Adam C. Pelser
Curriculum Vitae
Curriculum Vitae
Education
Ph.D., Philosophy, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, 2011
Dissertation: "Emotion, Evaluative Perception, and Epistemic Goods"
Committee Chair: Robert C. Roberts, Ph.D.
M.A., Philosophy, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, 2009
M.A., Religion, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 2007, highest honors
Thesis: "Made in the Image of Man: The Value of Christian Theology for Public Moral Discourse on Human Cloning"
Advisor: Simeon Ilesanmi, Ph.D., J.D.
B.A., Philosophy, Biola University, La Mirada, California, 2003, summa cum laude
Areas of Specialization
Ethics, Moral Psychology (esp. Emotion and Character), Philosophy of Religion & Philosophical Theology
Areas of Competence
Epistemology, Professional & Applied Ethics, C.S. Lewis, Comparative World Religions
Employment
Professor of Philosophy, United States Air Force Academy, July 2021-present
Associate Professor of Philosophy, United States Air Force Academy, July 2016–June 2021
Assistant Professor of Philosophy, United States Air Force Academy, August 2013–June 2016
Teacher-scholar Post-doctoral Fellow, The Character Project, Department of Philosophy, Wake Forest University, July 2012–June 2013
Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy, University of Oklahoma, August 2011–May 2012
Graduate Assistant and Teacher of Record, Baylor University, August 2007–July 2011
Instructor of Logic, Live Oak Classical School, August 2008–May 2010
Publications
Books:
Faith & Virtue Formation: Christian Philosophy in Aid of Becoming Good, ed. Adam C. Pelser and W. Scott Cleveland (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021)
Peer-reviewed Articles and Book Chapters:
18. "Fostering Respect in the Military," Journal of Military Ethics 20 (2021): 281-292.
17. "Cultivating Christian Love," in Faith & Virtue Formation, ed. Adam C. Pelser and W. Scott Cleveland (Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2021), 191-210.
16. "Emotional Evangelism, Affective Apologetics," in A Charitable Orthopathy: Christian Perspectives on Emotions in Multifaith Engagement, ed. John W. Morehead and Brandon C. Benziger (Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2020), 169-182.
15. "Respect as an Intellectual Virtue," with co-author Ryan West, in Virtue and Voice: Habits of Mind for a Return to Civil Discourse, ed. Gregg A. Ten Elshof and Evan Rosas (Abilene, TX: Abilene Christian University Press, 2019).
14. “Temptation, Virtue, and the Character of Christ,” Faith and Philosophy 36, 1 (2019): 81–101.
*Winner of the 2020 Research Award from the Dallas Willard Research Center in the Martin Institute for Christianity and Culture *
13. “Emotions, Character, and Associationist Psychology” (with Robert C. Roberts), Journal of Moral Philosophy 14, 6, special issue, guest ed. Christian Miller (2017), 623-645.
12. “Philosophy in The Abolition of Man,” for Contemporary Perspectives on CS Lewis’ Abolition of Man: History, Philosophy, Education and Science, ed. Gayne Anacker and Tim Mosteller (New York: Bloomsbury Press, 2017), 5-24.
11. “Heavenly Sadness: On the Value of Negative Emotions in Paradise,” in Paradise Understood: New Philosophical Essays about Heaven, ed. Eric J. Silverman and Ryan Byerly (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2017), 113-135.
10. “Religious Value and Moral Psychology” (with Robert C. Roberts), in Handbook of Value: Perspectives from Economics, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Psychology, and Sociology, ed. Tobias Brosch and David Sander (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015), 375–394.
9. “Respect for Human Dignity as an Emotion and Virtue,” Res Philosophica special issue on Virtue and the Emotions, guest ed. Kevin Timpe, 92, 4 (2015): 743–763.
*Winner of the 2015 Res Philosophica Essay Prize*
8. “Perceiving God through Natural Beauty” (with Ryan West), Faith and Philosophy 32, 3 (2015): 293–312.
7. “Emotion, Evaluative Perception, and Epistemic Justification,” in Emotion and Value, ed. Sabine Roeser and Cain Todd (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014), 106–122.
6. “The Courage of Faith: Kierkegaardian Reflection on the Spiritual Danger of Enjoying Finite Goods,” Philosophia Christi 16, 2 (2014): 377–393.
5. “Foundational Beliefs and Persuading with Humor: Reflections Inspired by Reid and Kierkegaard” (with Daniel M. Johnson), Faith and Philosophy 31, 3 (2014): 267–285.
4. “Irrigating Deserts: Thinking with C.S. Lewis about Educating for Emotional Formation,” Christian Scholar’s Review 44, 1 (2014): 27–43.
3. “Reliabilism,” New Catholic Encyclopedia Supplement 2012-13: Ethics and Philosophy, vol. 4, ed. Robert L. Fastiggi (Detroit: Gale, 2013), 1331–1332.
