Philip H. Rhinelander
Encyclopedia
Philip H. Rhinelander was a philosopher, Stanford
professor emeritus, and former dean of the Stanford University School of Humanities and Sciences
.
, Massachusetts
, on January 1, 1908. He was educated at Harvard
, where he obtained the A.B. summa cum laude in Classics
and Philosophy
in 1929, studying with the philosopher Alfred North Whitehead
. Rhinelander then entered the Harvard Law School
, attaining the LLB in 1932. The same year, he married his wife of 55 years, Virginia, after which he practiced law for eight years, doing appellate trial work at the Boston
law firm of Choate, Hall & Stewart
. At the outbreak of World War II
, he was called to active duty in the U.S. Naval Reserves where he served on active duty from 1941 to 1945 eventually reaching the rank of Lt. Commander. His experiences during the war had a profound impact that shaped his later teaching interests in philosophy and the humanities, Philosophy of Law, and, in particular, its application in the field of Ethics
. After the war, he returned to Harvard to work toward a Ph.D. in Philosophy.
In 1949, Rhinelander earned his Ph.D. at Harvard; and he was retained at that institution as a faculty member teaching philosophy and general education. His course, The Problems of and Evil soon became a favorite with his students. (This course, taught as Humanities 4 at Harvard, was later to become well known at Stanford
, where the same course was taught as Philosophy 6.) In 1952, Harvard made Dr. Rhinelander the Director of General Education, and, also, the Chairman of the Committee on General Education.
In 1956, he went to Stanford University
to assume the position of dean of School of Humanities and Sciences
and as a professor of philosophy and humanities. Dr. Rhinelander's deanship coincided with one of the most important periods of the expansion of the Stanford faculty. Additionally, due to the impact of the Vietnam War
, this period was also a turbulent time for students and faculty alike. In the 1960s he was active as Chairman of the Committee of Fifteen, dealing with the difficulties of the years of student protest. Always teaching in addition to his administrative duties, he offered courses in the Humanities Special Program and in the Values, Technology, Science and Society Program. This was in addition to those courses which he taught in the Philosophy Department. At various times he served on the Executive Committee of the Academic Council, the Committee on University Policy, the Committee on Student Affairs, the Committee Undergraduate Education, and the Inter-Fraternity Board. He was also acting director of the Hoover Institute briefly, between the directorships of Rothwell and Campbell in 1959. As Chairman of the Student Conduct Legislative Council, Dr. Rhinelander was instrumental in the efforts that strengthened Stanford University's Honor Code.
In 1961, Dr. Rhinelander resigned as dean so that he could devote his full attention to teaching. He was, during this time period, one of Stanford's most popular teachers. In 1963, Dr, Rhinelander was recognized for his many achievements by receiving Stanford's highest honor for faculty, the Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel Award for distinguished service to undergraduate education. In 1972, he was named Olive H. Palmer Professor Emeritus of Humanities.
In 1974, Dr. Rhinelander published the well received book, Is Man Incomprehensible to Man?, in which he covered contemporary philosophical concepts with consummate skill and clarity. This book, although no longer well known, is still relevant in the modern philosophical arena, and serves as an excellent introduction for those interested in the intersection of philosophy and the humanities.
One of Dr. Rhinelander's former students, retired Vice Admiral James Stockdale
, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam
, credited Rhinelander's courses, Problems of Good and Evil and Moral Dilemmas of War and Peace with enabling him to survive eight years of captivity.
On March 24, 1987, Dr. Rhinelander died at the age of 79. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife Virginia; two brothers, Federic and Laurens; a son, Philip M. Rhinelander; three daughters, Helen R. Thompson, Jane R. Todd, and Virginia R. Edelen; and thirteen grandchildren.
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
professor emeritus, and former dean of the Stanford University School of Humanities and Sciences
Stanford University School of Humanities and Sciences
The Stanford University School of Humanities and Sciences is the heart of the undergraduate program and grants the majority of Stanford University's degrees. The School has 28 departments and 20 interdisciplinary degree-granting programs...
.
