URRÁBURU, JUAN JOSÉ. - Jesuit, scholastic philosopher, b. at Ceánuri (Biscay), 20 May 1844, d. at Burgos, 10 Aug. 1904.
Having entered the Order in 1860 and completed his studies, he taught philosophy and theology for some years at Poyannes (France) to his confreres who had taken refuge there, because they had been exiled from Spain; then in 1876 he was called to the Gregorian University for the chair of philosophy, which he held for nine years (1876-87). Having returned to Spain, he was successively rector of the College of Valladolid (1887-90), of the Scholasticate of Oña (1891-96), and of the Central Seminary of Salamanca (1896-1902).
His teaching is gathered in his complete course of philosophy: Institutiones philosophicae (8 vols., Madrid 1890-1900), which he then summarized in the Compendium philosophiae scholasticae (5 vols., ibid. 1902-1904). Although somewhat prolix, the Institutiones were well received and are still read for their clarity, rigorous method, penetrating analysis, extensive and reliable information concerning both scholastic philosophers and others, even adversaries, and for the exactness, joined to a chivalrous courtesy, with which he reports and discusses contrary opinions. It cannot be said that U. is an original author, but he follows the traditional line, with a closer adherence to Suárez. Two series of articles deserve to be remembered: El verdadero puesto della filosofía entre las demás ciencias (in Razón y Fe, 1 [1901], pp. 57-69, 137-52) and El principio vital y el materialismo ante la ciencia y la filosofía (ibid., 8 [1904], pp. 313-26; 9 [1904], pp. 180-91, 325-41; 10 [1904], pp. 319-31; 11 [1905], pp. 54-66), which attracted the attention of many foreign journals.