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James Welton Cornman Papers

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Held at: University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center [Contact Us]3401 Market Street, Suite 210, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
UPT 50 C818
Repository:
University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center
Extent:
4 cubic feet
Language:
English
Date:
1962-1978 (inclusive)
Creator:
Cornman, James W.
Abstract:
The James Welton Cornman papers document Cornman's professional activities as a Professor of Philosophy, mostly dating to his tenure at the University of Pennsylvania from 1968 to 1978 and drafts of various articles and books authored by Cornman on philosophical topics.

James Welton Cornman was a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania from 1967 to 1978. He was born on August 16, 1929 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After graduating from the Haverford School in Haverford, Pennsylvania in 1947, he studied mechanical engineering at Dartmouth University until 1950. He withdrew at that time to take an executive training position with the Collins and Aikman Corporation, a textile company. He returned to Dartmouth in 1954 to study philosophy, and earned a B.A. in that subject in 1956. He then earned M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Brown University in 1957 and 1960, respectively.

Cornman taught at Ohio State University as an Instructor of Philosophy from 1960 to 1963 and at the University of Rochester as an Assistant Professor of Philosophy from 1963 to 1965 and Associate Professor of Philosophy from 1965 to 1967. He joined the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania in 1967 as an Associate Professor of Philosophy. He became Professor of Philosophy in 1969 and served as Chair of the Department of Philosophy from 1970 to 1972.

A frequent contributor of articles to scholarly journals, Cornman also authored four books: Metaphysics, Reference and Language (1966), Materialism and Sensations (1971), Perception, Common Sense and Science (1975), and Skepticism, Justification and Explanation (1980), which was published posthumously. He also co-authored a textbook, Philosophical Problems and Arguments: An Introduction (1968) with Keith Lehrer.

James Welton Cornman was tragically killed in an automobile accident on May 31, 1978. He was survived by his wife, Elizabeth Pedrotty Cornman, and their four daughters, Deborah, Julie, Diane, and Elizabeth.

The James Welton Cornman papers document Cornman's professional life as a Professor of Philosophy, mostly dating to his tenure at the University of Pennsylvania from 1968 to 1978. This documentation consists of lectures and syllabi, drafts of books and articles he wrote, research and other notes taken on philosophical subjects, and a small amount of correspondence of a professional nature.

The James Welton Cornman Papers are organized into four series: Lectures and Syllabi, Writings, Notes and Research, and Correspondence. Each series is arranged alphabetically, with the exception of the correspondence, which is arranged chronologically.

The James Welton Cornman Papers were donated to the University Archives by Gary Hatfield of the Philosophy Department at the University of Pennsylvania in 1997 (accession number 1997: 57).

Subject

Publisher
University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center
Finding Aid Author
Timothy H. Horning
Finding Aid Date
August 2014
Access Restrictions

Access to collections is granted in accordance with the Protocols for the University Archives and Records Center.

Collection Inventory

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Philosophy 1: Introduction to the Problems of Philosophy, 1970-1978.
Box 1 Folder 1
Philosophy 5: Formal Logic, Spring 1976.
Box 1 Folder 2
Philosophy 21: Introduction to Political Philosophy, Spring 1969.
Box 1 Folder 3
Philosophy 73: Contemporary Ethical Theory, Fall 1976.
Box 1 Folder 4
Philosophy 273: The Justification of an Ethical Standard, Fall 1972.
Box 1 Folder 5
Philosophy 276: Political Philosophy, Fall 1973.
Box 1 Folder 6
Philosophy 331: Skepticism and the Foundations of Justification, Fall 1975, Spring 1976.
Box 1 Folder 7
Philosophy 342: Perception and the External World, Fall 1971.
Box 1 Folder 8
Philosophy 342: Perception and the External World, Spring 1972.
Box 1 Folder 9
Philosophy 342: Perception and the External World, Spring 1974.
Box 1 Folder 10
Philosophy 342: Perception and the External World, Fall 1977.
Box 1 Folder 11
Philosophy 345: Philosophy of the Mind, Spring 1977.
Box 1 Folder 12
Philosophy 651: Instrumentalism, Truth and Realism, Spring 1970.
Box 1 Folder 13
Philosophy 651: An Argument for One Form of Direct Realism, Fall 1971, Spring 1973.
Box 1 Folder 14
Philosophy 651: Epistemological Skepticism, Spring 1972.
Box 1 Folder 15
Philosophy 651: Current Arguments for or Against Mind-Body Identity, Fall 1973.
Box 1 Folder 16
Philosophy 651: The Nature and Foundations of Knowledge, Spring 1974.
Box 1 Folder 17
Philosophy 651: On the Justification of Induction, Fall 1975 (1).
Box 1 Folder 18
Philosophy 651: On the Justification of Induction, Fall 1975 (2).
Box 1 Folder 19
Philosophy 651: Foundational vs. Nonfoundational Theories of Empirical Justification, Spring 1976.
Box 1 Folder 20
Philosophy 651: On Methodological Naturalism, Fall 1976.
Box 1 Folder 21
Philosophy 651: Skepticism, Justification and, Explanation, Fall 1977.
Box 1 Folder 22
Miscellaneous, 1968-1969.
Box 1 Folder 23
Arts Survey 605, 1958-1962.
Box 1 Folder 24
Arts Survey 605, 1962.
Box 1 Folder 25
Philosophy 104, 1963-1965.
Box 1 Folder 26
Philosophy 211, 1965-1967.
Box 1 Folder 27
Philosophy 310, 1965-1967.
Box 1 Folder 28
Philosophy 350, 1963.
Box 1 Folder 29
Philosophy 552, 1961-1963.
Box 1 Folder 30
Philosophy 558, Fall 1966.
Box 1 Folder 31

