Fred Feldman (philosopher)


Fred Feldman is an American philosopher who specializes in ethical theory. He is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he taught from 1969 until his retirement in 2013. His research primarily focuses on normative ethics, metaethics, the nature of happiness, and justice. He has long been fascinated by philosophical problems about the nature and value of death. He received a NEH research fellowship for the academic year of 2008/09; he received a Conti Faculty research fellowship for the academic year of 2013/14.

Biography

Fred Feldman was born in 1941 and grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey. After graduating from Bard College in 1963, he received a master's degree from Harper College, SUNY in 1965. Fred Feldman received his PhD degree in philosophy from Brown University, where he studied under Roderick Chisholm. His doctoral dissertation concerned the metaphysics of identity. He is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he spent almost his entire academic career.
His books include Doing the Best We Can, Confrontations with the Reaper, Pleasure and the Good Life, and What is this thing called happiness?. He has written a number of journal articles on metaphysics, deontic logic, theory of intrinsic value, theory of personal welfare, hedonist philosophy, morally right action, and death. He received a National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship for Spring 2008 to work on a new book on happiness.
His younger brother, Richard Feldman, is professor of philosophy, former Dean of the College in Arts, Sciences and Engineering, and Interim President at the University of Rochester.

Publications

Books

His books include:
His edited collections include:
Feldman has over 80 published articles and reviews. Below is a selected list of journal articles and reviews. For a full list of publications, visit his curriculum vitae.
His awards include: