Emeritus Professor of Philosophy and Religion
Hermeneutics Philosopher in
Residence
MacMurray
College
Biographical Information
Vital Statistics
Born November 6, 1933, in Phoenix,
Arizona. Childhood in Mesa, Tempe, and Phoenix,
Arizona. Graduated from North Phoenix High School in 1952, but also took courses at Phoenix Junior
College in 1951-1952.
Married September 15, 1956 to Bette Louise
Wheaton of Redlands, California.
Separated 1989 on good terms. Wife
developed a career of her own as a volunteer for Peace
Brigades International and then Coordinator of PBI's Central America Project until April, 1999. Presently
she lives in Chico, CA.
Children: Kay born Sept. 25, 1957.
Presently teacher of Spanish and German, Quincy
Junior High and High School, Quincy, IL.
Kent born August 10, 1960. Assistant Professor of
Computer Science, Wingate University. Ph.D. 2004 in Information
Science, Nova Southeastern U. Kent is also the preparer of these Web pages.
Scott born January 25, 1964. B.A. & M.A.
in Psychology, Ph.D. in Human Sciences, 1991, and a second Ph.D. in Counseling,
1996. Chief Psychologist Youth Services--Butte County Behavioral Health in Chico, CA.
Educational Background
1953 - A.A. Phoenix
Junior College. Concentration in music, liberal arts.
1955 - B.A. magna cum
laude in Music History and Theory, University of Redlands, California.
1956 - M.A. in Comparative European
Literature (Spanish, French, German) University
of Redlands, Redlands, California.
1959 - Ph.D. in Comparative
European Literature, University of Redlands, cooperating with the
"Intercollegiate Program of Graduate Studies," centered in Claremont
Graduate School, Claremont, California.
1964-65 - Postdoctoral
Study at the Institute for Hermeneutics of the University of Zürich,
Switzerland, and at the Philosophical Seminar of the University of Heidelberg,
Germany.
1971-72 - Postdoctoral
Study at the Philosophical Seminar of the University of Heidelberg.
1991-92 - Postdoctoral
Study at the Philosophical Seminar of the University of Heidelberg.
1995-96 - Postdoctoral
Study at the Philosophical Seminar of the University of Heidelberg.
Positions Held
1959-64—Assist. Professor
of English & Humanities, MacMurray College, Jacksonville, Illinois.
1964-65—ACLS Cross-Disciplinary
Fellowship on Hermeneutics in Theology and Philosophy: Gastwissenschaftler,
Theological Faculty of U. of Zurich, Switzerland (8 months). Gastwissenschaftler,
Philosophical Faculty of U. of Heidelberg, Germany (5 months).
1965-69—Assoc. Prof. of
Humanities and Dir. of Core World Lit. Program, MacMurray College.
1969-71—Full Professor of
Humanities, Director of Core World Lit. Program, MacMurray College.
1971-72—Gastwissenschaftler,
Philosophisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg, Germany.
1972-80—Professor of World
Literature and Part-time Professor of Philosophy and Religion, MacMurray
College.
1976, Spring Quarter—Guest
Professor, Humanities Program, U. of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
1980-91--Full Professor of
Philosophy and Religion, MacMurray College.
Chair 1980-83, 1984-87, 1989-94.
1991-92—Gastwissenschaftler,
Philosophisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg, Germany.
1992-95—Chair, Department
of Philosophy and Religion, MacMurray College.
May ’93—Named to Joseph
R. Harker Distinguished Chair in Philosophy and Religion, MacMurray
College.
1995-96—Gastwissenschaftler,
Philosophisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg, Germany.
1993-99—Joseph R. Harker
Professor of Philosophy and Religion, MacMurray College, Jacksonville,
Illinois.
1999-2005—Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Religion and Scholar-in-Residence, MacMurray College, Jacksonville, Illinois.
2000-present--Distinguished Adjunct Professor, Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illinois.
2002-2004--Professor for the philosophy sector of the Odyssey Project under the supervision of the Illinois Humanities Council, Chicago, with college credit from Barnard College, New York City. This is a project offered without charge to poverty-level adults who might want to attend college later on and want to see if they can succeed. It was held in Springfield, Illinois. It is also offered in Chicago.
2005-May 6—Named "President Joseph R. Harker Professor Emeritus of Philosophy" by the Board of Trustees, MacMurray College, Jacksonville, Illinois.
Contact information:
Philosopher in Residence
Box 1085
MacMurray College
Jacksonville, IL 62650-2510
Phone: 217-479-7103 Fax: 217-479-7078
E-mail: richard.palmer@mac.edu
Last Modified March 10, 2004