Sydney Sparkes Orr
Encyclopedia
Sydney Sparkes Orr was Professor of Philosophy
at the University of Tasmania
and the centre of the "Orr case", a celebrated academic scandal of the 1950s. Born in Belfast
in 1914, Orr achieved a first-class-honours BA in Philosophy and received an MA with special commendation at Queen's University
before commencing his teaching career at the University of St Andrews
and Melbourne University. In 1952 he was appointed to the chair of philosophy at the University of Tasmania, after falsifying his academic record in his application. In 1955 the University dismissed him for sexual relations with an undergraduate student. He denied the accusation but his appeals to the Tasmanian Supreme Court and the High Court of Australia
were unsuccessful. Many academics believed Orr had been denied due process and his position was declared "black". Many also thought that Orr had been made a scapegoat due to his openly challenging the University authorities. Orr died in 1966, shortly after reaching a monetary settlement with the University.
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at the University of Tasmania
University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania is a medium-sized public Australian university based in Tasmania, Australia. Officially founded on 1 January 1890, it was the fourth university to be established in nineteenth-century Australia...
and the centre of the "Orr case", a celebrated academic scandal of the 1950s. Born in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
in 1914, Orr achieved a first-class-honours BA in Philosophy and received an MA with special commendation at Queen's University
Queen's University of Belfast
Queen's University Belfast is a public research university in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The university's official title, per its charter, is the Queen's University of Belfast. It is often referred to simply as Queen's, or by the abbreviation QUB...
before commencing his teaching career at the University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
and Melbourne University. In 1952 he was appointed to the chair of philosophy at the University of Tasmania, after falsifying his academic record in his application. In 1955 the University dismissed him for sexual relations with an undergraduate student. He denied the accusation but his appeals to the Tasmanian Supreme Court and the High Court of Australia
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
were unsuccessful. Many academics believed Orr had been denied due process and his position was declared "black". Many also thought that Orr had been made a scapegoat due to his openly challenging the University authorities. Orr died in 1966, shortly after reaching a monetary settlement with the University.
Sources
- W. D. Joske Orr, Sydney Sparkes (1914? - 1966), Australian Dictionary of BiographyAustralian Dictionary of BiographyThe Australian Dictionary of Biography is a national, co-operative enterprise, founded and maintained by the Australian National University to produce authoritative biographical articles on eminent people in Australia's history....
, Volume 15, Melbourne University Press, 2000, pp 543-544. - W. H. C. Eddy (1961) Orr, Jacaranda Publishers, Brisbane
- John Polya and Robert SolomonRobert Solomon (Australian politician)Robert John Solomon AM is a retired Australian politician. Born in Condobolin, New South Wales, he was educated at Barker College, the University of Sydney and Oxford University before receiving a PhD from the University of Tasmania...
(1996) Dreyfus in Australia, Privately Published, Sydney, NSW. ISBN 0 646 30523 9 - Clyde Manwell and C. M. Ann Baker (1986) "Not Merely Malice": The University of Tasmania Versus Professor Orr, in Brian Martin, C. M. Ann Baker, Clyde Manwell and Cedric Pugh (eds.), Intellectual Suppression. Australian Case Histories, Analysis and Responses, Angus and Robertson, North Ryde (NSW) pp.39-49
- Cassandra Pybus (1994) Seduction and Consent: A Case of Gross Moral Turpitude, Mandarin, Port Melbourne
- J. Franklin (2003) Corrupting the Youth: A History of Philosophy in Australia, Macleay PressMacleay PressMacleay Press is a small press Australian publishing company founded in 1993 by Keith Windschuttle.Authors published include Leonie Kramer, Michael Connor and Windschuttle.-Publications:Publications include:...
, ch. 3 - Orr v University of Tasmania (1957) 100 Commonwealth Law Reports 526
Further reading
- Davis R The battle for collegiality in Tasmania: The 1955 Royal Commission and the Orr aftermath (Ch.3 of Biggs D & Davis R (eds) The Subversion of Australian Universities, Wollongong 2002
- K. Malpas, 'Orr case' in A Companion to Philosophy in Australia and New Zealand