Lives of Philosophers Archives

Lives of Philosophers

Baruch Brody (1943-2018)

Philosopher Baruch Brody, Andrew W. Mellon Professor Emeritus of the Humanities at Rice University, died on May 30th. He was 75.

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On Deciding To Become A Philosopher

If I knew then what I know now, I certainly would’ve “decided” to become a philosopher. But back when I was working my way here, I didn’t really know what a philosopher was, or why one would want to be one. I didn’t have the materials for making the relevant decision—and by the time I did, I was already a philosopher.

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Resisting the “Serve Limitlessly” Narrative

Many institutions control your choices in various ways, and bend your time to their aims, by suggesting that you must serve limitlessly or else you have not adequately demonstrated your devotion to the mission. It is satisfying and empowering to ignore that narrative… (more…)

“The accomplishment I am most proud of is my relationship with the end of my life”

In June, 2016, Adam Hayden, then a philosophy student in his lower 30s, and also a husband and a father of three young boys, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of cancer that attacks the brain or spinal cord. (more…)

The Examined Illness

Darrel Moellendorf, professor of political theory and philosophy at Goethe University Frankfurt, survived. Nearly a year ago, he began chronicling his experience undergoing a stem cell transplant to treat his secondary myelofibrosis, a kind of bone-marrow cancer, that developed from his pre-existing essential thrombocythemia, at On Being (a) Patient. The treatment w..

Has Philosophy Affected Your Parenting? Or Vice Versa?

Philosopher-parents: how, if at all, has philosophy affected how you parent? And how, if at all, has being a parent affected your philosophical views? And is there wisdom about parenting to be found in the history of philosophy? (more…)

Lynne Rudder Baker (1944-2017)

Lynne Rudder Baker, Distinguished Professor Emerita in Philosophy at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, has died. (more…)

Bob Hale (1945 – 2017)

Bob Hale, emeritus professor of philosophy at the University of Sheffield, died last week. He was 72 years old. (more…)

Eileen O’Neill, 1953-2017 (obituary by Christia Mercer)

The following is an obituary for philosopher Eileen O’Neill, who died last week, by Christia Mercer, the Gustave M. Berne Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University and Director of the new Center for New Narratives of Philosophy, which is itself motivated by Eileen O’Neill’s work. (more…)

A Remembrance of Jerry Fodor, 1935-2017 (guest post by Georges Rey)

The following is an obituary for philosopher Jerry Fodor, who died earlier this week, by Georges Rey, professor of philosophy at the University of Maryland. (more…)

Jerry Fodor (1935-2017) (updated)

Jerry Fodor, one of the most influential philosophers of mind of the 20th Century, has died. (more…)

Victoria Davion (1960-2017)

Victoria Davion, professor of philosophy at the University of Georgia, has died. She was 57. (more…)

“People were absolutely vicious toward me”

The latest interview at What Is It Like To Be A Philosopher? is with Rebecca Tuvel, assistant professor of philosophy at Rhodes College. Clifford Sosis (Coastal Carolina) asks Professor Tuvel a range of questions, including several about her article in Hypatia, “In Defense of Transracialism,” and the controversy surrounding it. (more…)

Bentham Being Tested For Autism

Scientists have taken DNA samples of philosopher Jeremy Bentham, who died in 1832, to determine whether he had Asperger Syndrome or some other form of autism, according to The Telegraph. (more…)

Glen Newey (1961-2017)

Glen Newey, professor of political philosophy and ethics at the Institute of Philosophy at the University of Leiden, died on September 30th, 2017. (more…)

Ken Chung (1978 – 2017)

Ken Chung, a philosopher who taught at Western University, Ryerson University, the University of Guelph-Humber, and at Trent University, died this past Wednesday. He was 39 years old. (more…)

Advice to Young Scholars from Anita Allen

Work on problems that really interest you. Cross train. Be competent in multiple disciplines and methods. Don’t be afraid to start draft/writing before you know all that there is to know. Publish well. Use social media cautiously. Don’t think you will be an exception to standard rules because of your race or color. A woman does not get tenure because she been a hard..

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