Richard Sorabji
Encyclopedia
Richard Rustom Kharsedji Sorabji CBE
, FBA
(born 8 November 1934) is a British historian of ancient Western philosophy
and Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at King's College London
. He has written his own 'Intellectual Autobiography' in his Festschrift: R. Salles ed., Metaphysics, Soul and Ethics in Ancient Thought (Oxford, 2005), 1-36. See also the entry on him in the Dictionary of Twentieth-Century British Philosophers (2005), vol. 2, 980-3.
Sorabji was born in Oxford
and was educated at the Dragon School
and Charterhouse School
. After two years National Service
, he attended Pembroke College, Oxford
(1955-9) on the Boulter and Radcliffe Scholarship. He took a degree (see Oxford University Calendar, 1958 p. 312 and 1960, p. 323) in 'Greek and Latin Literature' in 1957 and in 'Literae Humaniores' in 1959. Sorabji subsequently spent some time teaching at his old prep school
before completing a B.Phil. at Oxford under Gwil Owen
and John Ackrill
Sorabji's first academic post was at Cornell University
in 1962, where he became associate professor in 1968, while working also as an editor of the Philosophical Review. In 1970, he returned to England and joined the faculty of King's College London
, where he was appointed Professor of Ancient Philosophy in 1981. His main interest has been Aristotle
on whom he published his first books - Aristotle on Memory in 1972 (an annotated translation with introductory essays) and (as co-editor) four volumes of Articles on Aristotle from 1975 to 1979. He went on to write three books on the ancient philosophy of physics: Necessity, Cause and Blame (1980), Time, Creation, and the Continuum (1983), and Matter, Space, and Motion (1988).
Sorabji was President of the Aristotelian Society
from 1985 to 1986 and founded the international Ancient Commentators on Aristotle project
in 1987. The aim of this organization has been to publish the first translations into English of mostly Greek philosophical texts from the period 200–600 A.D, mainly commentaries on Aristotelian works. Ninety-one volumes will have been published through 2011. Sorabji has himself contributed introductions to some of the volumes, as well as a general introduction to the commentators reprinted in many of the volumes. He lists the translations on his official website.
Sorabji became a fellow of the British Academy
in 1989. He founded the King’s College Centre for Philosophical Studies between 1989 and 1991, with the aim of promoting philosophy to the wider public. He was Director of the Institute of Classical Studies
from 1991 to 1996 and British Academy Research Professor at Oxford from 1996 to 1999. He gave Gifford Lectures
in 1996 and 1997, which were later published in 2000 as Emotion and Peace of Mind: From Stoic Agitation to Christian Temptation. He was made a foreign honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
in 1997 and was awarded CBE
for his contributions to ancient philosophy in 1999. Sorabji retired from King’s College in 2000 and subsequently held teaching positions as Professor of Rhetoric
at Gresham College, London from 2000 to 2003, adjunct professor at the University of Texas at Austin
from 2000, distinguished visiting scholar at New York University
from 2000 to 2003, and visiting professor at City University of New York
from 2004. In 2008, he became Cyprus Global Distinguished Professor at New York University. Sorabji is an Honorary Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford
, a fellow of King’s College and a Research Fellow of the Institute of Classical Studies.
Plus 73 articles and two poems.
Forthcoming:
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
, FBA
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
(born 8 November 1934) is a British historian of ancient Western philosophy
Western philosophy
Western philosophy is the philosophical thought and work of the Western or Occidental world, as distinct from Eastern or Oriental philosophies and the varieties of indigenous philosophies....
and Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
. He has written his own 'Intellectual Autobiography' in his Festschrift: R. Salles ed., Metaphysics, Soul and Ethics in Ancient Thought (Oxford, 2005), 1-36. See also the entry on him in the Dictionary of Twentieth-Century British Philosophers (2005), vol. 2, 980-3.
Sorabji was born in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
and was educated at the Dragon School
Dragon School
The Dragon School is a British coeducational, preparatory school in the city of Oxford, founded in 1877 as the Oxford Preparatory School, or OPS. It is primarily known as a boarding school, although it also takes day pupils...
and Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School, originally The Hospital of King James and Thomas Sutton in Charterhouse, or more simply Charterhouse or House, is an English collegiate independent boarding school situated at Godalming in Surrey.Founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian...
. After two years National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
, he attended Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
(1955-9) on the Boulter and Radcliffe Scholarship. He took a degree (see Oxford University Calendar, 1958 p. 312 and 1960, p. 323) in 'Greek and Latin Literature' in 1957 and in 'Literae Humaniores' in 1959. Sorabji subsequently spent some time teaching at his old prep school
Preparatory school (UK)
In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
before completing a B.Phil. at Oxford under Gwil Owen
Gwilym Ellis Lane Owen
Gwilym Ellis Lane Owen was a Welsh philosopher, concerned with the history of Ancient Greek philosophy. From 1973 until his death he was the fourth Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy at the University of Cambridge...
and John Ackrill
J. L. Ackrill
John Lloyd Ackrill FBA was a philosopher and classicist who specialized in Ancient Greek philosophy, especially the philosophy of Plato and Aristotle. Ackrill has been said to be, along with Gregory Vlastos and G. E. L...
