Cross-posted from Prosblogion

In my last year at Rochester, there was a steady stream of people in to pay last respects to one they truly respected. I turned down three opportunities to go see him, because I felt it wouldn't be right, since I hadn't known him in his prime. I can tell you though that figures as diverse as Linda Zagzebski and Alvin Goldman came through to pay their final respects, in each case Ed Weirenga facilitated the visits.

In my own case, my philosophizing has been dominated by four phases of Alston's work: 1. Deontogical justification, 2. Levels issues, 3. Combining aspects of internism and externalism, and 4. Pluralism about epistemic desiderata.

Only three other people have made anything like the kind of total contribution to my overall approach to epistemology. And those are all people I worked with very closely.

The result has been that it is not far from true to say that 99% of my epistemological theorizing has been significantly influenced by Alson, even though that theorizing has been quite far flung. Now matter where I went, his tracks were already there.

And of course he made signal contributions in the philosophy of language and philosophy of religion as well. And, what's more, the way he personally influenced multiple generations of philosophers--Al Plantinga, Peter van Inwagen, Dean Zimmerman, and Tom Senor just to name a few.

Losing him reminds me of the George Jones song "Who's gonna fill their shoes?" I know I can't, but perhaps if lots of us try we can collectivly fill a portion of the void.

William P. Alston. 1921-2009. Requiesat in Pace

UPDATE: I checked over at the Philosophy Family Tree and it states that the following individuals were Alston students (it usually indicates doctoral dissertations directed, but not always): Audi, Mavrodes, Wainwright, Rowe, and Dan Howard-Snyder.