4 Named 'Possibilities' For New Professorship

The newly established Carl M. Loeb University Professorship may go to either J. Robert Oppenheimer '26, Ernest Nagel, John Dewey Professor of Philosophy at Columbia, Isaiah Berlin, historian at Oxford University, or Erwin Panofsky, professor of the History of Art at Princeton, it was learned yesterday.

The name of Oppenheimer arose in response to the need for a University professor in the sciences. Since Percy W. Bridgman '04, Higgins University Professor, Emeritus, retired, none of the University Professors has been a scientist. The physicist, who is next year's William James Lecturer in Philosophy and Psycholgy, has previously refused appointment as University Professor it was also learned.

There are also indications that other departments outside of science would welcome his appointment.

Nagel Not Approached

Nagel, one of the foremost philosophers of science in the world, presumably would satisfy the need for a scientist. When reached last night in New York, he said that he had not yet been approached by the University.

Panofsky also said he had not been approached. He now has one of the few permanent professorships at the Institute, which is headed by Oppenheimer.

The new professorship was established two weeks ago in memory of Carl M. Loeb, a New York banker and broker. The income from the $500,000 endowment provides for the salary, research, and other supporting expenses.

President Pusey, in acknowledging the gift, called it "a magnificent gift and true expression of Mr. Loeb's wide and humane interests." Although the appointment of a University Professor is up to the president, it seems certain that the wishes of the faculty will be taken into account.

University Professorships are held by "men working on the frontiers of knowledge and in such a way as to cross the conventional boundaries of the specialties," Pusey explained.