Maverick Philosopher

Footnotes to Plato from the foothills of the Superstition Mountains

Category: Obituaries

  • Saturday Night at the Obituaries: 2025 So Far

    Contributors to the great Boomer soundtrack are dying on all  sides. Here are just some from 2025 so far. Brian Wilson, June 11th.  Sloop John B. Sly Stone, June 9th. Everyday People Rick Derringer, May 26th.  Memphis Nino Tempo, April 12th. Deep Purple Lenny Welch, April 8th. Since I Fell for You Johnny Tillotson, April…

  • Joseph Sobran

    Tony Flood asked me if I had read Joseph Sobran. I have. In fact, I have a couple of posts on him. Here's one from 6 October 2010. I've added an update. Comments enabled. Joseph Sobran Joseph Sobran is dead at the age of 64.  Beginning as a paleocon, he ended up an anarchist, and apparently…

  • Robert Paul Wolff (1933-2025)

    When John Silber died in September of 2012, Robert Wolff expressed his contempt for the conservative Boston University president in an ironically entitled notice, De Mortuis. Wolff's title alludes to the Latin saying de mortuis nil nisi bonum.  Literally translated: "About the dead, nothing except the good," which is to say, "Speak no evil of…

  • Daniel Dennett (1942-2024)

    Daniel Dennett died today.  I heard the news from Malcolm Pollack whose obituary refers us to a very recent discussion between him and Jordan Peterson. I have been very critical of Dennett's work over the years, but I won't rehearse any of my critique so near the hour of his death. Let the watchword be:…

  • Remembering Bob Koepp

    Robert V. Koepp, long-time commenter at this weblog, died on Leap Day, 2012.  Here is what I had to say about him in 2012.

  • Bill Keezer Passes On

    Word came last night from Bill's wife Jennifer: Sadly Bill passed away November 29th. His heart just finally wore out. He spoke of you often and considered you a valued friend. Bill Keezer was a biologist with lively philosophical, theological, and political interests. We met in the early days of the blogosphere circa 2003 and…

  • Dianne Feinstein (1933-2023)

    I plan to say something about her later. But for now: de mortuis nil nisi bonum. I will only add that the Latin  injunction has an expiration date dependent on the attributes of the decedent. In her case it will be upon us in, say, five days. 

  • Saturday Night at the Obituaries

    Astrud Gilberto, the Girl from Ipanema, has passed on at age 83. The genre, Bossa Nova, was popular from the late '50s to the mid-'60s.  "Blame It on the Bossa Nova" is a song written by Cynthia Weil (lyrics) and Barry Mann which was a 1963 hit single for Eydie Gormé, reaching number 7 on…

  • Paul Johnson 1928-2023

    Commentary, March 2023

  • Remembering Albert Camus . . .

    . . . and one whose hero he was. Substack latest.

  • Technical Philosophy, Compartmentalization, and Worldview

    In memory of Saul Kripke (1940-2022) Substack latest.

  • Saul Kripke (1940-2022)

    We honor a philosopher best by re-enacting his thoughts, sympathetically, but critically. Amicus Plato sed magis amica veritas.  Here are a couple of entries from my Kripke category: Arguing with Kripke over Existence Kripke's Misunderstanding of Meinong

  • Madeleine Albright Dead at 84

    I will now have to leave off calling her 'Madeleine None-Too-Bright,' at least for a time. De mortuis nil nisi bonum, et cetera. This Revolver piece covers the essentials.  Unfortunately, Madeleine Albright’s long career represents all the failures and mistakes that, in just thirty years, have taken America from its superpower apex to the brink…

  • Above the Urinal at the Chess Tournament

    Urine check! I didn't make that up. It was at some cheesy Knight's Inn or similar venue in Phoenix in the early-to-mid 'nineties, when Myron Lieberman presided in his inimitable manner over well-attended tournaments and Ed Yetman, bandanna around his neck and sidearm strapped to his hip, manned the book concession. Say what you want…

  • Remembering Quentin Smith

    My old friend died on this date last year. If in your life you find one truly kindred soul, then you are lucky indeed. Quentin was that soul for me.  This piece captures the man.   Quentin Smith was exactly the kind person who’s not supposed to exist in modern, ultra-specialized, ultra-professionalized academia. The kind of…