She was my doctoral supervisor and the most intellectually honest person I have ever met. If she didn't know something, she said so. In academia, that is almost revolutionary.
5 months ago
Nora Elizabeth Burns
December 11, 1939 – January 11, 2026 · 86 years
"She asked good questions and listened to the answers."
Biography
Nora Elizabeth Burns was a retired professor of philosophy at the University of Vermont, where she taught for 40 years and influenced generations of students. Born in Dublin, Ireland, Nora earned her doctorate at Oxford and crossed the Atlantic in 1968. She published six books on ethics and moral philosophy, the last of which she finished at age 84. Nora was a fierce debater, a gentle counselor, and the kind of professor students came back to visit decades later. She is survived by her partner Helena, her brother Seamus, and former students who number in the thousands.
Messages & Tributes (14)
+ Write a MessageNora reviewed my dissertation at a critical moment and saved me from a serious error. She did it with such grace that I didn't feel embarrassed — I felt grateful.
5 months ago
She told me in her office hours that asking a good question was more important than having the right answer. I've been asking better questions ever since.
5 months ago
My sister Nora left Dublin as a young woman and turned herself into someone extraordinary. She never forgot where she came from. She called Mam every Sunday until Mam passed.
5 months ago