Philosophy Professor Emeritus Walter Benesch
September 13, 2017
Naomi Horne
907-474-6464
Philosopher and educator Walter Benesch passed away earlier this past month.
Benesch began teaching philosophy in the College of Liberal Arts in 1963. He retired
from full-time teaching and research before the turn of the century but continued
to teach, at times refusing a salary, for more than decade. He is remembered as one
of Fairbanks’ most influential professors for many hundreds of students. He opened
the door of serious philosophical inquiry and thought in a uniquely challenging and
entertaining way.
After receiving his undergraduate education at Denver University in 1955, Benesch
went on to receive a master's degree from the University of Montana in 1956 and a
Ph.D. from Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck in Austria in 1963, and he engaged
in postdoctoral research with the Indologische Institute in Munich.
Benesch continued the traditions of the philosophers before him publishing numerous
papers, books and serving as a guest speaker on the topics of Eastern philosophy and
comparative religions and logics. His writing spanned from five act plays to three-legged
chickens. He will be greatly missed.
Current philosophy and humanities professor Eduardo Wilner called Benesch “one of
the most inspiring and uniquely gifted teachers and philosophers I have ever met.
He was capable of blowing your mind off with discussions of alternative logics, the
raising of turkeys, and/or comparisons between Greek and Chinese philosophies. Astonishingly,
he made all this mental restructuring funny, and actually pleasant. The hole that
his departure leaves in our university, and in our hearts, will be simply unfillable.
”
At the request of the family, no memorial service is being planned in Fairbanks at
this time.