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Milton C. Nahm Professor Emeritus of Philosophy Michael Krausz passed away at the age of 83 on May 27, 2025.

Krausz was born in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1942 to musician and artist Laszlo Krausz and pianist and composer Susan Krausz. When Krausz was 5 years old, the family came to the U.S. as refugees from the German occupation of Europe. They settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where both parents led successful careers as musicians in the classical music community. 

After getting his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and his master’s from Indiana University, Krausz earned a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto and did post-doctoral work at Linacre College, Oxford University, and the London School of Economics. Krausz came to Bryn Mawr in 1970, was appointed as the Milton C. Nahm Professor of Philosophy in 1991, served as the department chair for 10 years, and retired in 2015. Krausz taught at the University of Toronto and was a visiting professor at American University, Georgetown University, Oxford University, and more. In 2001, Krausz’s philosophy was the subject of a four-day international conference at the University of Delhi. With Joseph Margolis, he founded the Greater Philadelphia Philosophy Consortium in 1980 and served as chair and then co-chair from 1988-1994.

Krausz was an accomplished philosopher, artist, and musician. In his book Roots in the Air: A Philosophical Autobiography of a Philosopher, Artist, and Musician, Krausz wrote, “I have developed the ability to actively pursue two things at a time for sustained periods; for example, I can do philosophy and music. And later, I came to see that I can do philosophy and art at the same time. But I cannot do three things at a time. In any event, philosophy is the constant.”

Krausz’s philosophical interests were broad—aesthetics, relativism, interpretation, identity, creativity, self-realization, Hindu philosophy, philosophy of science, philosophy of history, and philosophy of music. He published six sole-authored books, edited or co-edited an additional 11 books, and authored more than 60 articles. Krausz co-taught courses with faculty in anthropology, biology, history, art history, and physics.

In 2015, then-chair of Philosophy Robert Dostal organized a symposium to celebrate Krausz’s career at Bryn Mawr. Each of the papers by the participants at the symposium explored different aspects of Krausz’s work that reflected the critical engagement with ideas that was the hallmark of Krausz’s approach. The papers were edited, rewritten, and appeared with two additional contributions in Interpretation, Relativism, and Identity: Essays on the Philosophy of Michael Krausz. Former colleague Christine Kugel, Harvey Wexler Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, chaired the symposium and co-edited the published volume.

When Krausz was 12, his father helped him get accepted as a scholarship student with violinist Josef Gingold. Thus began his mastery of the violin, but also his introduction to conducting. At Bryn Mawr, Krausz founded the Great Hall Chamber Orchestra and became the artistic director and conductor from 2005-2014. Concerts for which he brought in principal players from the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra to play in the Great Hall were much appreciated by the College and the community. Krausz was also a guest conductor of many professional orchestras. Starting in 2002, Krausz taught aesthetics and philosophy of interpretation at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. 

Krausz was a prolific painter and participated in many solo and group exhibitions. As illustrated in Roots in the Air, the cover of which is from his painting, End of Texts, Krausz’s art is closely tied to philosophy and being a philosopher. The ciphers in his paintings are evocative of musical notes as well as Asian calligraphy.

Krausz held exhibitions at Canaday Library at Bryn Mawr and gifted two of his paintings to the College. Krausz’s paintings were deeply influenced by the artist Constance Costigan, whom he met at an art workshop in Maine in 1972 and married in 1976. Their home in Lewes, Delaware, was a meeting place when Krausz taught at Bryn Mawr and Costigan at George Washington. Upon retirement, they lived full-time in Lewes, where they became very involved with the Rehoboth Art League, the Artist’s Exchange, and various other community and book groups. Given his history and his family’s losses in the Holocaust, Krausz was also concerned about both human rights issues and his community. He was one of the founders of the Seaside Jewish Community in Rehoboth.

Krausz is predeceased by Costigan, his parents, and his brother Peter. He is survived by his nephew and nieces. He also leaves many dear friends at Bryn Mawr, the Lewes region, and all around the world.