Ioannis Theodorakopoulos (; 28 February 1900, Vassaras, Lakonia – 20 February 1981,

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) was a

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philosopher Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...

Biography

In 1920, Theodorakopoulos moved to the

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to study classical philology and philosophy. Subsequently, he continued his study of philosophy at the

University of Heidelberg Heidelberg University, officially the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg (; ), is a public university, public research university in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Founded in 1386 on instruction of Pope Urban VI, Heidelberg is List ...

, where he received his doctorate in 1925. In 1929, together with professors

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and Panagiotis Kanellopoulos, Theodorakopoulos established the Archive of Philosophy and Theory of Science and was appointed as professor at the newly established

University of Thessaloniki The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki ( AUTh; ), often called the University of Thessaloniki, is the second oldest Tertiary education, tertiary education institution in Greece. Named after the philosopher Aristotle, who was born in Stagira (anc ...

(1933–1939), and at the

University of Athens The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA; , ''Ethnikó kai Kapodistriakó Panepistímio Athinón''), usually referred to simply as the University of Athens (UoA), is a public university in Athens, Greece, with various campuses alo ...

(1939–1968). Since 1950, and throughout these appointments, Theodorakopoulos also taught at the School of Political Science of Panteion University. He served twice as Minister of National Education and Religious Affairs under the brief premiership of Kanellopoulos in 1945 and the interim cabinet of Ioannis Paraskevopoulos in 1966. In 1960, he became a regular member of the Academy of Athens, serving as its President in 1963 and Secretary General 1966–1981. In 1975, he established the Liberal School of Philosophy "Plethon" in his hometown of Magoula-Sparta in Lakonia, organising international conferences and symposia. These highly successful events drew participants from all over Greece, and Theodorakopoulos himself taught a series of seminars up to his death. Theodorakopoulos was published widely, including 53 books and copious articles.

References

* Linos Benakis. ''Μνήμη Ι. Ν. Θεοδωρακόπουλου, Π. Κ. Κανελλόπουλου, Κ. Δ. Τσάτσου, Ε. Π. Παπανούτσου, Β. Ν. Τατάκη. Κείμενα για τους πέντε φιλοσόφους Βιογραφικά Σημειώματα και Εξαντλητική Εργογραφία τους.'' Parousia. 2006.

External links

Pletho-Sparta.gr

Academy of Athens
1900 births 1981 deaths People from Sparta, Peloponnese Ministers of national education and religious affairs of Greece 20th-century Greek philosophers Academic staff of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Academic staff of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Members of the Academy of Athens (modern) {{greece-philosopher-stub