Prof Ten Chin Liew was conferred the title Emeritus Professor on 17 April 2015 in recognition of his sterling contributions and distinguished service to scholarship and the University.
Prof Ten has accumulated over 25 years of service to the University, including 7½ years as Head of the Department of Philosophy and countless hours as a dedicated and inspiring teacher and supervisor. He is also a Fellow at both the Australian Academy of the Humanities and the Academy of Social Services.
Prof Ten is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading authorities, if not the leading authority on the political philosophy of John Stuart Mill. His ideas have influenced the likes of other notable philosophers such as H.L.A. Hart, Joseph Raz, Nigel Walker and Wayne Summer, just to name a few. Prof Ten had also contributed nationally in the areas of bioethics and laboratory animal research.
On receiving the Emeritus Professorship, Prof Ten says: “I am delighted and honoured to be given this Award. My association with NUS and its predecessors goes back a very long way. I was a freshman at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur in 1957. I graduated with B.A. (Hons) in Philosophy from the University of Malaya in Singapore in 1961. My first full-time academic appointment was to the Philosophy Department, University of Singapore, in 1964.”
“Since then I have taught at Monash University in Australia and at the National University of Singapore. In Singapore, I have greatly enjoyed teaching a wide range of courses, both undergraduate and graduate, in the Philosophy Department and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. I look forward to my continued association with NUS.”
On behalf of the University, NUS Provost Prof Tan Eng Chye presented a goldfish plaque as a token of appreciation for Prof Ten. The poem at the lower left of the plaque reads:
Nine goldfish swimming happily all day long
Up to the fragrant lotus in the pond
When the time is right and the wind
Begins to blow, their dreams will come true
Lo and Behold.”
Auspiciously significant to the Chinese, the goldfish signifies wealth and abundance while the lotus is a symbol of purity and fruitfulness due to its ability to flourish even in muddy water.
Our heartiest congratulations to Prof Ten once again!
NUS Provost Prof Tan Eng Chye, presenting the goldfish plaque to Prof Ten
(Photo credit: Nicholas Cai)
Prof Ten (4th from right), NUS Provost Prof Tan Eng Chye (right), FASS Dean Prof Brenda Yeoh (2nd from right), FASS Director of Administration Mr Mark Teng (left, first row), Prof Chong Chi Tat, Head of the Department of Philosophy A/P Michael Pelczar and the faculty from the Department of Philosophy at the award ceremony.