University of Richmond
James Rachels Papers
Rachels, James Webster, Jr., 1941-2003
MS-12
/repositories/4/resources/4
1 Linear Feet
1964 - 2002 and undated
The collection is predominantly in English with translated works in Italian and French.
Accruals
David Rachels sent a set of small additions to the collection in May 2024.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The James Rachels Papers were donated to the University of Richmond by James Rachels's son, David Rachels, in July 2013.
Arrangement
The papers are arranged in four series:
- Series 1: Correspondence
- Series 2: Manuscripts
- Series 3: Book Reviews
- Series 4: Personal
Within each series, files have been arranged alphabetically by personal name, subject, or title. Items within files have been arranged chronologically while undated items have been kept in their original order.
Biographical / Historical
James Webster Rachels, Jr. (1941-2003) was an influential American philosopher best known for his works on medical ethics (particularly euthanasia) as well as animal rights. He was born on May 30, 1941, in Columbus, Georgia where he also grew up. Rachels received a bachelor's degree from Mercer University in 1962 and a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1967.
After receiving his Ph.D., Rachels taught at the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia from 1966 until 1968. He subsequently taught at New York University (1968-1972), the University of Miami (1972-1977), and Duke University (1975) before coming to the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he taught from 1977 until his death in 2003. At the University of Alabama, Rachels served as the Chair of the Department of Philosophy from 1977-1979, Dean of the School of Humanities from 1978-1983, and acting Academic Vice President in 1983.
In 1971, he edited his first book,
Moral Problems: A Collection of Philosophical Essays, which had great success as a college philosophy textbook. He wrote a second textbook, The Elements of Moral Philosophy, in 1986. In its sixth edition (2010), The Elements of Moral Philosophy continues to be widely used as a college philosophy textbook. Rachels' highly influential article, "Active and Passive Euthanasia," was published in 1975 in the New England Journal of Medicine. This work solidified his role as an important medical ethicist in the debate concerning euthanasia. His second book,
The End of Life: Euthanasia and Morality, was published in 1986. It was widely reviewed and debated in both popular newspapers and scholarly journals. Rachels' third book, Created From Animals: The Moral Implications of Darwinism, on animal rights (particularly concerning the use of animals in experiments) was published in 1990 with similar widespread recognition. Just before his death, Rachels held the National Endowment for the Humanities' Distinguished Visiting Professorship from 2001-2002 at the University of Richmond.
Rachels died September 5, 2003 in Birmingham, Alabama.
Preferred Citation
[Box Number, Folder Number], MS-12, James Rachels Papers, Book Arts, Archives, & Rare Books, Boatwright Memorial Library, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia.
Processing Information
File description titles reflect their original labels. Dated documents have been arranged chronologically while original order has been retained for undated correspondence and manuscripts. Additions accrued in 2024 were added to the collection during Summer 2025.
Processed by Erica L. Johnson, an intern, in September 2013; additions processed by Lynda Kachurek, Summer 2025.
Related Materials
The following books written or edited by James Rachels are located in the circulating collection at the University of Richmond's Boatwright Memorial Library:
- Rachels, James. Can Ethics Provide Answers? Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield, 1997.
- Rachels, James. Created From Animals: The Moral Implications of Darwinism. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990.
- Rachels, James. The Elements of Moral Philosophy. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1993.
- Rachels, James. The End of Life: Euthanasia and Morality. New York: Oxford University Press, 1986.
- Rachels, James. The Legacy of Socrates: Essays in Moral Philosophy. Edited by Stuart Rachels. New York: Columbia University Press, 2007.
- Rachels, James, ed. Moral Problems: A Collection of Philosophical Essays. New York: Harper & Row, 1975.
- Rachels, James and Frank A. Tillman, eds. Philosophical Issues: A Contemporary Introduction. New York: Harper & Row, 1972.
Scope and Contents
This collection documents the professional life of James Rachels. Rachels wrote and edited a vast amount of books and articles during his career, which is reflected in this collection.