Berkeley on Sensations: Sensory Ideas Versus Sensings, 1975.
Box 1 Folder 32
Chilsholm on Sensing and Perceiving, 1974-1975.
Box 1 Folder 33
Craig's Theorem, Ramsey-Sentences, and Scientific Instrumentalism, 1970-1971.
Box 1 Folder 34
Epistemological Skepticism, 1971.
Box 1 Folder 35
Foundational Versus Nonfoundational Theories of Empirical Justification, 1975-1976.
Box 1 Folder 36
In Search of Criteria for Identity and Difference, 1974-1975.
Box 2 Folder 1
Introduction to Epistemological Skepticism: Chapter One, 1976.
Box 2 Folder 2
Introduction to Epistemological Skepticism: Chapter Two, 1976.
Box 2 Folder 3
Introduction to Epistemological Skepticism: Chapter Three, 1976.
Box 2 Folder 4
Introduction to Epistemological Skepticism: Chapters Four and Five, 1976.
Box 2 Folder 5
Introduction to Epistemological Skepticism: Chapter Six, 1976.
Box 2 Folder 6
Introduction to Epistemological Skepticism: Chapter Seven, 1976.
Box 2 Folder 7
Introduction to Epistemological Skepticism: Chapter Eight, 1976.
Box 2 Folder 8
Introduction to Epistemological Skepticism: Chapters Nine and Ten, 1976.
Box 2 Folder 9
Materialism and Sensations: Introduction, c. 1971.
Box 2 Folder 10
Materialism and Sensations: Chapter One, c. 1971.
Box 2 Folder 11
Materialism and Sensations: Chapter Two, c. 1971.
Box 2 Folder 12
Materialism and Sensations: Chapter Three, c. 1971.
Box 2 Folder 13
Materialism and Sensations: Chapter Four, c. 1971.
Box 2 Folder 14
Materialism and Sensations: Chapter Five, c. 1971.
Box 2 Folder 15
Materialism and Sensations: Chapter Six, c. 1971.
Box 2 Folder 16
Materialism and Sensations: Chapter Seven, c. 1971.
Box 2 Folder 17
Materialism and Sensations: Summary and Concluding Remarks, c. 1971.
Box 2 Folder 18
Materialism and Sensations: Appendix, c. 1971.
Box 2 Folder 19
Mind-Body Identity: Cross-Categorial or Not?, 1976-1977.
Box 2 Folder 20
Might a Tooth Ache but there be no Toothache?, 1975-1976.
Box 2 Folder 21
Naturalism and Ethics: Introduction and Chapter One, n.d.
Box 2 Folder 22
Naturalism and Ethics: Chapter Two, n.d.
Box 2 Folder 23
Naturalism and Ethics: Chapter Three, n.d.
Box 2 Folder 24
A Non-Reductive Identity Thesis About Mind and Body (1), 1976-1977.
Box 2 Folder 25
A Non-Reductive Identity Thesis About Mind and Body (2), 1976-1977.
Box 2 Folder 26
Observing and What It Entails, 1970.
Box 2 Folder 27
On Acceptability Without Certainty, 1975-1976.
Box 2 Folder 28
On the Certainty of Reports About What is Given, 1975-1976.
Box 2 Folder 29
On Epistemological Skepticism, c. 1975.
Box 2 Folder 30
On Justifying Nonbasic Statements by Basic-Reports, 1977.
Box 2 Folder 31
On Knowing and Being Justified in Believing One Knows (1), 1974-1976.
Box 2 Folder 32
On Knowing and Being Justified in Believing One Knows (2), 1974-1976.
Box 3 Folder 1
On Rejecting Grue Emeralds for Green: Guilt by Association (1), 1976.
Box 3 Folder 2
On Rejecting Grue Emeralds for Green: Guilt by Association (2), 1976.
Box 3 Folder 3
Perception, Common Sense, and Science: Introduction, c. 1973-1975.
Box 3 Folder 4
Perception, Common Sense, and Science: Chapter One, c. 1973-1975.
Box 3 Folder 5
Perception, Common Sense, and Science: Chapter Two, c. 1973-1975.
Box 3 Folder 6
Perception, Common Sense, and Science: Chapter Three, c. 1973-1975.
Box 3 Folder 7
Perception, Common Sense, and Science: Chapter Four, c. 1973-1975.
Box 3 Folder 8
