CHARLES CHASTAIN

We deeply regret to announce the death of our colleague and friend Charles Chastain on April 12, 2007 at the age of sixty-nine.   Born in Tampa, Florida, Charles received his Ph.D. from Princeton University.  Before joining the Philosophy Department at UIC in 1974, he taught at Princeton, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, UCLA, Cornell University and the University of Toronto.   Charles' principal interests were in epistemology, philosophy of language, and ethics – but his expertise extended far beyond those areas and one could learn from discussing virtually any area of philosophy with Charles.  His main publication is the highly influential "Reference and Context" in Minnesota Studies in the Philosophy of Science, Vol. VII, Language, Mind, and Knowledge (University of Minnesota Press, 1975).  After 1975 Charles continued to contribute philosophically as a teacher and in conversation with colleagues, students, and friends. Many leading philosophers credit Charles for the contributions he made to their thought.

We are planning a conference, to take place September 20, 2008, to honor the memory of our late colleague and friend Charles Chastain.