W. K. C. Guthrie
Encyclopedia
William Keith Chambers Guthrie (1 August 1906 – 17 May 1981) was a Scottish classical scholar, best known for his History of Greek Philosophy, published in six volumes between 1962 and his death.
where his father, Charles James Guthrie, pursued a career with the Westminster Bank
.
After attending Dulwich College
, Guthrie went up to Cambridge University in 1925 winning the Eric Evan Spicer scholarship to Trinity College
. He excelled in his studies, being supervised by, amongst others, Francis Cornford and A. S. F. Gow
, and was placed in the first class of both Parts of the Classical Tripos
, with distinction in Part II and the award of the Craven Prize.
After graduating he embarked on a postgraduate career at Trinity. He met his future wife, Adele Marion Ogilvy, an Australian studying at Newnham College, while supervising her undergraduate studies in 1929-1930. They married in 1933 and went on to have two children.
in 1932. Between 1936-1937 he served as a university proctor
and in 1939 was appointed as the University Orator, a position he held for eighteen years, responsible for delivering speeches in Latin in honour of recipients of honorary doctorates.
During the war he exchanged scholarship for military service
serving in the Intelligence Corps between 1941 - 1945, based initially in London
, then in St Albans
and, from 1943, in Istanbul
, achieving the temporary rank of Major
.
, Clement Attlee
, Jan Smuts
, Nehru
, Dwight D. Eisenhower
, Viscount Slim
and General Montgomery
.
In 1946 he was promoted to Reader
before becoming the third Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy
in 1952, the year in which he became a Fellow of the British Academy. In 1950 he edited an edition of his mentor Cornford's essays under the title The Unwritten Philosophy.
In 1957 he moved to his third Cambridge college when invited to become the Master of Downing College where he would remain for the rest of his life. As Master he took a full part in the administrative, cultural and social life of the college, occasionally preaching in the college chapel
and supporting the undergraduate music club and boat club. He oversaw a rewriting of the college statutes and introduced a maximum term for a Master of fifteen years, by which he chose voluntarily to abide although it did not apply to him.
In 1956 he was approached by the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press
to write a history of ancient philosophy
. The first volumes, devoted to the pre-Socratics, of what would be his life's magnum opus
were published to high acclaim in 1962 and 1964. The work continued while serving as Master of Downing and became his life's full mission after retiring from that position in 1972. The venture remained, however, unfinished at his death aged 74 in 1981 the year in which he published the sixth volume in the series, devoted to Aristotle
.
As a philosopher Guthrie followed in the tradition of Cornford in believing that ancient philosophers should be read and interpreted against their own historical background, rather than engaged with, as has been the practice of later generations of classical philosophers, in the context of the whole canon of philosophy both ancient and modern.
Early life and education
Although of long standing Scottish stock on both his father's and mother's side, Guthrie was born and brought up in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where his father, Charles James Guthrie, pursued a career with the Westminster Bank
Westminster Bank
Westminster Bank was a British retail bank which operated in England and Wales from 1834 until its merger into the National Westminster Bank in 1970; it remains a registered company but is dormant...
.
After attending Dulwich College
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
, Guthrie went up to Cambridge University in 1925 winning the Eric Evan Spicer scholarship to Trinity College
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. He excelled in his studies, being supervised by, amongst others, Francis Cornford and A. S. F. Gow
A. S. F. Gow
Andrew Sydenham Farrar Gow was a classical scholar at Cambridge University specialising in poetry.He was primarily associated with Trinity College, being a fellow of it from 1911 on, interrupted only by a period as Assistant Master of Eton College, 1914-1925...
, and was placed in the first class of both Parts of the Classical Tripos
Classical Tripos
The Classical Tripos is the taught course in classics at the University of Cambridge, equivalent to Literae Humaniores at Oxford. It is traditionally a three year degree, but for those who have not studied Latin and Greek at school a four year course has been introduced...
, with distinction in Part II and the award of the Craven Prize.
After graduating he embarked on a postgraduate career at Trinity. He met his future wife, Adele Marion Ogilvy, an Australian studying at Newnham College, while supervising her undergraduate studies in 1929-1930. They married in 1933 and went on to have two children.
Early career and World War Two
In 1930 Guthrie left Trinity College to take up a Bye Fellowship at Peterhouse, going on to become a full FellowFellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
in 1932. Between 1936-1937 he served as a university proctor
Proctor
Proctor, a variant of the word procurator, is a person who takes charge of, or acts for, another. The word proctor is frequently used to describe someone who oversees an exam or dormitory.The title is used in England in three principal senses:...
and in 1939 was appointed as the University Orator, a position he held for eighteen years, responsible for delivering speeches in Latin in honour of recipients of honorary doctorates.
During the war he exchanged scholarship for military service
Military service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
serving in the Intelligence Corps between 1941 - 1945, based initially in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, then in St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
and, from 1943, in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, achieving the temporary rank of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
.
Post war career
Returning to Cambridge after the war Guthrie was much in demand in his capacity as Orator, called upon to deliver Latin encomia in honour of such dignitaries as Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, Clement Attlee
Clement Attlee
Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC, FRS was a British Labour politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951, and as the Leader of the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955...
