Visiting MSU philosophy lecturer to discuss 'enemies of life'

Contact: Maridith Geuder

A Yale-educated philosopher whose books include "The Relevance of Philosophy for Life," "In Love with Life" and "The Cost of Comfort" speaks Monday [Jan. 27] at Mississippi State University.

John Lachs, Centennial Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University, will lead a public program that begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Simrall Hall auditorium. His topic, "Enemies of Life," examines the effects of memory, anticipation and guilt on human life.

Lachs, whose visit is sponsored by MSU's department of philosophy and religion, is the author of more than a dozen books and more than 150 articles for both general and academic audiences. He also has made hundreds of appearances on television and radio programs to discuss his research into the philosophy of the mind, as well as ethics and political philosophy.

As a consultant, he has worked with the National Institutes of Health, University of Tennessee Medical Ethics Program and Kettering Foundation, among others. In the classroom, he has been honored with the Danforth Foundation's E. Harris Harbison Award for Distinguished Teaching, Madison Sarrat Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, Vanderbilt Alumni Education Award, and the Herbert Schneider Award for Lifetime Contributions to American Philosophy.

Lachs is a former president of the Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy, C.S. Pierce Society and Metaphysical Society of America.

For more information, telephone the philosophy and religion department at (662) 325-2382.