cantwell Smith was a Canadian professor of comparative religion who from 1964-1973 was director of Harvard's Center for the Study of World Religions. The Harvard Gazette characterized him as one of the field's most influential figures of the past century...
, and George Williams
George Huntston Williams
George Huntston Williams American professor of Unitarian theology and historian of the Socinian movement. He was among the original Editorial Advisors of the scholarly journal Dionysius.-Works:...
. He also published a number of essays in the electronic journal Animus
Animus (journal)
Animus is an electronic academic journal of philosophy and the humanities based at the Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland. It was established in 1996 and appears annually. The current editors are Ken Jacobsen, David Peddle, Neil Robertson, Kenneth Kierans, and Eli Diamond....
, the tenth Volume of which was devoted to essays on his life and thought.
In 1989 he was admitted honoris causa to the degree of Doctor Civilis Legis
Doctor of Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law is a degree offered by some universities, such as the University of Oxford, instead of the more common Doctor of Laws degrees....
(DCL) of the University of King's College
University of King's College
The University of King's College is a post-secondary institution in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. King's is a small liberal arts university offering mainly undergraduate programs....
in Halifax.
His papers have been deposited in the James Alexander Doull Archive at the Grenfell Campus of the Memorial University of Newfoundland
Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Grenfell Campus, formerly referred to as Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, is a Canadian liberal arts and science university located in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador....
.