Howard D. Roelofs | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 April 1893 |
| Died | 12 August 1974 |
| Occupation | Philosopher |
Howard Dykema Roelofs (7 April 1893 – 12 August 1974) was an American philosopher.
Roelofs was born inGrand Rapids, Michigan.[1] He was educated atAmherst College from 1911 to 1913 and at theUniversity of Michigan where he obtained his BA in 1915 and MA in 1916. He earned his PhD in philosophy fromHarvard University in 1925; his dissertation was on "The Nature and Function of Authority".[1]
From 1927 to 1931 he was associate professor of philosophy atStanford University.[1] In 1932, he was appointed Obed J. Wilson Professor of Ethics and Head of the Department of Philosophy at theUniversity of Cincinnati.[1][2] He held these positions until his retirement in 1960.[1]
He was Dean of theMcMicken College of Liberal Arts from 1933 to 1936.[1][3] In 1949, he received an honoraryLHD degree from Ripon College. Roelefs was an Aristotelian realist which he combined withCartesian dualism. He was an opponent of materialism and pragmatism.[1] He is best known for his papersTheology in Theory and Practice (1951) andA Case for Dualism and Interaction (1955). He argued that an explanation of the unity of mind and body was still required but dualistic interaction was the best option to account for the evidence of experience.[1]
Roelofs married Miriam Hubbard in 1917.[1] They had four daughters and two sons.[4] His son Howard Mark Roelofs was professor emeritus of New York University.[5]
Roelofs was a Christian was a member of theGuild of Scholars of the Episcopal Church. He died at his home Arden Farm, inEast Aurora, New York.[1]