2. “Against Frankfurt’s Care Ground of Importance,” Southwest Philosophy Review 27, 1 (2011): 101–09.
1. “Belief in Reid’s Theory of Perception,” History of Philosophy Quarterly 27, 4 (2010): 359–78.
Book Reviews:
5. Dallas Willard, The Disappearance of Moral Knowledge, edited and completed by Steven L. Porter, Aaron Preston, and Gregg A. Ten Elshof (Routledge, 2018), Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews (2019). [available online here]
4. Kevin Timpe and Craig A. Boyd, eds., Virtues and Their Vices (Oxford University Press, 2014), reviewed in Faith and Philosophy 33, 3 (2016): 13–17.
3. Peter Olsthoorn, Honor in Political and Moral Philosophy (SUNY Press, 2014), reviewed in Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews 06.34 (2015). [available online here]
2. Julien A. Deonna and Fabrice Teroni, The Emotions: A Philosophical Introduction (New York: Routledge, 2012), reviewed in Journal of Moral Philosophy 12, 2 (2015).
1. "Learning to Read the Old Testament from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John," a review of Richard B. Hays, Reading Backwards: Figural Christology and the Fourfold Gospel Witness (Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2014), reviewed in Christian Research Journal 38, 2 (2015).
Popular Essays:
10. “Ethics in a Pandemic Age: Beyond rules, rights, and responsibilities to grace, generosity, and gratitude,” published on my personal blog here and shared as a guest post on Michael Austin’s “Ethics for Everyone” blog at Psychology Today’s website.
9. "Thomas Reid: Minister, Philosopher, and Champion of Common Sense," Christian Research Journal 41, 5 (2018).
8. “The Abolition of Man Today,” Christian Research Journal 40, 1 (2017).
7. “Philosophy, Politics, and the End of Liberal Arts Education,” Christian Research Journal 39, 4 (2016): 25-29.
6. “Developing Discernment in Devotional Reading: A Critical Examination of Jesus Calling and One Thousand Gifts,” Christian Research Journal 38, 4 (2015): 18–25.
5. “Reasons of the Heart: Emotions in Apologetics,” Christian Research Journal 38, 1 (2015): 32–39.
4. “When Love Turns to Anger” (with Daniel M. Johnson), in Anger, Christian Reflection: A series in faith and ethics (Waco, TX: The Institute for Faith and Learning at Baylor University, 2014): 73–80.
3. “Affective Apologetics: Communicating Truth through Humor, Ridicule, and Emotions” (with Daniel M. Johnson), Christian Research Journal 35, 6 (December 2012).
2. “Becoming a Seasoned Apologist,” Christian Research Journal 31, 1 (January 2008).
1. “Genuine Temptation and the Character of Christ,” Christian Research Journal 30, 4 (August 2007).
Works In Progress:
"'Take Heart!'": Christian Courage as a Dependent Virtue," invited chapter in Oxford University Press edited volume on Courage (under contract)
Courses Taught
US Air Force Academy:
Philos 310 Ethics
Philos 310S Scholars Ethics
Philos 311 War, Morality, and the Military Profession
Philos 345 Philosophy of Love and Sex
Philos 350 Philosophy and Christian Thought
Philos 401 Comparative World Religions
Philos 410 Medical Ethics
Philos 495 Business Ethics
Philos 495 C.S. Lewis and Philosophy
Philos 499 Seminar on Character and Moral Agency (a two-week intensive summer seminar for a select group of West Point and Air Force Academy cadets)
Philos 499 Pascal's Wager and Intellectual Virtues
Hum 499 Faith in Victims of the Holocaust
Hum 499 Religion in Military Leadership
Wake Forest University:
PHI 115 Introduction to Philosophy of Religion, Spring 2013
PHI 280 Topics in Philosophy: Character and Virtue, Fall 2012
PHI 111 Basic Problems of Philosophy, Fall 2012
University of Oklahoma:
PHIL 1263 Introduction to Ethics in Health Care, Spring 2012
PHIL 1213 Introduction to Ethics: Seven Deadly Sins, Fall 2011, Spring 2012
PHIL 3273 Ethics and Business, Fall 2011, Spring 2012
PHIL 3990 Forgiveness, Mercy, & Justice, Spring 2012 (directed reading)
PHIL 2403 Introduction to Philosophy of Religion, Fall 2011
Baylor University:
PHI 1308 Introductory Topics in Ethics: Seven Deadly Sins, Spring 2011
PHI 1308 Introductory Topics in Ethics: Philosophy of Love and Sex, Fall 2010 and Summer 2011
BIC 1323 World of Rhetoric II: Rhetoric in Context, Baylor Interdisciplinary Core, Spring 2011
C.S. Lewis’ The Four Loves, Baylor Honors College Colloquium, September 2010
C.S. Lewis’ The Abolition of Man, Baylor Honors College Colloquium, April 2010
University 1000, Baylor New Student Programs, Fall 2008
Professional and Institutional Service
