Dr. Laurence Thomas
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Dr. Laurence Thomas, 76, passed away Saturday afternoon, December 27 at The Nottingham. An American philosopher, he was Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Political Science at Syracuse University.
Dr. Thomas was the author of over 80 articles and four books. His articles on moral theory, on social philosophy and on American Blacks and Jews have been widely anthologized. One of Laurence Thomas's most highly regarded essays is entitled "Being Moral and Handling the Truth".
He has held appointments at Notre Dame, University of Maryland, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Oberlin College, and in 1994 was a visiting scholar in the Religion Department at the University of Michigan. He was the Andrew Mellon Faculty Fellow at Harvard University in 1978-79.
Thomas's teaching has been widely noted and praised. He was named Syracuse University's Scholar-Teacher of the Year in 1993.
“Over the years my students have been a profound source of inspiration. My signature course was Philosophy 191, “Ethics and Value Theory”. That course has been and continues to be a tremendous source of moral and intellectual inspiration.”
Though Dr. Thomas never married or had children, his legacy is his students who he thought of as his family. “I regard parental love as the greatest of all moral gifts’”
Funeral services will be at 10AM on Wednesday at Sisskind Funeral Chapel, 3175 E. Genesee Street. Burial will be in Frumah Packard Cemetery.
Contributions to perpetuate his memory may be made to Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse
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A great man has passed, and I'm deeply affected. Lawrence was my professor, my mentor, and my friend. His enormous intellect and sharp insight was eclipse only by his enormous heart and kindness. Lawrence so kind, encouraging, and patient. He learned French so that he could read Jewish scholars in their language. He came to visit me when I was living in France and it's one of my fondest memories. I felt so honored. I keep his gifts to me on my work desk, including his book "Vessels of Evil", and a framed beautiful photograph taken from his airplane seat on his way to South Africa. Lawrence was of course, luminary, commanding and impressive. I will forever miss him and aspire to his high standards.
Written by James Stern
2025-12-29 8:27:21 PM
Post a Message of Sympathy
A great man has passed, and I'm deeply affected. Lawrence was my professor, my mentor, and my friend. His enormous intellect and sharp insight was eclipse only by his enormous heart and kindness. Lawrence so kind, encouraging, and patient. He learned French so that he could read Jewish scholars in their language. He came to visit me when I was living in France and it's one of my fondest memories. I felt so honored. I keep his gifts to me on my work desk, including his book "Vessels of Evil", and a framed beautiful photograph taken from his airplane seat on his way to South Africa. Lawrence was of course, luminary, commanding and impressive. I will forever miss him and aspire to his high standards.
Written by James Stern
2025-12-29 8:27:21 PM