Beri Marušić

Once, fairly late in graduate school, I was asked who my favorite philosopher was. It’s funny that the question had never occurred to me before. But after some brief reflection, I answered: Barry Stroud. In the course of this brief reflection, Barry beat out David Hume, the only other contender. And it is true that Barry was my favorite philosopher: He was interesting, subtle, tough, direct and unyielding, yet generous and patient, and he was thoughtful without a trace of indulgence. His work was deep and clear, but not too clear (which, I think, is a condition for real depth). —To illustrate this: Another question that stumped me some years later, because, funnily enough, it had never occurred to me before, is: What is the significance of philosophical skepticism? I confess that I have never managed to answer that one.

Barry marked my six years in Berkeley not only through his teaching and through our conversations (many of them in Café Nefeli where, I knew, I could usually find Barry at lunchtime), but perhaps most importantly by engaging my imagination. He was present with me every day, as both an imagined and real philosophical interlocutor and also as a role model—as someone who knew how to live well, but, again, without indulgence. He appreciated the joys of life without mystifying them. He liked good wine, good food, and company—even mine, which was probably not always good. And he had his own style, not only as an intellectual and philosopher, but as an ordinary person. (His turquoise or burgundy socks which matched his polo shirts come to mind!)

It pains me deeply that I have not spoken to Barry in recent years. This is partly because of the exigencies of life, but partly also because I felt that I never could find the right words to say what I wanted to say, so that what mattered to me the most always remained unspoken. I felt that I never managed to convey to Barry all my affection for him. What I really wanted to say to him approaches this: Dear Barry, I will always be deeply grateful for your longstanding support, for everything I have learned from you, and for having you as my role model. I have great admiration for you as a philosopher and an intellectual and a person: I especially value your directness and patience, your depth and clarity in thought, and your integrity. I also just really like you. I miss you dearly.