Woodbridge, F. J. E.

Woodbridge, F. J. E. (Frederick James Eugene) (1867–1940) philosopher, educator; born in Windsor, Ontario. Raised in Michigan, he graduated from Amherst College (1889) and Union Theological Seminary, but decided against the ministry and studied philosophy in Germany (1892–94). After teaching at the University of Minnesota, where he built a respected philosophy department, he became a professor at Columbia University (1902–39) and dean of graduate studies (1912–29), playing a key role in Columbia's development. In 1904 he cofounded the Journal of Philosophy, an organ of anti-idealist philosophy, which he edited thereafter. He was a realist in the tradition of Aristotle; his works include The Purpose of History (1916) and The Realm of Mind (1926).