Tad A. Beckman

Professional Information

Education

• New Trier Township High School
  Winnetka, Illinois.
  1949-1953
• Northwestern University
  Evanston, Illinois
  1953-1957
  B.A. Major: chemistry; Minor: philosophy, mathematics
• University of California
  Berkeley, California
  1957-1960
  Ph.D. Dissertation: "The Infrared Spectra of Marginally Metallic Systems: Sodium-Ammonia Solutions." (with Kenneth Pitzer)

Academic Positions

• Assistant Professor -- Associate Professor of Chemistry
  Harvey Mudd College
  Claremont, CA 91711
  1961-1970
• Associate Professor -- Professor of Philosophy
  Harvey Mudd College
  1970-present
• Chair, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
  Harvey Mudd College
  1985-1993 and 1998 to 2001
• Retired, June 2002

See brief Biography

Research Interests

• Philosophy of Science.
• Environmental Philosophy.
• Continental Philosophy (especially Nietzsche and Heidegger).
• Social Philosophy (especially Critical Theory)
• Indigenous People of the Western United States (especially California).

Professional Organizations

• American Philosophical Association.
• North American Nietzsche Society.
• Coachella Valley Archaeological Society.

Some Courses Taught Recently

• Humanities 1: Cultivating Environments (Fall 1998, 1999)
• Humanities 2: Indigenous People of the Western US (Spring 1995-99).
• Humanities 2: The View from Native California (Spring 1992-94)
• Phil 101-104: History of Western Philosophy:
• Ancient (Fall 1994, 1995, 1997)

• Nineteenth Century (Spring 1994, 1996)
• Contemporary Period (Spring 1995, fall 1997).
• Phil 118S: Ethical Issues in Science and Engineering (Spring 1995-96).
• Phil 140S: Environmental Philosophy (Fall 1997, Spring 1999)
• Phil 150: Philosophy of Science (Fall 1994)
• Phil 170: Great Philosophers: Nietzsche (Fall 1995, Spring 1998)