James Rachels (1941-2003) was an influential American philosopher and ethicist best known for his works on medical ethics and animal rights. The James Rachels Papers contains materials documenting his professional life. It includes correspondence, manuscripts, and collected reviews of his most notable books.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright restrictions may apply. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder. Usage of material in Box 1 File 28 is restricted and cannot be used outside of the context provided by the family. Please refer to the note found in the file for further information.
Bibliography
O'Connor, Anahad. "James Rachels, 62, Ethicist Who Ignited Euthanasia Debate, Dies." The New York Times, September 9, 2003. Accessed September 20, 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/09/obituaries/09RACH.html
James Rachels Official Website. "James Rachels Curriculum Vitae." Accessed September 9, 2013. http://www.jamesrachels.org/JamesRachelsCV.pdf
Personal correspondence
Ethics
Philosophy
Book reviews
Manuscripts
Translations
Philosophers
Ethicists
Rachels, James Webster, Jr., 1941-2003
Correspondence/repositories/4/archival_objects/391971-2001 and undatedScope and ContentsSeries 1: Correspondence contains material from 1971 to 1997. It consists largely of correspondence from other scholars to Rachels regarding manuscripts and mutual research subjects such as euthanasia and animal rights. There is a significant amount of correspondence from numerous scholars regarding Rachels' 1975 article "Active and Passive Euthanasia." A large amount of correspondence from book and journal editors regarding the publishing of Rachels' work is also present. A smaller amount of correspondence exists regarding translations of his works. This series also contains manuscripts sent to Rachels for review from other scholars.
Correspondence - Adams, E.M./repositories/4/archival_objects/361986198920011 MS-121Correspondence – Bennett, Jonathan/repositories/4/archival_objects/4219801 MS-122Correspondence – Cahn, Steven M./repositories/4/archival_objects/431986199019911 MS-123Correspondence Regarding Can Ethics Provide Answers?/repositories/4/archival_objects/4419961 MS-124Correspondence – Cavalieri, Paola, et al./repositories/4/archival_objects/451989-19951 MS-125Correspondence – Edwards, Paul/repositories/4/archival_objects/4619761 MS-126Correspondence Regarding Created from Animals/repositories/4/archival_objects/471986-19911 MS-127Correspondence Regarding The End of Life/repositories/4/archival_objects/48198519891 MS-128Correspondence – Falk, W.D./repositories/4/archival_objects/491977197819841 MS-129Correspondence – Fletcher, Joseph/repositories/4/archival_objects/501975198019861 MS-1210Correspondence – Furberg, Mats/repositories/4/archival_objects/511971197219741 MS-1211Correspondence – Lackey, Douglas/repositories/4/archival_objects/521978-19931 MS-1212Correspondence – Ladd, John/repositories/4/archival_objects/53197519771 MS-1213Correspondence – Leites, Edmund/repositories/4/archival_objects/5419731975undated1 MS-1214Correspondence – Miscellaneous/repositories/4/archival_objects/551974-19931 MS-1215Correspondence – Mohr, Richard/repositories/4/archival_objects/561985-19941 MS-1216Correspondence – Nielsen, Kai/repositories/4/archival_objects/5719781 MS-1217Correspondence – Regan, Tom/repositories/4/archival_objects/591980-19911 MS-1218Correspondence – Singer, Peter/repositories/4/archival_objects/601974-19911997undated1 MS-1219Correspondence – Smart, J.J.C./repositories/4/archival_objects/6119911 MS-1220Correspondence – Thomson, Judy/repositories/4/archival_objects/63[1974?]19751 MS-1221Manuscripts/repositories/4/archival_objects/401964-2002 and undatedScope and ContentsSeries 2: Manuscripts contains material from 1962 to 2002, although a large amount is undated. Manuscripts include scholarly articles, book chapters, school papers, book reviews by Rachels, and unpublished works on a variety of subjects. Many manuscripts reflect the editing and publishing process with corrections and print proofs present. Some handwritten research notes made by Rachels are also found within this series. Multiple topics are covered, including animal rights, euthanasia, the death penalty, religion, and morality. This series also contains some correspondence generally regarding the editing and publishing of manuscripts as well as related research. Translations of Rachels' work are also included in this series.