+ Referee for Ethics, Australasian Journal of Philosophy, Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, Faith and Philosophy, The Philosophical Quarterly, Mind, Synthese, Philosophical Psychology, Journal of Analytic Theology, The Southern Journal of Philosophy, European Journal for Philosophy of Religion, Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, Dialectica, and International Journal of Christianity and Education
+ Host of 2022 Society of Christian Philosophers Mountain-Pacific Regional Conference
+ Faculty Mentor for Stamps Scholarship winner, 2021-2022 (USAFA)
+ Advisor in Charge for the Department of Philosophy, spring 2020-present (USAFA)
+ Ethics and Respect for Human Dignity Outcome Team Lead, spring 2019–present (USAFA)
+ External reviewer and oral examiner for Mark Tan's PhD dissertation, summer 2020 (University of Auckland, NZ)
+ Rhodes/Marshall Scholarship Interview and Advisory Panel, fall 2018 (USAFA)
+ Associate Air Officer Commanding for Academics (AAOCA) for class of 2019 cadets (USAFA)
+ New Faculty Learning Community Mentor, summer–fall 2015 (USAFA)
+ Co-leader, with Capt. Joseph Chapa, of two town hall discussions on sexual assault and the “hook-up” culture; part of USAFA’s 2015 Sexual Assault Awareness Month, April 2015 (USAFA)
+ Member of First-year Instructors Panel, New Faculty Orientation, July 2014 (USAFA)
+ Co-leader, with Wayne Riggs, of faculty and graduate student reading group on intellectual virtues (University of Oklahoma)
+ Research Assistant to Dr. Jonathan Kvanvig (2008-09); duties included refereeing for, indexing, and copy-editing of Oxford Studies in Philosophy of Religion, Vol. II, as well as planning and organizing the 4th Annual Philosophy of Religion Conference held at Baylor University, Feb. 5-7, 2009 (Baylor University)
Presentations († indicates invited presentation, otherwise anonymously refereed)
"Accountability and Moral Knowledge," 2021 Baylor Symposium on Faith and Culture: Living Accountably, Baylor University, Waco, TX, October 27-29, 2021
"Cultivating Respect in the Military," 2019 Conference of the International Society for Military Ethics, Colorado Springs, CO, June 29-30, 2019
† "Emotion, Reason, and Christian Belief in the Writings of C.S. Lewis," USAFA Christian Faculty Fellowship, November 19, 2019
“Cultivating Christian Love in Community,” Society of Christian Philosophers Eastern Regional Conference, Asbury University, Wilmore, KY, September 28–30, 2017
† “Temptation, Virtue, and the Character of Christ,” Beacon Project Final Research Colloquia, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, June 28–30, 2018
† “Temptation, Virtue, and the Character of Christ,” Class Presentation and Q&A for Christian Miller’s Philosophy of Christianity Course at Wake Forest University, Video Conference, 22 Feb 2017, 26 Feb 2019, 3 March 2021
“The Temptations, Virtues, and Moral Exemplarity of Jesus” Society of Christian Philosophers Pacific Regional Conference, Biola University, La Mirada, CA, March 30–April 1, 2017
“Understanding and Cultivating the Virtues of Respect,” 4th Annual Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues Conference, Oriel College, Oxford University, January 7–9, 2016
† “The Moral Psychology of Cheating and What We Can Do About It,” a presentation for the Colorado/Pikes Peak Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter I-day, Denver, CO, November 5, 2015
“Respect as an Intellectual Virtue,” 4th Annual Conference of the Center for Christian Thought, Biola University, La Mirada, CA, May 8-9, 2015
“What Temptation Is: A moral-psychological sketch,” 3rd Annual Conference of the Center for Christian Thought, Biola University, La Mirada, CA, May 9-10, 2014
† “Nelson Mandela and the Virtue of Respect for Human Dignity,” National Character and Leadership Symposium, USAF Academy, CO, February 2014
† Comments on Brent Kyle’s “Ignorance, Skepticism, and Knowledge Closure,” 67th Annual Mountain Plains Philosophy Conference, USAF Academy, CO, October 3-5, 2013
“The Courage of Faith,” Society of Christian Philosophers Midwest Regional Conference, Georgetown College, Georgetown, KY, April 4-6, 2013
† Comments on Iskra Fileva’s “The Sources of Passivity: Why, if at all, is Character not up to Us?” American Philosophical Association Eastern Division Meeting, Atlanta, GA, December 27-30, 2012
† “Emotions: Should We Ever Trust Them?” Wake Forest University Undergraduate Philosopher’s Guild, Winston-Salem, NC, October 25, 2012
“Irrigating Deserts: Educating for Wisdom and Character through Emotional Formation,” 2012 Biennial Meeting of the Baptist Association of Philosophy Teachers, Union University, Jackson, TN, October 5-7, 2012
