Retiring professor David Schwartz reflects on nearly three decades at the College

David Schwartz

David Schwartz, Randolph’s Mary Frances Williams Chair in Humanities and a professor of comparative philosophy, wants his students to find their voices in his classroom. 

“In my teaching, I seek to do two things: Present philosophy as an engaging narrative story and encourage students to question the material I teach to see if they personally accept it,” said Schwartz, who is retiring this year after nearly three decades behind the Red Brick Wall. 

“Philosophy should not be something that only experts practice,” he added. “Everyone should think about and have their own answers to the classic philosophical questions and problems. My job in the classroom was to provide the framework whereby students could explore important questions on their own.”

Schwartz, who earned his undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University (TCU) and his masters and PhD from Rice University, came to Randolph in 1997 after stints teaching at TCU and working for the United States General Accounting Office, auditing federal programs such as NASA. 

During his time here, he published numerous articles on ethics and the philosophy of art, as well as a book on federal funding for the arts. In 2010, he published the book Consuming Choices, which explores whether consumers have moral obligations to boycott products made with immoral practices. 

He has also extensively studied rewilding, a progressive approach to conservation that focuses on letting nature take care of itself, thus enabling natural processes to shape land and waterways, repair ecosystems, and restore degraded landscapes. The ultimate goal is to create wilder, more biodiverse habitats.

Schwartz also became well-known locally for his “Ant Car,” a yellow 1984 Volvo covered in giant ants. He started the project on campus in 2004, taking inspiration from the Houston Art Car Parade. 

“I have had a wonderful career at Randolph College,” he said. “I stayed all this time because of the sense of community here, and because I had the freedom to teach a  wider range of courses than I would have been able to teach at a large college or university.” 

How did you first become interested in philosophy and then narrow it down to your interests in environmental philosophy/ethics and rewilding?

“I found philosophy quite by accident. In college, I had to take a philosophy course for general education credit, and when I did I knew philosophy was for me. Environmental ethics allowed me to combine my love of philosophy with my love of nature. I plan to continue this line of research in retirement.” 

What have been some of your favorite classes to teach?

“I have enjoyed all my classes, but my favorites are probably Philosophy of Art, Ethics and Public Life, and Classical Philosophy.”

Can you talk a little bit about the transition into the College’s comparative philosophy major, and why that was an important change for the program? 

“The transition to comparative philosophy was an important change that shows how Randolph is committed to an inclusive curriculum that recognizes the value of going beyond the traditional European-centered curriculum. Randolph students now have a philosophy curriculum that includes not only European and American thinkers, but also important philosophical traditions from Asia, Africa, indigenous lands, and the global south.”

What advice would you give to students?

“My advice to students is to show up for life. Eighty percent of life is just showing up, so show up for class, show up for your friends, show up for your team, and show up for yourself. Not showing up in life is the route to unhappiness and missed opportunities.”

Can you talk a little about the process of bringing The Ant Car to life, and what role your students at the time played in its creation? 

“The Ant Car was my attempt to enter the world of art cars. Making it has been an ongoing project over the last 20  years. The very first work on the Ant Car took place in the Maier Museum parking lot back in 2004. Several students in my Philosophy of Art class helped with the original painting and design. When I made it, I had no idea it would be a thing for 20-plus years!  I’ve met so many people showing the Ant Car at parades, events, and schools. I love watching young children (and adults) explore the car and ask questions about it.”

What’s next for you?

“Next for me is having some downtime to think about what my next chapter in life will be. Stay tuned!”