A. H. Armstrong
Encyclopedia
Arthur Hilary Armstrong FBA (13 August 1909 – 16 October 1997) was an English
educator and author. Armstrong is recognized as one of the foremost authorities on the philosophical teachings of Plotinus
ca. 205–270 CE. His multi-volume translation of the philosopher's teachings is regarded as an essential tool of classical studies.
from Jesus College, Cambridge
in 1932 and his M.A.
in 1935. His hobbies and other interests included travel and gardening. He was made a fellow
of the British Academy
in 1970 and a fellow in the American Catholic Philosophical Association
.
. This lasted until 1939 when he moved to the Royal University of Malta in Valletta
as a professor of classics. In 1943, he became a classical sixth form
master at Beaumont College
, Old Windsor
, Berkshire
, England
. Three years later in 1946, he went to Cardiff University
as a lecturer in Latin
. From 1950-1972 he served as the Gladstone Professor of Greek
at University of Liverpool
in Liverpool, England, being appointed professor emeritus on retirement 1972.
From 1970 to 1971, Armstrong was named a Killam Senior Fellow
at Dalhousie University
in Halifax
, Nova Scotia
, Canada
. He also achieved a visiting professorship of classics and philosophy there beginning in 1972. He was also named a visiting professor at Manhattanville College
in 1966. He was a founding Editor of Dionysius
, together with J.A. Doull
and R.D. Crouse.
In 1973, he won the Aquinas Medal from the American Catholic Philosophical Association
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
educator and author. Armstrong is recognized as one of the foremost authorities on the philosophical teachings of Plotinus
Plotinus
Plotinus was a major philosopher of the ancient world. In his system of theory there are the three principles: the One, the Intellect, and the Soul. His teacher was Ammonius Saccas and he is of the Platonic tradition...
ca. 205–270 CE. His multi-volume translation of the philosopher's teachings is regarded as an essential tool of classical studies.
Life
Hilary Armstrong was born in Hove, England. He was the son of W. A. (clergy) and E. Cripps Armstrong. He married Deborah Wilson in 1933. He has two sons and three daughters. He received a B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
in 1932 and his M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1935. His hobbies and other interests included travel and gardening. He was made a fellow
Fellow
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...
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 1970 and a fellow in the American Catholic Philosophical Association
American Catholic Philosophical Association
The American Catholic Philosophical Association is an organization of Catholic philosophers established in 1926 to promote the advancement of philosophy as an intellectual discipline consonant with Catholic tradition...
.
Academia
Armstrong began his teaching career in 1936 at University College, Swansea, WalesWales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. This lasted until 1939 when he moved to the Royal University of Malta in Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
as a professor of classics. In 1943, he became a classical sixth form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
master at Beaumont College
Beaumont College
Beaumont College was a Jesuit public school in Old Windsor, Berkshire, England. In 1967 the school closed. The property became a conference centre, and from 2008 an hotel.-History of the estate:...
, Old Windsor
Old Windsor
Old Windsor is a large village and civil parish in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in the English county of Berkshire.-Location:...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Three years later in 1946, he went to Cardiff University
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
as a lecturer in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
. From 1950-1972 he served as the Gladstone Professor of Greek
Gladstone Professor of Greek
The Gladstone Chair of Greek was one of the original endowments of the foundation of the University of Liverpool in 1881. The Chair was named in recognition of the scholarship of W E Gladstone, the British prime minister, and the close association of the Gladstone family with Liverpool.With the...
at University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
in Liverpool, England, being appointed professor emeritus on retirement 1972.
From 1970 to 1971, Armstrong was named a Killam Senior Fellow
The Killam Trusts
The Killam Trusts were established in 1965 after the death of Mrs. Dorothy J. Killam, the wife of Izaak Walton Killam. Mr. Killam was a Canadian business figure. He died in 1955, but before his death he and his wife discussed in extensive detail a scholarship plan, on which the Killam Trusts were...
at Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
in Halifax
Halifax, Nova Scotia (former city)
Halifax, Nova Scotia may refer to any of the following:-Municipalities:* Halifax Regional Municipality , a regional municipality and capital of Nova Scotia...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He also achieved a visiting professorship of classics and philosophy there beginning in 1972. He was also named a visiting professor at Manhattanville College
Manhattanville College
Manhattanville College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, located in Purchase, New York. Founded in 1841 it was known initially as Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart...
in 1966. He was a founding Editor of Dionysius
Dionysius (journal)
Dionysius is a scholarly journal published by the Department of Classics at Dalhousie University. It was established originally in 1977, and a new series began in 1998. It publishes articles on the history of ancient philosophy and theology, and has a special interest in the Aristotelian and...
, together with J.A. Doull
James Doull
James Alexander Doull was a Canadian philosopher and academic who was born and lived most of his life in Nova Scotia. His father was the politician, jurist, and historian John Doull. From the late 1940s until the mid 1980s he taught in the Department of Classics at Dalhousie University in Halifax...
and R.D. Crouse.
In 1973, he won the Aquinas Medal from the American Catholic Philosophical Association
American Catholic Philosophical Association
The American Catholic Philosophical Association is an organization of Catholic philosophers established in 1926 to promote the advancement of philosophy as an intellectual discipline consonant with Catholic tradition...
.
Works
- The Architecture of the Intelligible Universe in the Philosophy of Plotinus: An Analytical and Historical Study, Cambridge University Press, 1940.
- Plotinus, (as Translator) Allen & Unwin, 1953, Collier, 1962.
- An Introduction to Ancient Philosophy, Methuen, 1947, 4th edition, Methuen, 1966.
- Christian Faith and Greek Philosophy, (with R. A. Markus) Darton, Longman & Todd, 1960, Sheed, 1964.
- Re-discovering Eastern Christendom: Essays in Commemoration of Dom Bede Winslow, (Editor with E.J.B. Fry), Darton, Longman & Todd, 1963.
- Plotinus, seven volumes, (as Translator), Harvard University Press, 1966-1988.
- St. Augustine and Christian Platonism, Villanova University Press, 1967.
- The Cambridge History of Later Greek and Early Medieval Philosophy, (as Editor), Cambridge University Press, 1967.
- The Church of England, the Methodists and Society: 1700 to 1850, Rowman & Littlefield, 1973.
Journals
- Classical Quarterly
- MindMind (journal)Mind is a British journal, currently published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Mind Association, which deals with philosophy in the analytic tradition...
- Journal of Hellenic StudiesJournal of Hellenic StudiesThe Journal of Hellenic Studies is a peer-reviewed academic journal which contains articles that pertain to Hellenic studies, i.e. the language, literature, history, and archaeology of the ancient Greek world, and reviews of recent books of importance to Hellenic studies. It is published annually...
- Journal of Theological Studies
- Downside Review
- DionysiusDionysius (journal)Dionysius is a scholarly journal published by the Department of Classics at Dalhousie University. It was established originally in 1977, and a new series began in 1998. It publishes articles on the history of ancient philosophy and theology, and has a special interest in the Aristotelian and...