“Emotion and Moral Knowledge,” 2011 National Meeting of the Evangelical Philosophical Society, San Francisco, CA, November 16-18, 2011
“Forming the Heart: On Educating for Emotional Wisdom,” 2011 Baylor Symposium on Faith and Culture: Educating for Wisdom in the 21st Century University, Waco, TX, October 27-29, 2011
“Emotion and Epistemic Justification,” Moral Emotions and Intuitions conference, The Hague, The Netherlands, May 25-27, 2011
“Foundational Beliefs and Persuading with Humor: Reflections Inspired by Reid and Kierkegaard,” with co-author Daniel M. Johnson, 2010 National Meeting of the Evangelical Philosophical Society, Atlanta, GA, November 17-19, 2010
“Against Frankfurt’s Care Ground of Importance,” American Philosophical Association Pacific Division Meeting, San Diego, CA, April 20-23, 2011; also presented at the 72nd Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Philosophical Society, Memphis, TN, November 12-14, 2010
“To Understand and To Understand Are Two Things: Kierkegaardian Reflections on the Value of Understanding,” Baptist Association of Philosophy Teachers Biennial Meeting, Samford University, Birmingham, AL, October 8-10, 2010
“Emotion and the Value of Understanding,” American Philosophical Association Pacific Division Meeting, San Francisco, CA, April 2, 2010
“Foundational Beliefs and Persuading with Humor: Reflections Inspired by Reid and Kierkegaard,” with co-author Daniel M. Johnson, Annual Conference of the British Society for the History of Philosophy, Universities of Aberdeen and Glasgow, Scotland, March 21-26, 2010
“Too Much Information: The High Metaphysical Price of a Neo-Aristotelian Account of Perception,” Society of Christian Philosophers Eastern Regional Meeting, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, March 12, 2010
“Seeing is Not Believing: A Case for Modifying Reid’s Analysis of Perception,” American Philosophical Association Central Division Meeting, Chicago, IL, February 19, 2010
† “Foley, Frankfurt, and Failures of Rationality,” 5th Annual Philosophy of Religion Conference, San Antonio, TX, February 4-6, 2010
“Getting to Know the Unknowable: The Value of Philosophical Theology on Alston’s Divine Mystery Thesis,” Society of Christian Philosophers Central Regional Meeting, Oklahoma Baptist University, April 23-25, 2009
“Emotional Wisdom as Intellectual Virtue in Aristotle’s Ethics,” Society of Christian Philosophers Eastern Regional Meeting, Assumption College, Worcester, MA, March 28, 2009
“Emotional Knowledge: Emotion as a Basic Source of Justification,” American Philosophical Association Central Division Meeting, Chicago, IL, February 20, 2009
“The Temptations, Desires, and Sympathy of Christ,” Society of Christian Philosophers Central Regional Meeting, Union University, Jackson, TN, May 10, 2008
“Does Punishment Preclude Forgiveness?” Society of Christian Philosophers Eastern Regional Meeting, April 19, 2008; also presented at the Christian Scholars Forum, UT Austin, April 5, 2008
“Augustine Against Skepticism,” 41st Annual Meeting of the North Texas Philosophical Association, Denton, TX, April 12, 2008
Awards and Honors
U.S. Air Force Academy 3-Star General Performance Award, 2021
Invited Participant in the Accountability as a Virtue Workshop, Calvin College, August 2021
Research Award from the Dallas Willard Research Center in the Martin Institute for Christianity and Culture at Westmont College, 2020
Theology and the Morally Exceptional Grant Winner, The Beacon Project, 2016
USAFA Outstanding Academy Educator Award, 2015
Res Philosophica Virtue and the Emotions Essay Prize Winner, 2015
The Philosophy of Paradise Essay Competition Honorable Mention, 2015
Teacher-scholar Post-doctoral Fellowship in Philosophy, The Character Project, 2012-2013
American Philosophical Association Pacific Division Graduate Student Paper Awards (x2), 2010 and 2011
American Philosophical Association Central Division Graduate Student Paper Awards (x2), 2009 and 2010
Baylor University Dean’s Scholarship, 2007-2011
Baylor University Graduate Assistantship and Stipend, 2007-2011
Wake Forest University Graduate Scholarship, 2005-2007
Epsilon Kappa Epsilon Honors Society of Biola University, inducted 2003
Folsom High School Valedictorian and Student of the Year, 2000
Education
Ph.D., Philosophy, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, 2011
Dissertation: "Emotion, Evaluative Perception, and Epistemic Goods"
Committee Chair: Robert C. Roberts, Ph.D.
