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John Lachs | |
|---|---|
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| Born | (1934-07-17)July 17, 1934 |
| Died | November 14, 2023(2023-11-14) (aged 89) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Era | Contemporary philosophy |
| Region | Western philosophy |
| School | Continental Philosophy |
Main interests | |
John Lachs (July 17, 1934 – November 14, 2023) was a Hungarian-born American philosopher. He was Centennial Professor of Philosophy atVanderbilt University, where he began teaching in 1967. Lachs received hisPh.D. fromYale University in 1961. His primary focus was on Americanphilosophy (most prominentlyGeorge Santayana) and GermanIdealism.
John Lachs was born in Budapest, Hungary, on July 17, 1934.[1] He emigrated to Canada as a child, and he received his B.A. and M.A. fromMcGill University in 1956 and 1957. AtYale University, he wrote a dissertation on the philosophy ofGeorge Santayana, graduating in 1961. He began his career at the College of William and Mary where in 1962 he was given the PBK award for distinguished teaching and scholarship. He was a member of theVanderbilt University faculty from 1967 until his death and wrote a number of books and many articles over this period and before. In 1997 he served as president of theMetaphysical Society of America. He was recognized as an outstanding teacher among Vanderbilt faculty, receiving the Graduate Teaching Award in 2000, the Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Freshmen Award in 1999, and the Madison Sarratt Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in 1972.
Lachs tried to make his writing style highly accessible, for he was committed to making philosophical questions and their discussion come within the grasp of all his audiences.[citation needed] Apragmatist in the tradition ofWilliam James andJosiah Royce, he was a longstanding member of theWilliam James Society and became its president in 2007.[2]
A self-identifiedlibertarian, Lachs was the Vanderbilt faculty adviser ofYoung Americans for Liberty. Among the prominent alumni whose Ph.D. dissertations he advised are many of the leading figures inbioethics, pragmatism, and a number of public intellectuals, includingGlenn McGee,[3] Paul Menzel,[4] andHerman Saatkamp. On April 3, 2013, he became one of three professors in Vanderbilt's history to receive the prestigious Alumni Education Award twice.
For many years Lachs was also a member of the editorial advisory board forPublic Philosophy Journal.[5]
Lachs died inNashville, Tennessee, on November 14, 2023, at the age of 89.[1]
His philosophical interests centred around human nature. This took him into metaphysics, philosophy of mind, political philosophy, and ethics. He had continuing research interests in American philosophy and German Idealism, along with research and teaching interests in medical and business ethics.
Lachs was the general editor of theEncyclopedia of American Philosophy. An issue ofThe Journal of Speculative Philosophy was devoted to his essay "Both Better Off and Better: Moral Progress Amid Continuing Carnage," with responses from a half dozen philosophers.
Lachs was also chair of theAmerican Philosophical Association's Centennial Committee, charged with celebrating the private value and social usefulness of philosophy. Plans were being made for activities throughout the country, ranging from radio programs to book signings and coffee house conversations, designed to show the relevance of philosophy to life.
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion with: List some of his scholastic writings and discuss their importance. You can help byadding to it.(September 2008) |
A recipient of theHerbert Schneider Award for Lifetime Contributions to American Philosophy in 1997, Lachs is also the author of the following books, among others:
