Celebration of a Century
Founding of The Royal Institute of Philosophy
November 10, 1924: A small meeting was held at the London School of Economics, led by Sydney E. Hooper, to explore the possibility of establishing a “London school of philosophical studies”. Hooper’s plans are later formalised in a meeting chaired by lawyer Sir Lynden Macassey and public figures and thinkers including Bertrand Russell.
1925 -1926
6 April, 1925: The British Institute of Philosophical Studies (later to become the Royal Institute) is formally established.
Later in 1925, the Institute’s first official meeting is held, where The Earl of Balfour agrees to be the Institute’s first President (until 1930), and sociologist L.T. Hobhouse the first Chair of the Council (until 1929).
1925-26 Early Sessions: The Institute kicks off with a series of lectures and evening discussions, including a lecture course proposed by Bertrand Russell and covering a variety of philosophical topics; 200 students attend.
1926-1958
1926-1956: Sydney E. Hooper becomes the Institute’s Academic Director.
1929-1950: J.H. Muirhead takes over as the Institute’s Chair.
1931: The Journal of Philosophical Studies is renamed Philosophy, and has been in publication since.
1931-1958: Viscount Samuel takes over as the Institute’s new President.
Second World War and Post-War Years
During WWII the Institute is forced to cut the scale of its operations and publications, seeing a sharp decline in income. Nonetheless, members push through and keep the Institute’s important work going.
1946: Despite a fall in membership from 1,500 to 1,100, during the War, the Institute is able to restart a full Lecture Programme; an accompanying membership drive is spearheaded in The Times, resulting in 550 new members.
November 17, 1947: The Institute sends a letter to the Home Secretary, requesting to be granted a Royal title.
Shortly afterwards the Institute receives a letter signalling approval for the title from His Majesty. The Royal Institute of Philosophy marks the occasion by holding a meeting attended by several hundred individuals.
1940-1963: Sir David Ross chairs the Council.
1950s
The Council: TRIP’s Council came to include among others J.L. Austin, Gilbert Ryle, Bertrand Russell, A.J. Ayer and Karl Popper.
1956: Hooper retires as Academic Director, giving a speech recounting his time at TRIP.
1956-1962: Leo C. Robertson replaces Hooper as Academic Director.
1959-1990: The Earl of Halsbury takes over as TRIP’s President.
1960s
1962-1964: H.B. Acton becomes Academic Director.
1963: After serving over 20 years as Council Chair, Sir David Ross steps down and theologian-philosopher Hywel Lewis takes on the role (1965-1988).
1965-1979: Godfrey Vesey becomes the new Academic Director, and launches new initiatives including a book prize, weekend conferences, and a Memorial Lecture for Sydney Hooper.
1968: Vesey begins TRIP’s ongoing practice of organising themed lecture series in London, and publishes these in a collected volume.
1970s-80s
1979-1994: A. Philips Griffiths becomes Academic Director.
Throughout 1980s: TRIP’s Council members begin organising philosophy activities for school and college teachers, expanding philosophy in school significantly; TRIP’s annual funding for conferences is launched.
1989-2005: Lord Sutherland becomes Chair.
1990s
1991: After more than 30 years as President, the Earl of Halsbury steps down and Lord Quinton takes over until 2006.
1994-2019: Anthony O’Hear becomes Academic Director; a new periodical for the general reader – Think – is launched, which is still published today.
1997: Launch of the Royal Institute’s school programme, delivering schools conferences and schools philosophy programmes.
2000s-2010s
2000s-2010s: Director Anthony O‘Hear expands local partnerships from 5 to over 30 across the UK.
2002: Stephen law becomes editor of Think.
2006-2009: Ted Honderich becomes Council Chair; launches TRIP’s Annual London Lecture, bringing philosophers of international standing to London and establishes further courses for school students, and the Jacobsen Studentship for postgraduate studies.
2006-2018: Sir Anthony Kenny becomes TRIP’s President until 2009, followed by Lord Sutherland who takes over the role until 2018.
2010-2021: John Haldane takes over as Chair; expands Annual Lectures to Cardiff, Dublin, and Edinburgh, establishes the Royal Institute’s new Annual Symposium and introduces the Philosophy Essay Prize.
2019-2022: Baroness O’Neill becomes President; Julian Baggini Academic Director.
TRIP Today
August 2019: Maria Alvarez and Bill Brewer become editors of Philosophy
2021: Lucy O’Brien becomes TRIP’s newest Council Chair.
2022: Professor Edward Harcourt takes on Academic Directorship of TRIP. Melanie Nightingale becomes TRIP’s first Executive Director.
2023: Jo Wolff becomes TRIP’s latest President.