Woodruff, Paul

Paul Bestor Woodruff was an American philosopher born on August 28, 1943, and who passed away on September 23, 2023. He was a professor of philosophy and served as the dean of undergraduate studies at The University of Texas at Austin. Initially educated in classics at Princeton University and Merton College, Oxford, Woodruff's academic career was significantly shaped by Socratic philosophy. His military service during the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1971, where he attained the rank of captain, deeply influenced his later philosophical inquiries into the moral and psychological effects of conflict. After his military service, he completed his doctorate in philosophy at Princeton University under the guidance of Gregory Vlastos. Woodruff joined the University of Texas at Austin's philosophy department in 1973 and remained there until his retirement in the fall of 2022. He also held the position of chair of the department and directed the Plan II Honors program from 1991 to 2006. In 2006, he was appointed the inaugural dean of undergraduate studies. As he faced his final illness, Woodruff published an essay reflecting on his philosophy of life. He died at the age of 80 from bronchiectasis.