, Jan Smuts
Jan Smuts
Jan Christiaan Smuts, OM, CH, ED, KC, FRS, PC was a prominent South African and British Commonwealth statesman, military leader and philosopher. In addition to holding various cabinet posts, he served as Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919 until 1924 and from 1939 until 1948...
, Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
, Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
, Viscount Slim
William Slim, 1st Viscount Slim
Field Marshal William Joseph "Bill"'Slim, 1st Viscount Slim, KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, DSO, MC, KStJ was a British military commander and the 13th Governor-General of Australia....
and General Montgomery
Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC , nicknamed "Monty" and the "Spartan General" was a British Army officer. He saw action in the First World War, when he was seriously wounded, and during the Second World War he commanded the 8th Army from...
.
In 1946 he was promoted to Reader
Reader (academic rank)
The title of Reader in the United Kingdom and some universities in the Commonwealth nations like Australia and New Zealand denotes an appointment for a senior academic with a distinguished international reputation in research or scholarship...
before becoming the third Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy
Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy
The Laurence Professorship of Ancient Philosophy at Cambridge University was established in 1930 as one of the offices endowed by the bequest of Sir Perceval Maitland Laurence; it is the oldest chair of ancient philosophy in the world....
in 1952, the year in which he became a Fellow of the British Academy. In 1950 he edited an edition of his mentor Cornford's essays under the title The Unwritten Philosophy.
In 1957 he moved to his third Cambridge college when invited to become the Master of Downing College where he would remain for the rest of his life. As Master he took a full part in the administrative, cultural and social life of the college, occasionally preaching in the college chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
and supporting the undergraduate music club and boat club. He oversaw a rewriting of the college statutes and introduced a maximum term for a Master of fifteen years, by which he chose voluntarily to abide although it did not apply to him.
In 1956 he was approached by the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press
Cambridge 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...
to write a history of ancient philosophy
Ancient philosophy
This page lists some links to ancient philosophy. In Western philosophy, the spread of Christianity through the Roman Empire marked the ending of Hellenistic philosophy and ushered in the beginnings of Medieval philosophy, whereas in Eastern philosophy, the spread of Islam through the Arab Empire...
. The first volumes, devoted to the pre-Socratics, of what would be his life's magnum opus
Masterpiece
Masterpiece in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship....
were published to high acclaim in 1962 and 1964. The work continued while serving as Master of Downing and became his life's full mission after retiring from that position in 1972. The venture remained, however, unfinished at his death aged 74 in 1981 the year in which he published the sixth volume in the series, devoted to Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
.
As a philosopher Guthrie followed in the tradition of Cornford in believing that ancient philosophers should be read and interpreted against their own historical background, rather than engaged with, as has been the practice of later generations of classical philosophers, in the context of the whole canon of philosophy both ancient and modern.
Works
- OrpheusOrpheusOrpheus was a legendary musician, poet, and prophet in ancient Greek religion and myth. The major stories about him are centered on his ability to charm all living things and even stones with his music; his attempt to retrieve his wife from the underworld; and his death at the hands of those who...
and Greek Religion (1935, revised 1952) - Aristotle De Caelo (trans., intro., and notes 1939)
- The Greek Philosophers (from ThalesThalesThales of Miletus was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher from Miletus in Asia Minor, and one of the Seven Sages of Greece. Many, most notably Aristotle, regard him as the first philosopher in the Greek tradition...
to Aristotle, 1950) - The Greeks and their Gods (1950)
- The Hub and the Spokes (1953)
- ProtagorasProtagorasProtagoras was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher and is numbered as one of the sophists by Plato. In his dialogue Protagoras, Plato credits him with having invented the role of the professional sophist or teacher of virtue...
and MenoMenoMeno is a Socratic dialogue written by Plato. It attempts to determine the definition of virtue, or arete, meaning virtue in general, rather than particular virtues, such as justice or temperance. The first part of the work is written in the Socratic dialectical style and Meno is reduced to...
(1956) dialogues of Plato, translator - In the Beginning: Some Greek Views of the Origins of Life and the Early State of Man (1957)
- On the Heavens, translator (1969)
- The Pre-Socratics: A Collection of Critical Essays (1974)
- A History of Greek Philosophy Volume I: The Earlier Presocratics and the Pythagoreans (1962)
- A History of Greek Philosophy Volume II: The Presocratic Tradition from ParmenidesParmenidesParmenides of Elea was an ancient Greek philosopher born in Elea, a Greek city on the southern coast of Italy. He was the founder of the Eleatic school of philosophy. The single known work of Parmenides is a poem, On Nature, which has survived only in fragmentary form. In this poem, Parmenides...
to DemocritusDemocritusDemocritus was an Ancient Greek philosopher born in Abdera, Thrace, Greece. He was an influential pre-Socratic philosopher and pupil of Leucippus, who formulated an atomic theory for the cosmos....
(1965) - A History of Greek Philosophy Volume III: The Fifth-Century Enlightenment - Part 1: The Sophists; Part 2: SocratesSocratesSocrates 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 ...
(1971) - A History of Greek Philosophy Volume IV: PlatoPlatoPlato , 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...
- the Man and his Dialogues: Earlier Period (1975) - A History of Greek Philosophy Volume V: The Later Plato and the Academy (1978)
- A History of Greek Philosophy Volume VI: Aristotle: An Encounter (1981)