ROYCE, JOSIAH (1855–1916), American philosopher, was
born at Grass Valley, Cal., Nov. 20 1855. He graduated from
the university of California in 1875 and the following year went to
the newly established Johns Hopkins University, being one of the
extraordinary first group of fellows elected there. After receiving
his Ph.D. in 1878 he was instructor in English literature and
logic for four years at the university of California. In 1881 he
prepared A Primer of Logical Analysis for students of English
composition. In 1882 he was called to Harvard where he taught
as instructor in philosophy, assistant professor (1885-92), professor of the history of philosophy (1892-1914) and Alford professor of religion, moral philosophy, and civil polity (after 1914). He was the leading American exponent of idealism (see 14.284) and his works were distinguished for their literary qualities. He was made a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters, and received hon. degrees from Harvard, Yale, Johns Hopkins, Aberdeen, St. Andrews and Oxford. After the outbreak of the World War he was a staunch supporter of the Allies, and on Jan. 30 1916, in a notable address delivered in Tremont Temple, Boston, advocated a breach with Germany. He died in Cambridge, Mass., Sept. 14 1916.