Joseph M. Levine, the distinguished early modern European intellectual historian at Syracuse University, died early this morning. His son, Peter Levine, a noted professor of philosophy and public policy at the University of Maryland, remembers his father. Thanks to Tony Grafton for the tip.

Jonathan Wilfred Wilson - 1/26/2008

I was privileged to take my first-year historiography seminar with Professor Levine -- sitting in his living room, surrounded by a portion of his magnificent book collection. Lecturing softly, generally half smiling, he turned the course into a stately survey of European intellectual history in general. He encouraged us to contemplate the implications of our discipline's station among the humanities -- its importance to our understanding of personhood, human nature, religion, and natural science.

I am relieved that Professor Levine's suffering is over, but I am very sorry to have lost him.