"Paul Woodruff" (born 1943) is a classicist, professor of philosophy, and dean at The University of Texas at Austin, where he once chaired the department of philosophy and has more recently held the Hayden Head Regents Chair as director of Plan II Honors program, which he resigned in 2006 after 15 years of service. On September 21, 2006, University President William C. Powers, Jr. named Dr. Woodruff the inaugural dean of undergraduate studies. He is best known for his work on Socrates, Plato, and philosophy of theater. A beloved professor, he often teaches courses outside his Ancient Greek Philosophy specialty, including literature courses and specialty seminars, often for the Plan II program.

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I've taught here 33 years, and during those years, the deans of the larger colleges have become increasingly powerful, especially in their control over undergraduate advising and education. For the central administration to take a role in undergraduate education would be a revolutionary change.

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'First Democracy,' ... is about the ideas that guided the Athenians in their efforts to build toward a perfect democracy. Without a firm grasp of these ideas, we will not understand democracy. And unless we understand democracy, we will be led astray by its doubles.

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Democracy may seem an attractive idea. But it is impossible to maintain in real life. An experiment in democracy would take us on the road to disaster. Look at what happened to the Athenians.

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Reasoning without knowledge depends on working out what is most reasonable to believe. What is most reasonable to believe is the view which best survives adversary debate.

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