Andrew David Irvine

Andrew David Irvine is a Canadian university professor who teaches at the University of British Columbia. He holds a PhD from Sydney University and is Head of Economics, Philosophy and Political Science at UBC Okanagan. He is a past vice-chair of the UBC Board of Governors, a past president of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association, and a member of the board of directors of the Society for Academic Freedom and Scholarship. He has held visiting positions at several Canadian and American universities and has been recognized as one of British Columbia's most influential public intellectuals. In 2007 Irvine premiered Socrates on Trial, a play depicting the life and death of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates. The play tells the story of how Socrates was put on trial for corrupting the youth of Athens and for failing to honor the city's gods. According to one reviewer the play is an "outstanding ... mind blowing, portrayal of debauchery and irreverence" that presents Socrates as "a pompous, arrogant and often petulant individual," completely unlike the Socrates we have come to expect from more traditional sources.