philosophy
John Lachs, longtime Vanderbilt philosophy professor, to retire in August
Apr. 2, 2021—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.
Talisse’s gallery talk at Frist Art Museum moves online May 8
May. 1, 2020—Robert B Talisse will deliver an online gallery talk, “Overcoming Partisan Politics,” hosted by the Frist Art Museum on Friday, May 8. The session over Zoom, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 3 p.m.
Philosophy professor to discuss research on political polarization Nov. 21
Nov. 18, 2019—Robert Talisse, W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy, will discuss and sign copies of his new book, Overdoing Democracy: Why We Must Put Politics in its Place, at Barnes & Noble at Vanderbilt on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m.
New faculty Diana Heney: ‘Ethics Backwards and Forwards’
Sep. 29, 2019—Assistant Professor of Philosophy Diana B. Heney studies the history of philosophy and how people have grappled for thousands of years with questions like, “What is it to be human?” and “What is it to be a good human?”
Vanderbilt senior named to 2020 class of Yenching Scholars
Apr. 18, 2019—Steven Yue Heng Yang, a philosophy and economics double major who is on track to graduate from Vanderbilt this May after completing all of his course requirements in just three years, has been named to the 2019-20 class of Yenching Scholars. This highly competitive award provides a fully funded master’s degree in one of six core areas of study at the Yenching Academy at Peking University.
Berry Lecture in Public Philosophy to explore chronic loneliness April 12
Apr. 9, 2019—People who feel chronically lonely are often struck by the fact that no one seems to need them. In the next Berry Lecture in Public Philosophy, the University of Warwick's Kimberley Brownlee will explore the tragedy of chronic loneliness, the moral urgency of our need for social connection, and the social human rights that this need grounds.
New faculty: Paul C. Taylor
Nov. 12, 2018—Paul C. Taylor is W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy.
Vanderbilt faculty, alumni to present at Southern Festival of Books
Oct. 11, 2018—Vanderbilt faculty and alumni are featured at the free Southern Festival of Books, happening this weekend at War Memorial Plaza and the downtown Nashville Public Library.
TEDxNashville 2018 to include Herculano-Houzel, Ikard and Talisse
Mar. 9, 2018—College of Arts and Science professors Suzana Herculano-Houzel, David Ikard and Robert Talisse are among the speakers at the TEDxNashville event March 16–17 at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.
Vanderbilt Libraries acquire three of Spinoza’s book treasures
Mar. 2, 2018—Vanderbilt has acquired three rare 17th-century volumes by famed philosopher Baruch Spinoza, thanks to the Provost's Library Collective Initiative. They will be on public display March 12.
Nov. 11 John Cleese event at Vanderbilt cancelled
Nov. 3, 2017—British writer, actor, comedian, and self-described "tall person" John Cleese will speak on "Thinking Creatively" at Vanderbilt's Sarratt Cinema Nov. 11.
Kudos: Read about faculty, staff and alumni awards, appointments and achievements
Oct. 5, 2017—Read about the latest faculty, staff and alumni awards, appointments and achievements.