John William Burbidge

Professor of Philosophy

(February 29, 1936 – November 2, 2023)

Born in Korea to missionary parents, Professor John Burbidge grew up in Scotland (Ontario) and Hamilton. He studied Philosophy at the University of Toronto and then took an M.A. at Yale. On returning to Canada, he married Barbara Perkins, whom he had met as an undergraduate. He taught for a year at Victoria College, and then pursued theological studies in Canada and Germany. He served as a United Church minister until 1968, when he returned to the University of Toronto to take a Ph.D. under Emil Fackenheim. During these years, he wrote for and edited journals for Ryerson Press.

In 1970 he joined the faculty of Trent University, where he remained until his retirement in 1999. During these years, he spent a term as Master of Champlain College, and did research abroad in France, England, Germany, and Italy. He published a number of well-regarded works on Hegel and served as president of the Hegel Society of America, and honorary president of the Hegel Society of Great Britain. After retiring from teaching, he continued to publish on more general philosophical topics. He was named to the Royal Society of Canada in 1998.

After his retirement, he developed a second career as a bookbinder, which he pursued until moving into a retirement home in 2020.

John had a long-time interest in Romanesque arts and architecture, classical music, theatre, and wood engravings, and more recently a keen interest in current developments in biology and physics.

In comparing the natural world with the functioning of society, he worked towards a framework for understanding the general ambiguities and contradictions in our experience of the world. This was not limited to passive understanding, but extended to a general model for action arising out of understanding. In his own words:

“… a social order that listens carefully, explores why things happen, learns from its failures, and finds ways of incorporating as many people as possible into contributing to the future is itself the kind of future we would like to achieve.”

John is survived by his wife, three children, and one grand-daughter. He will be missed and lovingly remembered by a sister, many nieces, nephews, relatives, colleagues, students, and friends.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, November 14 at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, 99 Brock St, Peterborough at 2 pm, with a reception and time of fellowship to follow. His family would appreciate donations to a charity focussed on the developing world, in lieu of flowers.

Online condolences may be made at www.comstockkaye.com