“We fear death because it brings an end to our lives.  That much is a truism.  But we can appreciate death insofar as we identify with the people around us, with our culture, with humanity, and with life.  To the extent to which we can do so, death is not the end at all.”

 Robert Solomon, Spirituality for the Skeptic (2002)

As many of you know, the philosophical community suffered a great loss on January 2 when Dr. Robert Solomon passed away while in Europe.  Beyond the loss this represents to philosophy in general, this also impacts our conference as Robert Solomon was the scheduled keynote speaker on Saturday, January 20.  Additionally, Dr. Kathleen Higgins, his wife and colleague at University of Texas at Austin, will (understandably) not be able to present her keynote address on Sunday due to family obligations.

The SSP conference will go on as planned, and suitable arrangements are being made.  I have secured Dr. Richard Shusterman (Florida Atlantic University), a friend of Robert and Kathleen's, as our Saturday keynote speaker, and Dr. Alexander P. D. Mourelatos (University of Texas at Austin), a friend and colleague of Robert and Kathleen's, has volunteered to be our Sunday keynote speaker.  

On behalf of the SSP, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Kathleen Higgins and heartfelt  sympathy to all of Robert Solomon's family, friends, and colleagues.  Robert Solomon was a great philosopher in the full sense of that term, and all captivated by the life and passion of philosophy will miss him. 

For more information on the tragic loss of Robert Solomon, as well as some of his philosophical work, here is a link.  Additionally, there will be a public service held on UT Austin's campus on Saturday, January 20, 2007.  Information on that service (not organized by the SSP) can be found here.

Scott R. Stroud

SSP Director