Perception, Common Sense, and Science: Chapter Five, c. 1973-1975.
Box 3 Folder 9
Perception, Common Sense, and Science: Chapter Six, c. 1973-1975.
Box 3 Folder 10
Perception, Common Sense, and Science: Chapter Seven, c. 1973-1975.
Box 3 Folder 11
Perception, Common Sense, and Science: Chapter Eight, c. 1973-1975.
Box 3 Folder 12
Perception, Common Sense, and Science: Summary and Concluding Remarks, c. 1973-1975.
Box 3 Folder 13
Perception, Common Sense, and Science: Appendix and Bibliography, c. 1973-1975.
Box 3 Folder 14
Perception, Common Sense, and Science: Miscellaneous, c. 1973-1975.
Box 3 Folder 15
A Qualified Defense of Naïve Realism, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 16
Reference and Ontology: Inscrutable but not Relative, c. 1974.
Box 3 Folder 17
Scientific Realism (Notes on Student Paper), n.d.
Box 3 Folder 18
Sellars on Scientific Realism and Perceiving, 1976.
Box 3 Folder 19
Sensing, Appearing, and Perceiving (Master's Thesis, Brown University), 1957.
Box 3 Folder 20
Skepticism, Certainty, and a Foundation for Justification: Chapter One, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 21
Skepticism, Certainty, and a Foundation for Justification: Chapter Two, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 22
Skepticism, Certainty, and a Foundation for Justification: Chapter Three, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 23
Skepticism, Certainty, and a Foundation for Justification: Chapter Four, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 24
Skepticism, Certainty, and a Foundation for Justification: Chapter Five, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 25
Skepticism, Justification, and Explanation: Introduction, c. 1978.
Box 3 Folder 26
Skepticism, Justification, and Explanation: Chapter One, c. 1978.
Box 3 Folder 27
Skepticism, Justification, and Explanation: Chapter Two, c. 1978.
Box 3 Folder 28
Skepticism, Justification, and Explanation: Chapter Three, c. 1978.
Box 3 Folder 29
Skepticism, Justification, and Explanation: Chapter Four, c. 1978.
Box 3 Folder 30
Skepticism, Justification, and Explanation: Chapter Five, c. 1978.
Box 3 Folder 31
Skepticism, Justification, and Explanation: Chapter Six, c. 1978.
Box 3 Folder 32
Skepticism, Justification, and Explanation: Chapter Seven, c. 1978.
Box 3 Folder 33
Skepticism, Justification, and Explanation: Chapter Eight, c. 1978.
Box 4 Folder 1
Skepticism, Justification, and Explanation: Chapter Nine, c. 1978.
Box 4 Folder 2
Skepticism, Justification, and Explanation: Chapter Ten, c. 1978.
Box 4 Folder 3
Skepticism, Justification, and Explanation: Miscellaneous, c. 1978.
Box 4 Folder 4
Skepticism, Justification, and Explanation: Preliminary Materials, c. 1978.
Box 4 Folder 5
Three Objections to Scientific Realism from Quantum Physics, n.d.
Box 4 Folder 6

Grant and Project Proposals, 1969-1978.
Box 4 Folder 7
Grue and Projectibility, 1974-1975.
Box 4 Folder 8
Miscellaneous, n.d.
Box 4 Folder 9
Probability, n.d.
Box 4 Folder 10
Scientific Realism or Irenic Instrumentalism, Wilfrid Sellars, 1964.
Box 4 Folder 11
Sense, n.d.
Box 4 Folder 12
Symbolic Logic, n.d.
Box 4 Folder 13
Topics in Modern Physics, 1970.
Box 4 Folder 14

1962-1973, n.d.
Box 4 Folder 15
1974.
Box 4 Folder 16
1975.
Box 4 Folder 17
1976.
Box 4 Folder 18
1977.
Box 4 Folder 19

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