Prof. Nozick Cancels Classes

Pellegrino University Professor Robert Nozick, a leading scholar in the Philosophy Department, cancelled his spring semester classes because of upcoming surgery for colon cancer.

Nozick, who had been teaching about 40 students in two courses at the undergraduate and graduate level, said he does not expect to return to teaching duties during this academic year.

"I'm optimistic about the surgery and look forward to returning to teaching in the fall," he said.

Nozick, one of only 18 University professors, received the honor last September. Best known for his work on libertarianism, Nozick received tenure at Harvard in 1969, earning recognition for his 1974 book, Anarchy, State, and Utopia.

Undergraduates learned of Nozick's illness in class last Wednesday in by Philosophy Department Chair Christine M. Korsgaard.

"It was a brief announcement and everybody just kind of left in shock," Schrage said.

To allow students time to make other arrangements after Nozick was forced to cancel his class, the Philosophy Department has allowed concentrators extra time to file add/drop petitions.

"They were really helpful to ease the transition," said Daniel K. Schrage '01, who had been taking Nozick's undergraduate class, Philosophy 179, "Social Philosophy."

Schrage and the other 20 students in Nozick's undergraduate class, have the opportunity to join a tutorial on similar topics led by Teaching Fellow Waheed Hussain. But only four students have made the switch so far, Schrage said.

Graduate students in Nozick's Philosophy 277, "Philosophy and the Law" can enroll in related classes or write term papers on course material and themes, according to Nozick.

"It was better to make alternative plans for students than to just suspend the class [indefinitely]," Nozick said.

Nozick's students scrambling to make alternate curricular plans will eventually fill the now-vacant course slot, but students and department administrators say no one can fill Nozick's shoes.

"There's no way we can replace him...It leaves you with a curricular hole," said Pearson Professor of Modern Mathematics and Mathematical Logic Warren D. Goldfarb '69, the Philosophy Department's head tutor.

Schrage, one of the four students signed up for the substitute seminar, praised Nozick's ability to use real-world examples to involve his students in his lectures.

"He was one of the best lecturers I've ever had," he said. "It was a lot different than other classes where you sat there and just listened. He paid attention to student reaction."

"His lecture class was doing an array of lecture topics that only he can manage," he said.

Goldfarb also said he felt Nozick engaged students in his ideas, saying that his office hours were unusually well attended.

"We're hoping that we'll be returning to teach again soon," he said.

Nozick said he originally suffered from stomach cancer four years ago, but after surgery and intensive chemotherapy, he recovered fully.

However, he said that a recent routine medical test revealed the cancer had returned as a colon tumor.

Nozick said he is scheduled for surgery this Friday at Mass. General Hospital where he hopes doctors will be able to remove the tumor.