W. F. R. Hardie
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Through Classics and Philosophy
Early life and education
Hardie was born on 25 April 1902 in Edinburgh, Scotland to William Hardie, classical scholar. His brother, Colin, also went on to become a successful classicist. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy, then an all-boys private school. He studied literae humaniores ("Classics") at Balliol College, Oxford, graduating with a double first Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1924: he was awarded a number of undergraduate prizes in classics and philosophy.
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Academic career
Hardie spent 1925 as a fellow by examination at Magdalen College, Oxford. In 1926, he was appointed to a tutorial fellowship at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He was the college tutor in philosophy and notable tutees included Isaiah Berlin, Paul Grice, and J. O. Urmson, who reported that Hardie "when a tutor, turned out many more first-rate philosophers than most."
Hardie became President of Corpus Christi College in 1950, (being replaced as philosophy tutor by David Pears) and during his tenure saw the college fellowship double and the student numbers increase. He retired in 1969 and was appointed an honorary fellow by his college.
Hardie has also been credited with naming the academic discipline of psephology, the study of voting behaviours and the statistical analysis of elections, but this has been disputed.
Personal life
Im 1938, Hardie married Isobel St Maur Macaulay. Together they had two sons.
Hardie died on 30 September 1990 in Oxford, England.