Royce, Josiah, << joh SY uh >> (1855-1916), an American philosopher, was the leading representative of a movement that was called idealism. Royce emphasized the religious aspect of philosophy and the need for a philosophical interpretation of religion. In addition, he developed a philosophy of loyalty that included a system of ethics, a theory of self-knowledge, and a theory of human society.
According to Royce, a person gains self-knowledge through interaction with other people, not in isolated contemplation. Royce urged people to be “loyal to loyalty.” He believed that humanity’s deepest problems can be solved by harmonizing conflicting interests through a commitment to a higher loyalty. For example, Royce regarded Christianity as the religion of loyalty that binds its followers together in a “beloved community.”
Royce was born in Grass Valley, Calif. His best-known works include The Spirit of Modern Philosophy (1892), The World and the Individual (two volumes, 1900-1901), The Philosophy of Loyalty (1908), and The Problem of Christianity (1913).
