The philosophy group at Deakin is saddened by the passing of Professor Emeritus Max Charlesworth AO, who passed away on 2nd June 2014 in Melbourne aged 89.

Professor Charlesworth was Head of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Melbourne before becoming Planning Dean of the School of Humanities at the newly-formed Deakin University in 1976 and Professor of Philosophy from 1980.

Across his long career Max made outstanding contributions to philosophy in Australia, principally in the fields of Contemporary European philosophy, bioethics and the philosophy of religion, not least as the founder of the journal Sophia. He made many innovations in education and was a prominent public intellectual.

As a founder and leading light of this department for many years, Deakin philosophy owes him an enormous debt of gratitude, and he leaves behind many friends and admirers here. He will be greatly missed.

The Australasian Association of Philosophy has established a Tributes Page, where those who knew Max are invited to share their recollections.