James Francis Ross, 78, of University City, a professor of philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania, died of complications from endocarditis Monday, July 12, at his summer home in Little Compton, R.I.
Dr. Ross had been on the Penn faculty since 1962 and was a former chairman of the philosophy department.
Though he published several books and more than 100 articles on medieval philosophy, metaphysics, the philosophy of religion, and the philosophy of law, he "lived for teaching" and had no plans to retire from the classroom, son Seamus said.
"For decades one could expect to find a line of students in the hallways outside Jim's office, waiting to speak with him. These conversations might go on for more than an hour," said Gary Hatfield, a philosophy professor at Penn. "He trained or helped train an impressive cadre of students who now hold academic appointments throughout the country."
