Historical Note
While waiting to go into prison for sponsoring an anti-war pamphlet in 1916, Bertrand Russell gave his 'Lectures on Logical Atomism' at the Dr Williams' Library, 14 Gordon Square, in the hall where the Institute's annual lecture series are now held. He finished them just before he was incarcerated, during which time the Home Secretary, Lord Balfour, gave the extraordinary instruction that the prisoner should be allowed writing materials in this cell, in which he produced his 'Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy'. Russell, together with Balfour, L. T. Hobhouse, Samuel Alexander, Harold Laski, and the Institute's Journal's first editor, Sydney Hooper, founded the Institute - then the British Institute of Philosophical Studies - in 1925, initially meeting in King's Way, WC2, but moving in 1930 to the Dr Williams' Library, with which it has been happily and gratefully associated ever since.
The first President of the Institute was Lord Balfour, succeeded in 1930 by Lord Samuel, in 1959 by Lord Halsbury, in 1991 by Lord Quinton, and in 2006 by Sir Anthony Kenny. Balfour and Samuel both published philosophical work, and were statesmen; Halsbury is a distinguished chemist who has written philosophical papers and has been an active legislator in the Upper House. Quinton is an Oxford philosopher and a working peer, justly as respected in philosophical circles as out of them. Sir Anthony, the current President, has been, among other things, Master of Balliol College. He is author of many philosophical books and articles, and he gave the Institute’s Annual Lecture in 2007.
Sir David Ross was for many years Chairman of Council, and Professor Hywel Lewis for many years after him. He was succeeded by the then Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, The Lord Sutherland of Houndwood. After almost 20 years of service to the Institute, Lord Sutherland was succeeded by Professor Ted Honderich, Emeritus Grote Professor of Mind and Logic at University College London.
Professor H B Acton, Director of the Institute while Professor at Bedford College, London, who is commemorated by occasional special lectures was succeeded by Professor Godfrey Vesey, appropriately to the aims of the Institute the founding Professor of Philosophy of the Open University. On his retirement after 13 years as Director he was appointed Fellow of the Institute in 1979. Professor Anthony O'Hear of the University of Bradford has been Director since the session 1994-95.
The Institute's title of 'Royal' was granted in 1947, it is said in recognition of its having, like the Wigmore Hall and the Windmill Theatre, kept going through the wartime blitz. Until then the Institute's main activity was in providing elementary lecture courses: for example among the eight courses in 1926 was one given by Bertrand Russell based on his introductory book 'Problems of Philosophy'. Since then public provision of such courses, for example by University Extra-Mural Departments and the Open University, has vastly increased, and the Institute has concentrated on its own distinctive contribution.
The 1925 'Memorandum of Association' stated the objects of the Institute to be 'to organise and promote by teaching, discussion and research the advancement of Philosophical Studies' and in particular 'to provide for all classes and denominations, without any distinction whatsoever, opportunities and encouragement'. Throughout its history, the Institute has kept these objects in view. No doubt it will continue to do so.
|