M.A., Philosophy, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, 2009
M.A., Religion, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 2007, highest honors
Thesis: "Made in the Image of Man: The Value of Christian Theology for Public Moral Discourse on Human Cloning"
Advisor: Simeon Ilesanmi, Ph.D., J.D.
B.A., Philosophy, Biola University, La Mirada, California, 2003, summa cum laude
Areas of Specialization
Ethics, Moral Psychology (esp. Emotion and Character), Philosophy of Religion & Philosophical Theology
Areas of Competence
Epistemology, Professional & Applied Ethics, C.S. Lewis, Comparative World Religions
Employment
Professor of Philosophy, United States Air Force Academy, July 2021-present
Associate Professor of Philosophy, United States Air Force Academy, July 2016–June 2021
Assistant Professor of Philosophy, United States Air Force Academy, August 2013–June 2016
Teacher-scholar Post-doctoral Fellow, The Character Project, Department of Philosophy, Wake Forest University, July 2012–June 2013
Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy, University of Oklahoma, August 2011–May 2012
Graduate Assistant and Teacher of Record, Baylor University, August 2007–July 2011
Instructor of Logic, Live Oak Classical School, August 2008–May 2010
Publications
Books:
Faith & Virtue Formation: Christian Philosophy in Aid of Becoming Good, ed. Adam C. Pelser and W. Scott Cleveland (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021)
Peer-reviewed Articles and Book Chapters:
18. "Fostering Respect in the Military," Journal of Military Ethics 20 (2021): 281-292.
17. "Cultivating Christian Love," in Faith & Virtue Formation, ed. Adam C. Pelser and W. Scott Cleveland (Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2021), 191-210.
16. "Emotional Evangelism, Affective Apologetics," in A Charitable Orthopathy: Christian Perspectives on Emotions in Multifaith Engagement, ed. John W. Morehead and Brandon C. Benziger (Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2020), 169-182.
15. "Respect as an Intellectual Virtue," with co-author Ryan West, in Virtue and Voice: Habits of Mind for a Return to Civil Discourse, ed. Gregg A. Ten Elshof and Evan Rosas (Abilene, TX: Abilene Christian University Press, 2019).
14. “Temptation, Virtue, and the Character of Christ,” Faith and Philosophy 36, 1 (2019): 81–101.
*Winner of the 2020 Research Award from the Dallas Willard Research Center in the Martin Institute for Christianity and Culture *
13. “Emotions, Character, and Associationist Psychology” (with Robert C. Roberts), Journal of Moral Philosophy 14, 6, special issue, guest ed. Christian Miller (2017), 623-645.
12. “Philosophy in The Abolition of Man,” for Contemporary Perspectives on CS Lewis’ Abolition of Man: History, Philosophy, Education and Science, ed. Gayne Anacker and Tim Mosteller (New York: Bloomsbury Press, 2017), 5-24.
11. “Heavenly Sadness: On the Value of Negative Emotions in Paradise,” in Paradise Understood: New Philosophical Essays about Heaven, ed. Eric J. Silverman and Ryan Byerly (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2017), 113-135.
10. “Religious Value and Moral Psychology” (with Robert C. Roberts), in Handbook of Value: Perspectives from Economics, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Psychology, and Sociology, ed. Tobias Brosch and David Sander (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015), 375–394.
9. “Respect for Human Dignity as an Emotion and Virtue,” Res Philosophica special issue on Virtue and the Emotions, guest ed. Kevin Timpe, 92, 4 (2015): 743–763.
*Winner of the 2015 Res Philosophica Essay Prize*
8. “Perceiving God through Natural Beauty” (with Ryan West), Faith and Philosophy 32, 3 (2015): 293–312.
7. “Emotion, Evaluative Perception, and Epistemic Justification,” in Emotion and Value, ed. Sabine Roeser and Cain Todd (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014), 106–122.
6. “The Courage of Faith: Kierkegaardian Reflection on the Spiritual Danger of Enjoying Finite Goods,” Philosophia Christi 16, 2 (2014): 377–393.
5. “Foundational Beliefs and Persuading with Humor: Reflections Inspired by Reid and Kierkegaard” (with Daniel M. Johnson), Faith and Philosophy 31, 3 (2014): 267–285.
4. “Irrigating Deserts: Thinking with C.S. Lewis about Educating for Emotional Formation,” Christian Scholar’s Review 44, 1 (2014): 27–43.
3. “Reliabilism,” New Catholic Encyclopedia Supplement 2012-13: Ethics and Philosophy, vol. 4, ed. Robert L. Fastiggi (Detroit: Gale, 2013), 1331–1332.
