Position
Academic Background
Sample Courses   
Teaching Philosophy
Research & Interests   
Notable Academic Appointments & Awards
Publication Highlights   
Selected Scholarly Presentations

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• Associate Professor of Philosophy

Academic Background        

•  Boston College
  • Ph.D. in Philosophy, 1973
  • M.A. in Philosophy, 1967
• Providence College: B.A. in Education/Philosophy, 1959

• Philosophy of the Human Person
• General Ethics
• Problems in Ethics
• Existentialism
• Development of Western Civilization 
• Philosophy of Sport

Teaching Philosophy

The function of the teacher in a Humanities course is to stimulate and nurture the spirit of  intellectual inquiry in the student.  It is not simply the transmission of information or the  development of academic skills.  The teacher can only open the door to the wonder of the  world of ideas and encourage the student to enter into a lifetime of learning.  The goal  of such  education is to travel from a state of cocksure confidence to one of thoughtful uncertainty.

Research & Interests

• The Philosophy of Martin Buber
• Contemporary Ethical Issues
• The First Amendment
• Human Nature and the Natural Law

Notable Academic Appointments and Awards

• Alfred E. Koenig Memorial Award for Service and Contributions to REALIA, Institute for Advanced Philosophic Research
• First layperson to Chair the Department of Philosophy at Providence College
• Past President of the Rhode island Philosophical Society

Publication Highlights

• Study To Excel:  A Student’s Guide for Humanities Courses, Copley Custom Publishing, (Summer 2008). 
• "Ethnic Warfare and Terrorism in the Twenty First Century,” Contemporary Philosophy, Vol. XXVIII, (2008).
• “The Ethics of Martin Buber,” Contemporary Philosophy, Vol. XXVII, 4, (2007), pp. 32-37.
• “Compassion: The Forgotten Virtue,” Contemporary Philosophy, Vol. XXVII, 1 & 2,  (2006), pp. 38-44.
• “Religious Fundamentalism and the First Amendment,” Contemporary Philosophy, Vol. XXVI, 3 & 4, (2004), pp. 30-37.
• “Evolution:  Aquinas and Darwin,” Contemporary Philosophy, Vol. XXVI, (2004), 1 & 2, pp. 34-39.
• “The Philosopher as Teacher,” Contemporary Philosophy, Vol. XXI, (1999), pp. 52-55. 
• “The Quest for the Human Spirit:  Buber and Hesse,” Contemporary Philosophy, Vol. XIX, (1997), pp. 53-59 
• “Nature and Human Nature in an Existential Perspective,” Contemporary Philosophy, Vol. XVIII, (1996), pp. 3-6.

Selected Scholarly Presentations and Activities

• "Toleration Under Siege", Institute For Advanced Philosophic Research (2009).
• Conference Moderator for the Annual Meeting of the Institute for Advanced
   Philosophic Research (2009, 2001).
• "The Virtue of A Philosopher:  Albert Camus" Institute for Advanced Philosophic
   Research (2002).
• "The Nature of Community in Martin Buber" Institute for Advanced Philosophic  Research  (2001).
• "Ways of Knowing:  Popper and Polanyi" (with Dr. Paul Trainor) Providence College
   Faculty Colloquium, (1978).
• Visiting Faculty:  Suffolk University; Graduate School of Education (1976).

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