The Reach of Philosophy

James Kern Feibleman, born in New Orleans in 1904 of Jewish parents, had an early career as poet, short story writer and novelist, and assistant manager of a department store and partner in an investment company. His formal higher educa tion did not extend beyond a semester of study at the Uni versity of Virginia. In 1942 he joined the faculty of the Tulane College of Arts and Sciences as a lecturer in English, and soon thereafter transferred to Philosophy. Appointed full professor of philoso phy in 1945, he became head of the Arts and Sciences depart ment in 1951, and university chairman in 1957. He has also served as special lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry at Louisiana State University Medical School from 1958 to 6 19 7. In 1969, upon his retirement from the department chairman ship, Professor Feibleman was appointed in the W.R. Irby Chair in Philosophy. In 1974 he was appointed Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities, having the honor of being not only the first occupant of this newly established chair but also perhaps the only person ever selected from the university faculty for this honor. In 1975, upon his final retirement from the university, the faculty approved his appointment as Emer itus Professor of Philosophy.