2. “Against Frankfurt’s Care Ground of Importance,” Southwest Philosophy Review 27, 1 (2011): 101–09.
1. “Belief in Reid’s Theory of Perception,” History of Philosophy Quarterly 27, 4 (2010): 359–78.
Book Reviews:
5. Dallas Willard, The Disappearance of Moral Knowledge, edited and completed by Steven L. Porter, Aaron Preston, and Gregg A. Ten Elshof (Routledge, 2018), Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews (2019). [available online here]
4. Kevin Timpe and Craig A. Boyd, eds., Virtues and Their Vices (Oxford University Press, 2014), reviewed in Faith and Philosophy 33, 3 (2016): 13–17.
3. Peter Olsthoorn, Honor in Political and Moral Philosophy (SUNY Press, 2014), reviewed in Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews 06.34 (2015). [available online here]
2. Julien A. Deonna and Fabrice Teroni, The Emotions: A Philosophical Introduction (New York: Routledge, 2012), reviewed in Journal of Moral Philosophy 12, 2 (2015).
1. "Learning to Read the Old Testament from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John," a review of Richard B. Hays, Reading Backwards: Figural Christology and the Fourfold Gospel Witness (Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2014), reviewed in Christian Research Journal 38, 2 (2015).
Popular Essays:
10. “Ethics in a Pandemic Age: Beyond rules, rights, and responsibilities to grace, generosity, and gratitude,” published on my personal blog here and shared as a guest post on Michael Austin’s “Ethics for Everyone” blog at Psychology Today’s website.
9. "Thomas Reid: Minister, Philosopher, and Champion of Common Sense," Christian Research Journal 41, 5 (2018).
8. “The Abolition of Man Today,” Christian Research Journal 40, 1 (2017).
7. “Philosophy, Politics, and the End of Liberal Arts Education,” Christian Research Journal 39, 4 (2016): 25-29.
6. “Developing Discernment in Devotional Reading: A Critical Examination of Jesus Calling and One Thousand Gifts,” Christian Research Journal 38, 4 (2015): 18–25.
5. “Reasons of the Heart: Emotions in Apologetics,” Christian Research Journal 38, 1 (2015): 32–39.
4. “When Love Turns to Anger” (with Daniel M. Johnson), in Anger, Christian Reflection: A series in faith and ethics (Waco, TX: The Institute for Faith and Learning at Baylor University, 2014): 73–80.
3. “Affective Apologetics: Communicating Truth through Humor, Ridicule, and Emotions” (with Daniel M. Johnson), Christian Research Journal 35, 6 (December 2012).
2. “Becoming a Seasoned Apologist,” Christian Research Journal 31, 1 (January 2008).
1. “Genuine Temptation and the Character of Christ,” Christian Research Journal 30, 4 (August 2007).
Works In Progress:
"'Take Heart!'": Christian Courage as a Dependent Virtue," invited chapter in Oxford University Press edited volume on Courage (under contract)
Courses Taught
US Air Force Academy:
Philos 310 Ethics
Philos 310S Scholars Ethics
Philos 311 War, Morality, and the Military Profession
Philos 345 Philosophy of Love and Sex
Philos 350 Philosophy and Christian Thought
Philos 401 Comparative World Religions
Philos 410 Medical Ethics
Philos 495 Business Ethics
Philos 495 C.S. Lewis and Philosophy
Philos 499 Seminar on Character and Moral Agency (a two-week intensive summer seminar for a select group of West Point and Air Force Academy cadets)
Philos 499 Pascal's Wager and Intellectual Virtues
Hum 499 Faith in Victims of the Holocaust
Hum 499 Religion in Military Leadership
Wake Forest University:
PHI 115 Introduction to Philosophy of Religion, Spring 2013
PHI 280 Topics in Philosophy: Character and Virtue, Fall 2012
PHI 111 Basic Problems of Philosophy, Fall 2012
University of Oklahoma:
PHIL 1263 Introduction to Ethics in Health Care, Spring 2012
PHIL 1213 Introduction to Ethics: Seven Deadly Sins, Fall 2011, Spring 2012
PHIL 3273 Ethics and Business, Fall 2011, Spring 2012
PHIL 3990 Forgiveness, Mercy, & Justice, Spring 2012 (directed reading)
PHIL 2403 Introduction to Philosophy of Religion, Fall 2011
Baylor University:
PHI 1308 Introductory Topics in Ethics: Seven Deadly Sins, Spring 2011
PHI 1308 Introductory Topics in Ethics: Philosophy of Love and Sex, Fall 2010 and Summer 2011
BIC 1323 World of Rhetoric II: Rhetoric in Context, Baylor Interdisciplinary Core, Spring 2011
C.S. Lewis’ The Four Loves, Baylor Honors College Colloquium, September 2010
C.S. Lewis’ The Abolition of Man, Baylor Honors College Colloquium, April 2010
University 1000, Baylor New Student Programs, Fall 2008
Professional and Institutional Service
