Paul Woodruff
Encyclopedia
Paul Woodruff is a classicist, professor of philosophy, and dean at the University of Texas at Austin
, where he once chaired the department of philosophy and has more recently held the Hayden Head Regents Chair as director of Plan II Honors program, which he resigned in 2006 after 15 years of service. On September 21, 2006, University President William C. Powers , Jr. named Dr. Woodruff the inaugural dean of undergraduate studies. He is best-known for his work on Socrates, Plato, and philosophy of theater. A beloved professor, he often teaches courses outside his Ancient Greek Philosophy
specialty, including literature courses and specialty seminars, often for the Plan II program.
(though raised in western Pennsylvania
), Woodruff attended Princeton University
, where he completed a major in Classics
in 1965. His studies then took him to Merton College of Oxford University, where he completed a Bachelor's Degree
in Literae Humaniores
in 1968. Inspired by the Socratic
beliefs on rule of law, he served in the United States Army
in the Vietnam War
from 1969 to 1971, during which time he attained the rank of Captain. Returning to the United States
, he again attended Princeton University, where he completed his doctorate
in Philosophy, studying under Gregory Vlastos
.
In the same year, he joined the Department of Philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin, where he has remained to this day.
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, where he once chaired the department of philosophy and has more recently held the Hayden Head Regents Chair as director of Plan II Honors program, which he resigned in 2006 after 15 years of service. On September 21, 2006, University President William C. Powers , Jr. named Dr. Woodruff the inaugural dean of undergraduate studies. He is best-known for his work on Socrates, Plato, and philosophy of theater. A beloved professor, he often teaches courses outside his Ancient Greek Philosophy
Greek philosophy
Ancient Greek philosophy arose in the 6th century BCE and continued through the Hellenistic period, at which point Ancient Greece was incorporated in the Roman Empire...
specialty, including literature courses and specialty seminars, often for the Plan II program.
Biography
Born in New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
(though raised in western Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
), Woodruff attended Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, where he completed a major in 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...
in 1965. His studies then took him to Merton College of Oxford University, where he completed a Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores is the name given to an undergraduate course focused on Classics at Oxford and some other universities.The Latin name means literally "more humane letters", but is perhaps better rendered as "Advanced Studies", since humaniores has the sense of "more refined" or "more learned",...
in 1968. Inspired by the Socratic
Socrates
Socrates was a classical Greek Athenian philosopher. Credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, he is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of later classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon, and the plays of his contemporary ...
beliefs on rule of law, he served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
from 1969 to 1971, during which time he attained the rank of Captain. Returning to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he again attended Princeton University, where he completed his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in Philosophy, studying under Gregory Vlastos
Gregory Vlastos
Gregory Vlastos was a scholar of ancient philosophy, and author of several works on Plato and Socrates. He was also a Christian and has written on Christian faith as well.-Life and works:...
.
In the same year, he joined the Department of Philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin, where he has remained to this day.
Translations
- Plato: Two Comic Dialogues (Ion and Hippias Major) HackettHackett Publishing CompanyHackett Publishing Company, Inc. is an academic publishing house based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Since beginning operations in 1972, Hackett has concentrated mainly on humanities, especially classical and philosophical texts. Many Hackett titles are used as textbooks, making the company very...
(1983) - Plato: Symposium (with Alexander NehamasAlexander NehamasAlexander Nehamas is Professor of philosophy and Edmund N. Carpenter, II Class of 1943 Professor in the Humanities at Princeton University. He works on Greek philosophy, aesthetics, Nietzsche, Foucault, and literary theory....
) Hackett (1989) - Thucydides on Justice, Power, and Human Nature Hackett (1993)
- Plato: Phaedrus (with Alexander Nehamas) Hackett (1995)
- Euripides Bacchae Hackett (1998)
- Sophocles Oedipus Tyrannus (with Peter Meineck) Hackett (2000)
- Sophocles: Antigone Hackett (2001)
- Sophocles: Theban Plays, with Introductions by Paul Woodruff (with Peter Meineck) Hackett (2003)
Books
- Plato: Hippias Major Hackett (1982) and Blackwell'sBlackwell'sBlackwell UK Ltd is a national chain of bookshops, online retail, mail order and library supply services in the United Kingdom, which has an annual turnover of £74 million...
(1982) - Reverence; Renewing a Forgotten Virtue Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
(2001) - First Democracy; The Challenge of an Ancient Idea Oxford University Press (2005)
- The Necessity of Theater; The Art of Watching and Being Watched Oxford University Press (2008)
- The Ajax Dilemma: Justice, Fairness, and Rewards Oxford University Press (2011)
Editor
- Facing Evil; Light at the Core of Darkness. (with Harry A. Wilmer) Open Court Press (1988)
- Early Greek Political Thought from Homer to the Sophists (with Michael Gagarin) Cambridge University PressCambridge University PressCambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
(1995) - Reason and Religion in Socratic Philosophy (edited, with Nicholas D. Smith) Oxford University Press (2000)
Awards
- Harry Ransom Teaching Award
- Academy of Distinguished Teachers
- Austin Book Award
- B. Iden Payne Award for best new play (1983)
- Pro Bene Meritis (2002)
- Civitatis (2007)
Academic positions
- Dean of Undergraduate Studies
- Chair, Department of Philosophy
- Hayden Head Chair as Director of the Plan II Honors Program
- Mary Helen Thompson Centennial Professor in the Humanities