Ken Taylor (1954-2019) (w/ updates)
Kenneth Taylor, the Henry Waldgrave Stuart Professor of Philosophy at Stanford University, has died.
Ken Taylor
Professor Taylor was known for his work in philosophy of language and philosophy of mind, as well as serving as one of the co-hosts of the long-running radio show and podcast, Philosophy Talk.
Professor Taylor taught at Stanford since 1995. Prior to that, he worked at Rutgers University, the University of Maryland, Wesleyan University, the University of North Carolina, and Middlebury College. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago, and his bachelor’s at the University of Notre Dame.
Professor Taylor’s death, announced earlier today, was unexpected. Just yesterday he shared with friends on social media that he had nearly completed his next book, Referring to the World.
You can read a detailed interview with Professor Taylor here.
UPDATE (12/3/19): Krista Lawlor, chair of the Department of Philosophy at Stanford, shares the following:
What a shock, and such a loss to the profession. I served on the board of the APA with Ken and so admired the contributions he made, for many years, to our work. He was outspoken but thoughtful, a proponent of diversity in the profession, but never (as is too often the case) in a knee-jerk way. He will be missed.
Ken was one of my favourite people to work with at the APA. He was frank, smart, and charming. And he cared. This is devastating news.
Yes. He was off the board this year, but he helped in my first year (last year) just by his own talking to help me get a sense of what mattered. I didn’t know him at all well, but I was pretty shocked to hear of his death, given his vigor and enthusiasm, amidst all the worries we have in common.
I just learned of Kenneth’s death as I was perusing the APA Pacific Program. We first met at Philosophy and Psychology Meetings when we were young assistant professors. I have watched his rise in the profession and admired and liked him so very much. He was wonderful to work with at the APA National Board, and I always looked forward to seeing him. Its heartbreaking to lose him.