Biography
Dr. Rhinelander was born in CambridgeCambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, on January 1, 1908. He was educated at Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, where he obtained the A.B. summa cum laude in Classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
and Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
in 1929, studying with the philosopher Alfred North Whitehead
Alfred North Whitehead
Alfred North Whitehead, OM FRS was an English mathematician who became a philosopher. He wrote on algebra, logic, foundations of mathematics, philosophy of science, physics, metaphysics, and education...
. Rhinelander then entered the Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, attaining the LLB in 1932. The same year, he married his wife of 55 years, Virginia, after which he practiced law for eight years, doing appellate trial work at the Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
law firm of Choate, Hall & Stewart
Choate, Hall & Stewart
Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP is a Boston-based law firm founded in 1899. It is currently one of the largest law firms in the Greater Boston market, and one of the old-line Boston Brahmin firms which has previously been described by The New York Times as having a reputation for being "stuffy." Legal...
. At the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was called to active duty in the U.S. Naval Reserves where he served on active duty from 1941 to 1945 eventually reaching the rank of Lt. Commander. His experiences during the war had a profound impact that shaped his later teaching interests in philosophy and the humanities, Philosophy of Law, and, in particular, its application in the field of Ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
. After the war, he returned to Harvard to work toward a Ph.D. in Philosophy.
In 1949, Rhinelander earned his Ph.D. at Harvard; and he was retained at that institution as a faculty member teaching philosophy and general education. His course, The Problems of and Evil soon became a favorite with his students. (This course, taught as Humanities 4 at Harvard, was later to become well known at Stanford
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, where the same course was taught as Philosophy 6.) In 1952, Harvard made Dr. Rhinelander the Director of General Education, and, also, the Chairman of the Committee on General Education.
In 1956, he went to Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
to assume the position of dean of School of Humanities and Sciences
Stanford University School of Humanities and Sciences
The Stanford University School of Humanities and Sciences is the heart of the undergraduate program and grants the majority of Stanford University's degrees. The School has 28 departments and 20 interdisciplinary degree-granting programs...
and as a professor of philosophy and humanities. Dr. Rhinelander's deanship coincided with one of the most important periods of the expansion of the Stanford faculty. Additionally, due to the impact of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, this period was also a turbulent time for students and faculty alike. In the 1960s he was active as Chairman of the Committee of Fifteen, dealing with the difficulties of the years of student protest. Always teaching in addition to his administrative duties, he offered courses in the Humanities Special Program and in the Values, Technology, Science and Society Program. This was in addition to those courses which he taught in the Philosophy Department. At various times he served on the Executive Committee of the Academic Council, the Committee on University Policy, the Committee on Student Affairs, the Committee Undergraduate Education, and the Inter-Fraternity Board. He was also acting director of the Hoover Institute briefly, between the directorships of Rothwell and Campbell in 1959. As Chairman of the Student Conduct Legislative Council, Dr. Rhinelander was instrumental in the efforts that strengthened Stanford University's Honor Code.
In 1961, Dr. Rhinelander resigned as dean so that he could devote his full attention to teaching. He was, during this time period, one of Stanford's most popular teachers. In 1963, Dr, Rhinelander was recognized for his many achievements by receiving Stanford's highest honor for faculty, the Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel Award for distinguished service to undergraduate education. In 1972, he was named Olive H. Palmer Professor Emeritus of Humanities.
In 1974, Dr. Rhinelander published the well received book, Is Man Incomprehensible to Man?, in which he covered contemporary philosophical concepts with consummate skill and clarity. This book, although no longer well known, is still relevant in the modern philosophical arena, and serves as an excellent introduction for those interested in the intersection of philosophy and the humanities.
One of Dr. Rhinelander's former students, retired Vice Admiral James Stockdale
James Stockdale
Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale was one of the most highly decorated officers in the history of the United States Navy.Stockdale led aerial attacks from the carrier during the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Incident...
, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, credited Rhinelander's courses, Problems of Good and Evil and Moral Dilemmas of War and Peace with enabling him to survive eight years of captivity.
On March 24, 1987, Dr. Rhinelander died at the age of 79. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife Virginia; two brothers, Federic and Laurens; a son, Philip M. Rhinelander; three daughters, Helen R. Thompson, Jane R. Todd, and Virginia R. Edelen; and thirteen grandchildren.