Sorabji's first academic post was at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1962, where he became associate professor in 1968, while working also as an editor of the Philosophical Review. In 1970, he returned to England and joined the faculty of King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
, where he was appointed Professor of Ancient Philosophy in 1981. His main interest has been 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...
on whom he published his first books - Aristotle on Memory in 1972 (an annotated translation with introductory essays) and (as co-editor) four volumes of Articles on Aristotle from 1975 to 1979. He went on to write three books on the ancient philosophy of physics: Necessity, Cause and Blame (1980), Time, Creation, and the Continuum (1983), and Matter, Space, and Motion (1988).
Sorabji was President of the Aristotelian Society
Aristotelian Society
The Aristotelian Society for the Systematic Study of Philosophy was founded at a meeting on 19 April 1880, at 17 Bloomsbury Square which resolved "to constitute a society of about twenty and to include ladies; the society to meet fortnightly, on Mondays at 8 o'clock, at the rooms of the Spelling...
from 1985 to 1986 and founded the international Ancient Commentators on Aristotle project
Ancient commentators project
The Ancient commentators project based out of King's College London and under the direction of Richard Sorabji has undertaken to translate into English the ancient commentaries on Aristotle. Over 80 volumes have been released since the beginning of the project in 1987...
in 1987. The aim of this organization has been to publish the first translations into English of mostly Greek philosophical texts from the period 200–600 A.D, mainly commentaries on Aristotelian works. Ninety-one volumes will have been published through 2011. Sorabji has himself contributed introductions to some of the volumes, as well as a general introduction to the commentators reprinted in many of the volumes. He lists the translations on his official website.
Sorabji became a fellow of the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
in 1989. He founded the King’s College Centre for Philosophical Studies between 1989 and 1991, with the aim of promoting philosophy to the wider public. He was Director of the Institute of Classical Studies
Institute of Classical Studies
The Institute of Classical Studies is a research institution associated with the University of London. A member of the School of Advanced Study. The Institute is a national and international research Institute in the languages, literature, history, art, archaeology and philosophy of the ancient...
from 1991 to 1996 and British Academy Research Professor at Oxford from 1996 to 1999. He gave Gifford Lectures
Gifford Lectures
The Gifford Lectures were established by the will of Adam Lord Gifford . They were established to "promote and diffuse the study of Natural Theology in the widest sense of the term — in other words, the knowledge of God." The term natural theology as used by Gifford means theology supported...
in 1996 and 1997, which were later published in 2000 as Emotion and Peace of Mind: From Stoic Agitation to Christian Temptation. He was made a foreign honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
in 1997 and was awarded CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for his contributions to ancient philosophy in 1999. Sorabji retired from King’s College in 2000 and subsequently held teaching positions as Professor of Rhetoric
Gresham Professor of Rhetoric
The Professor of Rhetoric at Gresham College, London, gives free educational lectures to the general public. The college was founded for this purpose in 1596 / 7, when it appointed seven professors; this has since increased to eight and in addition the college now has visiting professors.The...
at Gresham College, London from 2000 to 2003, adjunct professor at the University of Texas at Austin
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...
from 2000, distinguished visiting scholar at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
from 2000 to 2003, and visiting professor at City University of New York
City University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
from 2004. In 2008, he became Cyprus Global Distinguished Professor at New York University. Sorabji is an Honorary Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford
Wolfson College, Oxford
Wolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Located in north Oxford along the River Cherwell, Wolfson is an all-graduate college with over sixty governing body fellows, in addition to both research and junior research fellows. It caters to a wide range of...
, a fellow of King’s College and a Research Fellow of the Institute of Classical Studies.
Publications
- AristotleAristotleAristotle 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...
on Memory (1972) - Articles on Aristotle, with J. Barnes and M. Schofield, Vol. 1: Science, Vol. 2: Ethics and Politics, Vol. 3: Metaphysics, Vol. 4: Psychology and Aesthetics (1975-1979)
- Necessity, Cause and Blame (1980)
- Time, Creation and the Continuum (1983)
- Ed. Philoponus and the Rejection of Aristotelian Science (1987; enlarged ed. 2, 2008)
- Matter, Space and Motion (1988)
- Ed. Aristotle Transformed (1990)
- Animal Minds and Human Morals (1993)
- Ed. Aristotle and After (1997)
- Emotion and Peace of Mind: From Stoic Agitation to Christian Temptation (2000)
- Ed. with the late R.W. Sharples, The Philosophy of Commentators, 200–400 A.D. (2003–2005)
- The Self: Insights from Different Times and Places (2005).
- Ed. with D. Rodin, The Ethics of War (2006)
- Opening Doors: The Untold Story of Cornelia Sorabji (2010)
Plus 73 articles and two poems.
Forthcoming:
- The Stoics and Gandhi
- Moral Conscience