+ Referee for Ethics, Australasian Journal of Philosophy, Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, Faith and Philosophy, The Philosophical Quarterly, Mind, Synthese, Philosophical Psychology, Journal of Analytic Theology, The Southern Journal of Philosophy, European Journal for Philosophy of Religion, Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, Dialectica, and International Journal of Christianity and Education
+ Host of 2022 Society of Christian Philosophers Mountain-Pacific Regional Conference
+ Faculty Mentor for Stamps Scholarship winner, 2021-2022 (USAFA)
+ Advisor in Charge for the Department of Philosophy, spring 2020-present (USAFA)
+ Ethics and Respect for Human Dignity Outcome Team Lead, spring 2019–present (USAFA)
+ External reviewer and oral examiner for Mark Tan's PhD dissertation, summer 2020 (University of Auckland, NZ)
+ Rhodes/Marshall Scholarship Interview and Advisory Panel, fall 2018 (USAFA)
+ Associate Air Officer Commanding for Academics (AAOCA) for class of 2019 cadets (USAFA)
+ New Faculty Learning Community Mentor, summer–fall 2015 (USAFA)
+ Co-leader, with Capt. Joseph Chapa, of two town hall discussions on sexual assault and the “hook-up” culture; part of USAFA’s 2015 Sexual Assault Awareness Month, April 2015 (USAFA)
+ Member of First-year Instructors Panel, New Faculty Orientation, July 2014 (USAFA)
+ Co-leader, with Wayne Riggs, of faculty and graduate student reading group on intellectual virtues (University of Oklahoma)
+ Research Assistant to Dr. Jonathan Kvanvig (2008-09); duties included refereeing for, indexing, and copy-editing of Oxford Studies in Philosophy of Religion, Vol. II, as well as planning and organizing the 4th Annual Philosophy of Religion Conference held at Baylor University, Feb. 5-7, 2009 (Baylor University)
Presentations († indicates invited presentation, otherwise anonymously refereed)
"Accountability and Moral Knowledge," 2021 Baylor Symposium on Faith and Culture: Living Accountably, Baylor University, Waco, TX, October 27-29, 2021
"Cultivating Respect in the Military," 2019 Conference of the International Society for Military Ethics, Colorado Springs, CO, June 29-30, 2019
† "Emotion, Reason, and Christian Belief in the Writings of C.S. Lewis," USAFA Christian Faculty Fellowship, November 19, 2019
“Cultivating Christian Love in Community,” Society of Christian Philosophers Eastern Regional Conference, Asbury University, Wilmore, KY, September 28–30, 2017
† “Temptation, Virtue, and the Character of Christ,” Beacon Project Final Research Colloquia, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, June 28–30, 2018
† “Temptation, Virtue, and the Character of Christ,” Class Presentation and Q&A for Christian Miller’s Philosophy of Christianity Course at Wake Forest University, Video Conference, 22 Feb 2017, 26 Feb 2019, 3 March 2021
“The Temptations, Virtues, and Moral Exemplarity of Jesus” Society of Christian Philosophers Pacific Regional Conference, Biola University, La Mirada, CA, March 30–April 1, 2017
“Understanding and Cultivating the Virtues of Respect,” 4th Annual Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues Conference, Oriel College, Oxford University, January 7–9, 2016
† “The Moral Psychology of Cheating and What We Can Do About It,” a presentation for the Colorado/Pikes Peak Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter I-day, Denver, CO, November 5, 2015
“Respect as an Intellectual Virtue,” 4th Annual Conference of the Center for Christian Thought, Biola University, La Mirada, CA, May 8-9, 2015
“What Temptation Is: A moral-psychological sketch,” 3rd Annual Conference of the Center for Christian Thought, Biola University, La Mirada, CA, May 9-10, 2014
† “Nelson Mandela and the Virtue of Respect for Human Dignity,” National Character and Leadership Symposium, USAF Academy, CO, February 2014
† Comments on Brent Kyle’s “Ignorance, Skepticism, and Knowledge Closure,” 67th Annual Mountain Plains Philosophy Conference, USAF Academy, CO, October 3-5, 2013
“The Courage of Faith,” Society of Christian Philosophers Midwest Regional Conference, Georgetown College, Georgetown, KY, April 4-6, 2013
† Comments on Iskra Fileva’s “The Sources of Passivity: Why, if at all, is Character not up to Us?” American Philosophical Association Eastern Division Meeting, Atlanta, GA, December 27-30, 2012
† “Emotions: Should We Ever Trust Them?” Wake Forest University Undergraduate Philosopher’s Guild, Winston-Salem, NC, October 25, 2012