Manuscripts – "On Abortion"/repositories/4/archival_objects/64undated1 MS-1222Manuscripts – "The Animal Rights Movement Comes of Age"/repositories/4/archival_objects/6519861 MS-1223Manuscripts – "Are Quotas Sometimes Justified?"/repositories/4/archival_objects/661992undated1 MS-1224Manuscripts – "Berkeley's Conception of the Self"/repositories/4/archival_objects/6819641 MS-1225Manuscripts – Book Reviews/repositories/4/archival_objects/69[1993?]undated1 MS-1226Manuscripts – "Buster Keaton"/repositories/4/archival_objects/70undated1 MS-1227Manuscripts – "The Case Against Abortion"/repositories/4/archival_objects/71undated1 MS-1228Conditions Governing UseAny quotation, citation, paraphrasing, or other use of this article is restricted by the family. It may only be used under the intent with which it was written, as explained by the family, and not as a portrayal of James Rachels' views or opinions.
Manuscripts – "The Death Penalty"/repositories/4/archival_objects/73undated1 MS-1229Manuscripts – "Distributive Justice and Reverse Discrimination"/repositories/4/archival_objects/75undated1 MS-1230Manuscripts – "Ethics and the Bible"/repositories/4/archival_objects/7620011 MS-1231Manuscripts – "Euthanasia"/repositories/4/archival_objects/771991undated2 MS-121Manuscripts – "Gyges' Ring"/repositories/4/archival_objects/78undated2 MS-122Manuscripts – "Honesty"/repositories/4/archival_objects/79undated2 MS-123Manuscripts – "The Integrity of Mind Argument"/repositories/4/archival_objects/80undated2 MS-124Manuscripts – "John Stuart Mill and the Barbarians"/repositories/4/archival_objects/81undated2 MS-125Manuscripts – "Political Assassination"/repositories/4/archival_objects/821974undated2 MS-126Manuscripts – "Kant's Last Murder"/repositories/4/archival_objects/83undated2 MS-127Manuscripts – "Killing, Letting Die, and the Value of Life"/repositories/4/archival_objects/8419921993undated2 MS-128Manuscripts – "Mr. Hobbes' Glasses"/repositories/4/archival_objects/85undated2 MS-129Manuscripts – "Moral Considerations on the Use of Human and Nonhuman Subjects in Psychological Research" /repositories/4/archival_objects/86undated2 MS-1210Manuscripts – "On Moral Persuasion"/repositories/4/archival_objects/87undated2 MS-1211Manuscripts – "Moral Philosophy as a Subversive Activity"/repositories/4/archival_objects/8819911992undated2 MS-1212Manuscripts – "Morality, the Greeks, and the Callatians"/repositories/4/archival_objects/89undated2 MS-1213Manuscripts – "Philosophical Villains"/repositories/4/archival_objects/90undated2 MS-1214Manuscripts – "Prejudice and Equal Treatment"/repositories/4/archival_objects/9119891990undated2 MS-1215Manuscripts – "On Privacy"/repositories/4/archival_objects/921973undated2 MS-1216Manuscripts – "Relevant Differences"/repositories/4/archival_objects/93undated2 MS-1217Manuscripts – "On Religion"/repositories/4/archival_objects/94undated2 MS-1218Manuscripts – "The Ships of Theseus"/repositories/4/archival_objects/951974undated2 MS-1219Manuscripts – "The Value of Human Life"/repositories/4/archival_objects/9620022 MS-1220Translations of James Rachels' Work/repositories/4/archival_objects/971987-20012 MS-1221Book Reviews/repositories/4/archival_objects/411986-1993 and undatedScope and ContentsSeries 3: Book Reviews contains reviews of his books from both scholarly and popular sources published between 1986 and 1993 with some undated.
Reviews – italics">Created from Animals/repositories/4/archival_objects/981990-1993undated2 MS-1222Reviews – italics">The Elements of Moral Philosophy/repositories/4/archival_objects/9919872 MS-1223Reviews – italics">The End of Life/repositories/4/archival_objects/1001986-1990undated2 MS-1224