John Lachs

John Lachs, professor emeritus of philosophy and Centennial Professor Emeritus, died November 14, 2023, in Nashville. He was 89. Read More

Alumni wrote in to tell us about their favorite professors. Read More

For more than 50 years, Professor John Lachs’ thought-provoking philosophy lectures were perennial favorites among not only students, but alumni as well. Read More

Centennial Professor of Philosophy John Lachs will retire and receive emeritus status on Aug. 15, after more than 50 years of teaching at Vanderbilt University. Lachs’ thought-provoking lectures have been perennial favorites among not only students, but also many alumni, who eagerly have signed up for his numerous appearances at Reunion and Vanderbilt chapter events. Read More

British writer, actor, comedian, and self-described "tall person" John Cleese will speak on "Thinking Creatively" at Vanderbilt's Sarratt Cinema Nov. 11. Read More

When Michael Caruso walked across the Commencement stage and received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt in 1972, pursuing a Ph.D. seemed unlikely. Despite falling in love with philosophy after taking an introductory course with Centennial Professor of Philosophy John Lachs his sophomore year and declaring it… Read More

Caruso graduated with his Ph.D. in philosophy in 2016, and today he uses what he learned to teach ethics to medical school students. Read More

This year's Berry Lecture is April 20 and features Vanderbilt philosopher John Lachs. Read More

What is driving Nashville’s growth? How does Coach Tim Corbin prepare his players for success in life off the field? Why do we meddle in the lives of others? What was it like to be the first African-American athlete in the SEC? These engaging topics,… Read More

Vanderbilt philosopher John Lachs will speak and sign copies of his latest book Oct. 22 at Parnassus Books in Nashville. Read More

Philosophy professor John Lachs blames the explosion of social media, talking heads on the airwaves, and "helicopter" parents for a busybody culture in which too many individuals meddle in other people's lives. Read More

John J. Compton, who taught philosophy at Vanderbilt University for more than four decades, died Jan. 18. He was 85. Read More

This year, more than 3,000 alumni and guests gathered on campus Oct. 3­–5 for Reunion 2013. Read More

The fall 2013 edition of Saturday University at Vanderbilt will feature members of the philosophy department lecturing on “Life’s Big Questions and Philosophy’s Answers to Them” on four October Saturday mornings. Read More

Important Supreme Court decisions, the Nashville Ballet, and a “behind-the-scenes” look at special law enforcement agents are among the varied topics offered by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Vanderbilt this spring. Read More

Read about faculty, staff and student awards, appointments and achievements. Read More

Watch video of Vanderbilt University Centennial Professor of Philosophy John Lachs on Feb. 23 kick-off a new series of talks that aims to make philosophy accessible and relevant for the public. Lachs discussed “Why Is Good Enough Not Good Enough for Us?”, which addressed the human drive for perfection. “It is… Read More

Vanderbilt University Centennial Professor of Philosophy John Lachs is the lead-off speaker Feb. 23 for a new series of talks that aims to make philosophy accessible and relevant for the public. Read More

Vanderbilt University Centennial Professor of Philosophy John Lachs will discuss “The Cost of Comfort” Feb. 1 when Thinking Out of the (Lunch) Box starts its new series at the Nashville Public Library. Read More

John Lachs, Centennial Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt (Steve Green/Vanderbilt) Vanderbilt University Department of Philosophy and the Nashville Public Library present Thinking Out of the (Lunch) Box: Conversations with a philosophical flavor with David Wood, the W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt. The… Read More