Independent Scholar

David_-_The_Death_of_Socrates This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 100 years or less.I have a broad academic background in philosophy, with a specialization in social and political philosophy and theory and the history of philosophy, particularly Plato, Kant, Hegel, Russell, and Sartre.  I also specialize in logic. I have a background in applied, normative, and meta-ethics. My senior honors thesis, Much to Do About Suffering (2002) looked at the obligations societies have to prevent and alleviate the suffering experienced by their citizens. I am currently working on broadening this thesis to a book-length manuscript that will not only look at Kantian duties and group responsibility, but will also look in-depth at levels of suffering.

From 2004-2006, I worked on (and obtained) a Masters of Arts in philosophy from Northern Illinois University. During my time there, I presented on the special duties of friendship from a Sartrean perspective. I also presented a paper, “Kantian Politics in The Critique of Pure Reason” at the 2007 MPSA Conference held at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. From 2006-2007 (December), I attended Michigan State University, and I worked toward a Ph.D. in philosophy. While I did not complete the program due to financial and family considerations, I did thrive in the program. I served as a TA for an introduction to logic course and for a humanities course focusing on the modern world taught to mostly juniors and seniors. I presented my paper, “The General Will Toward Perpetual Peace: A look at the general will in Kantian political theory” at the 2007 International Social Philosophy Conference in Millersville, PA.

Since leaving graduate school, I have continued to write and publish articles in the capacity of an independent scholar. I have presented on sustainability, written about Native American history, and published on epistemology. Current research interests include looking at:

  • Suffering and the responsibilities of states to citizens
  • Group responsibility
  • Nietzsche and state legitimacy
  • Plato’s erotic dialogues and social theory
  • Leibniz and responsibility
  • The metaphysical status of suffering
  • The epistemic status of testimonies about pain
  • Comparative studies of perspectives on suffering between eastern and western philosophies
  • Perspectives on technology and its relation to mediating reality
  • Contemporary solutions to environmental problems
  • Responsibilities of pharmaceutical companies to patients
  • Responsibilities of agricultural companies to citizens
  • The impact of social media on community
  • Biomedical ethics and antibiotics
  • Risk attenuation and amplification in vaccinating populations
  • Risk attenuation and amplification in GMOs
  • Responsibilities of citizens to their communities
  • The relationship between social media and a decline in empathetic reasoning
  • Wealth and poverty

In addition to adding articles to volumes in the Pop Culture and Philosophy series, I have also written entries for a number of encyclopedias and I have served as a freelance editor for a philosophy textbook.

Please see my current CV for more information about my academic background. Here is a complete list of my scholarly and encyclopedic publications and presentations:

Publications:

  • “Birthday Parties.” The Social History of the American Family. Marilyn Coleman & Lawrence Ganong eds., September 2014.
  • “Engagement Parties.” The Social History of the American Family. Marilyn Coleman & Lawrence Ganong eds., September 2014.
  • “Sweet Sixteen.” The Social History of the American Family. Marilyn Coleman & Lawrence Ganong eds., September 2014.
  • “Wealthy Families.” The Social History of the American Family. Marilyn Coleman & Lawrence Ganong eds., September 2014.
  • “Barn Facades and Crime-Solving: How do we know a crime was solved.” In Psych and Philosophy, Robert Arp, Ed. Popular Culture and Philosophy. New York: Open Court Press 2013.
  • “Paternalism, Tradition, and Assimilation in Ang Lee’s ‘Father Knows Best’ Trilogy.” in The Philosophy of Ang Lee (The Philosophy of Pop Culture). Robert Arp, Adam Barkman, and James McRae, Eds. Lexington, KY: University of Kentucky Press, 2013.
  • “Friends and Lovers: Why Your Best Friend May be Your Greatest Love.” in What Philosophy Can Tell You about Your Lover. Edited by Sharon Kaye. Oxford: Blackwell, March, 2012.
  • “Artichoke” in Encyclopedia of Cultivated Plants: From Acacia to Zinnia. Christopher, Cumo, Ed. Santa Barbara, CA; ABC-Clio, 2013.
  • “Celery” in Encyclopedia of Cultivated Plants. Christopher, Cumo, Ed. Santa Barbara, CA; ABC-Clio, 2013.
  • “Georgia” in Native America: A State by State History, Daniel S. Murphy, Ed., Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2012.
  • “Vermont” in Native America: A State by State History, Daniel S. Murphy, Ed., Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2012.
  • “Tennessee” in Native America: A State by State History, Daniel S. Murphy, Ed., Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2012.
  • “Maine” in Native America: A State by State History, Daniel S. Murphy, Ed., Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2012.
  • “Is There Life on Pandora? Review of James Cameron‟s Avatar,” Jura Gentium Cinema: Cinema and Globalization, April 2010.
  • “Bringing Back Focal Practices to Combat a Hot, Flat, and Crowded World: A Critique of Thomas L. Friedman” in Infinity Journal (Feb/March 2010), Spotlight Article.
  • Freelance Editor, THINK Philosophy, Pearson Publishing, Forthcoming
  • “Review of Thomas L. Friedman (2008) Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why we need a green revolution – and how it can renew America” in In-Spire Journal of Law, Politics, and Societies (Vol. 4, No. 1 – 2009) 101-102
  • “Wealth and Poverty” in The Encyclopedia of the Early Republic & Antebellum America, Sharpe Reference, 2010.
  • “Maternal Ethics” in The Encyclopedia of Motherhood, SAGE Publications, 2010.
  • “ADD” in The Encyclopedia of Motherhood, SAGE Publications, 2010.
  • “Christopher Columbus‟ Mother” in The Encyclopedia of Motherhood, SAGE Publications, 2010.
  • “Nannies” in The Encyclopedia of Motherhood, SAGE Publications, 2010.
  • “Royal Mothers” in The Encyclopedia of Motherhood, SAGE Publications, 2010.
  • “Should We Be Raising Altruists?” with Legg, E., Lavis, F., and Gillette, S. in The Philosophy Student Writer’s Manual. Graybosch, A. J., et al. Pearson, 2003. p. 238-245.

Presentations:

  • “Small Steps to Sustainability: Treating Going Green as a Change Management Project.” Presented at This Way to Sustainability VII Conference, March 2012.
  • “Sustainable Life Practices: Returning to Focal Practices.” Presented November 6, 2010 at This Way to Sustainability, VI. Chico, CA.
  • “The General Will Toward Perpetual Peace: A look at the general will in Kantian Political Theory” Presented at the 2007 International Social Philosophy Conference, Millersville, PA.
  • “Kantian Politics in The Critique of Pure Reason’’ Presented at the 2007 MPSA Conference, April 12th -15th Palmer House Hilton Chicago, IL
  • Chair for Hobbes Panel 2007 MPSA (Midwest Political Science Association) Conference April 12th – 15th Palmer House Hilton, Chicago IL
  • “Much to Do About Suffering” Presented at Midwest Political Science Association Conference Roundtable on Inequality and Poverty, April 20 2006.
  • “Much to Do About Suffering” Presented at NIU Graduate Student Conference April 15, 2006
  • “Can We Bridge the Gap? A Commentary on Sarah Grubb’s ‘Bridging the Gap’” Presented at NIU Graduate Student Conference April 15, 2006.
  • “If My Friend Fails, Should I Help Her Up?” Presented NIU Graduate Student Conference, January 28, 2005
  • “Much to Do About Suffering.” presented at 2002 HFA Symposium. Chico, CA