“Irrigating Deserts: Educating for Wisdom and Character through Emotional Formation,” 2012 Biennial Meeting of the Baptist Association of Philosophy Teachers, Union University, Jackson, TN, October 5-7, 2012
“Emotion and Moral Knowledge,” 2011 National Meeting of the Evangelical Philosophical Society, San Francisco, CA, November 16-18, 2011
“Forming the Heart: On Educating for Emotional Wisdom,” 2011 Baylor Symposium on Faith and Culture: Educating for Wisdom in the 21st Century University, Waco, TX, October 27-29, 2011
“Emotion and Epistemic Justification,” Moral Emotions and Intuitions conference, The Hague, The Netherlands, May 25-27, 2011
“Foundational Beliefs and Persuading with Humor: Reflections Inspired by Reid and Kierkegaard,” with co-author Daniel M. Johnson, 2010 National Meeting of the Evangelical Philosophical Society, Atlanta, GA, November 17-19, 2010
“Against Frankfurt’s Care Ground of Importance,” American Philosophical Association Pacific Division Meeting, San Diego, CA, April 20-23, 2011; also presented at the 72nd Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Philosophical Society, Memphis, TN, November 12-14, 2010
- APA Pacific Graduate Student Paper Award
“To Understand and To Understand Are Two Things: Kierkegaardian Reflections on the Value of Understanding,” Baptist Association of Philosophy Teachers Biennial Meeting, Samford University, Birmingham, AL, October 8-10, 2010
“Emotion and the Value of Understanding,” American Philosophical Association Pacific Division Meeting, San Francisco, CA, April 2, 2010
- APA Pacific Graduate Student Paper Award
“Foundational Beliefs and Persuading with Humor: Reflections Inspired by Reid and Kierkegaard,” with co-author Daniel M. Johnson, Annual Conference of the British Society for the History of Philosophy, Universities of Aberdeen and Glasgow, Scotland, March 21-26, 2010
“Too Much Information: The High Metaphysical Price of a Neo-Aristotelian Account of Perception,” Society of Christian Philosophers Eastern Regional Meeting, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, March 12, 2010
“Seeing is Not Believing: A Case for Modifying Reid’s Analysis of Perception,” American Philosophical Association Central Division Meeting, Chicago, IL, February 19, 2010
- APA Central Graduate Student Paper Award
† “Foley, Frankfurt, and Failures of Rationality,” 5th Annual Philosophy of Religion Conference, San Antonio, TX, February 4-6, 2010
“Getting to Know the Unknowable: The Value of Philosophical Theology on Alston’s Divine Mystery Thesis,” Society of Christian Philosophers Central Regional Meeting, Oklahoma Baptist University, April 23-25, 2009
“Emotional Wisdom as Intellectual Virtue in Aristotle’s Ethics,” Society of Christian Philosophers Eastern Regional Meeting, Assumption College, Worcester, MA, March 28, 2009
“Emotional Knowledge: Emotion as a Basic Source of Justification,” American Philosophical Association Central Division Meeting, Chicago, IL, February 20, 2009
- APA Central Graduate Student Paper Award
“The Temptations, Desires, and Sympathy of Christ,” Society of Christian Philosophers Central Regional Meeting, Union University, Jackson, TN, May 10, 2008
“Does Punishment Preclude Forgiveness?” Society of Christian Philosophers Eastern Regional Meeting, April 19, 2008; also presented at the Christian Scholars Forum, UT Austin, April 5, 2008
“Augustine Against Skepticism,” 41st Annual Meeting of the North Texas Philosophical Association, Denton, TX, April 12, 2008
Awards and Honors
U.S. Air Force Academy 3-Star General Performance Award, 2021
Invited Participant in the Accountability as a Virtue Workshop, Calvin College, August 2021
Research Award from the Dallas Willard Research Center in the Martin Institute for Christianity and Culture at Westmont College, 2020
Theology and the Morally Exceptional Grant Winner, The Beacon Project, 2016
USAFA Outstanding Academy Educator Award, 2015
Res Philosophica Virtue and the Emotions Essay Prize Winner, 2015
The Philosophy of Paradise Essay Competition Honorable Mention, 2015
Teacher-scholar Post-doctoral Fellowship in Philosophy, The Character Project, 2012-2013
American Philosophical Association Pacific Division Graduate Student Paper Awards (x2), 2010 and 2011
American Philosophical Association Central Division Graduate Student Paper Awards (x2), 2009 and 2010
Baylor University Dean’s Scholarship, 2007-2011
Baylor University Graduate Assistantship and Stipend, 2007-2011
Wake Forest University Graduate Scholarship, 2005-2007
Epsilon Kappa Epsilon Honors Society of Biola University, inducted 2003
Folsom High School Valedictorian and Student of the Year, 2000