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

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

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

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

Watch videos of John Lachs, Centennial Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University, leading classes at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. The 19th century was an unusually fertile period of thought. The ideas of evolution, progress, liberty, radical encounter with God, the struggle for existence, human control over human destiny,… Read More

Media regulation in an ultra-wired society, the neurology of sleep, the Vietnam War, and great singers and their songs are among the diverse topics included in the fall term of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Vanderbilt. All older adults with an interest in lifelong learning can sign up… Read More

Vanderbilt Centennial Professor of Philosophy John Lachs has proposed that legislators be tested on their specific knowledge of bills under consideration in Congress. Lachs is dismayed that several national lawmakers have admitted recently to not reading the material on which they are voting. Read More

Watch video of an April 14 class on "Fundamentals of Morality" taught by John Lachs, Centennial Professor of Philosophy, Vanderbilt University. Read More