Philosopher Jim Wilcox Pens Essay to Former Students

After 43 years of teaching at CGS and 4 years of retirement, CGS Associate Professor of Humanities Jim Wilcox is still reaching out to his former students. Wilcox has self-published Philosophical Inclinations: Values in an Age of Fragmentation, an essay he considers “a small token of my gratitude for all the students who gave me the opportunity to be a teacher.”

Tapping a deep reservoir of knowledge on philosophy and literature, Wilcox reflects on life’s biggest questions: Can we reconcile opposing concepts of reality? What is the universal drive of human nature? How can we bridge the divide between conservative and liberal politics? How do we confront the anxiety permeating our lives today, and live meaningfully in spite of it? Wilcox draws upon centuries of philosophy to reflect on the challenges of modern life, from social media to terrorism to the 2016 election.

Wilcox also looks back on his own full life as he enters his 80s while grappling with cancer. He says his life has been filled with great books, great paintings, great music, and great beauty. “My time inside and outside the classroom, with my students passing on my knowledge, has always been fulfilling and added significantly to the meaning of my life,” he says. “My life in the humanities as a teacher has served me well.”

“You can tell how meaningful Jim Wilcox’s life has been by how much he is loved by his colleagues and students,” says Dean Natalie McKnight. “Everyone at CGS misses his presence, and I frequently hear from alumni who remember his classes with gratitude and fondness.”

Jim Wilcox has printed 200 copies of his essay for former students.