Loyola Marymount University, 2000-present

Professor of Philosophy

Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts Daum Professorship

Chair of the Department of Philosophy

Robert H. Taylor, S.J. Chair in Philosophy

Associate Professor of Philosophy

University of California, San Diego, 1994-1995

Postdoctoral Fellow, Science Studies Program

Assistant Professor of Philosophy

Senior Teaching Fellow

Instructor in Philosophy

Philosophy of Science Association (PSA)

International Society for History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology (ISHPSSB)

Alpha Sigma Nu: The Jesuit Honor Society

Journal Articles and Book Chapters

No other scientific theory has had as great an impact on our understanding of the world as Darwin's theory outlined in his Origin of Species.  Yet the theory has been the subject of controversy from its very beginning. This book focuses on three issues of debate in Darwin's theory of evolution--the nature of selection, the nature and scope of adaptation, and the question of evolutionary progress.  It traces the varying interpretations to which these issues were subjected historically through the fierce contemporary debates continuing to rage.

The Evolution of Darwinism: Selection, Adaptation and Progress in Evolutionary Biology

Is terrorism ever morally justified? How should historical and cultural factors be taken into account in judging the morality of terrorist acts? What are the ethical limits of state counter-terrorism?For three decades the Provisional Irish Republican Army waged an 'armed struggle' against what it considered to be the British occupation of Northern Ireland. To its supporters, the IRA was the legitimate army of Ireland, fighting to force a British withdrawal as a prelude to the re-unification of the Irish nation. To its enemies, the IRA was an illegal, fanatical, terrorist organization whose members were criminals willing to sacrifice innocent lives in pursuit of its ideological obsession. At the centre of the conflict were the then unconventional tactics employed by the IRA, including sectarian killings, political assassinations, and bombings that devastated urban centres - tactics that have become increasingly commonplace in the post-9/11 world.This book is the first detailed philosophical examination of the morality of the IRA's violent campaign, and of the British government's attempts to end it. Written in clear, accessible prose, it is essential reading for anyone wishing to acquire a deeper understanding of one of the paradigmatic conflicts of the late 20th century.

The  Provisional Irish Republican Army and the Morality of Terrorism

Philosophy and Blade Runner is the first book to explore a full range of philosophical issues in the classic science fiction film Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott. Through critical examination of the film's distinctive treatment of perennial philosophical issues including human nature, personhood, identity, consciousness, free will, morality, God, death, time, and the meaning of life, the distinctive philosophy of Blade Runner is explored and assessed. The result is an engaging philosophical exploration of the greatest science fiction film of all time and a unique contribution to the philosophy of film that invites readers to ponder questions of universal human significance: Where did I come from? Where am I going? How long have I got?

Philosophy and Blade Runner

Many of the most pressing questions raised by terrorism are philosophical in nature. This book explores the crucial ethical and theoretical issues, such as: What is "terrorism" and how is it different from other types of violence? Do recent terrorist attacks constitute a fundamentally "new" type of terrorism? How can a nation conduct a "just war" against terrorists? Is torture of terrorists during interrogation ever justified? Philosophers and terrorism experts answer these pressing moral and political questions with clarity and wisdom.

Philosophy 9/11: Thinking About the War on Terrorism

Blade Runner 2049: A Philosophical Exploration

Reason and Insight: Western and Eastern Perspectives on the Pursuit of Moral Wisdom

Loyola Marymount University is a top-ranked national university by U.S. News and World Report, which places LMU among the top six Jesuit universities in the country and in the top six private universities in California. Founded in 1911, LMU is a Catholic, Jesuit, and Marymount university with more than 7,100 undergraduate students and more than 3,000 graduate and law students. LMU offers 56 undergraduate majors and 56 minor programs, along with 46 master’s degree programs, three doctorate programs and 12 credential/authorization programs. LMU’s intercollegiate athletics teams compete in the West Coast Conference with 14 Division I varsity sports.

LMU news and events are found at: www.lmu.edu/news.

Loyola Marymount University

Courses Taught

My main scholarly interest is in the history and philosophy of science. My curiosity about about how science really works was piqued as an undergraduate Biology and Philosophy major at the State University of New York at Cortland, and continued through a master’s degree in the History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Notre Dame, where I also completed a Ph.D. I was also fortunate to be awarded a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Science Studies Program at the University of California, San Diego (1994-1995), which helped to broaden my perspective on science. 

In addition, for many years I’ve used films to introduce students to Philosophy. A few years ago I was struck by the great number of deep philosophical issues that arise in Ridley Scott’s brilliant sci-fi film, Blade Runner (1982) that had apparently gone unnoticed by most viewers and even by most philosophers. I decided to explore these issues in depth. The result is Philosophy and Blade Runner (Houndmills, UK: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014) —- released on June 25 — thirty-two years to the day after Blade Runner first hit US theaters. Since then, I've done similar work on the sequel, Blade Runner 2049. Check out my LMU webpage for more details!

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