Dissertations In Progress

The following is a complete list of students who have completed or are working on dissertations in the Arizona Department of Philosophy since 1990 (in reverse chronological order), with information about dissertation title, advisor, and current position.

 

Completed Dissertations and Placements

• Marcus Arvan (2008) " A Non-Ideal Theory of Justice". Advisor: Thomas Christiano. University of British Columbia, Visiting Assistant Professor.
• Farid Masrour (2008), "Consciousness, Unity and Intentionality". Advisors: David Chalmers and Terry Horgan. New York University, Beroff Post-Doctoral Fellowship.
• Lee Shepski (2008), "The Reality Behind Moral Experience". Advisor: Mark Timmons. University of Tennessee, Assistant Professor, tenure-track.
• Chris Brown (2008), "Beneficence". Advisor: David Schmidtz. National University of Singapore, Assistant Professor, tenure-track.

• Nicole Hassoun (2007), "Poverty, Development and Globalization". Advisor: Thomas Christiano. Carnegie Mellon, Assistant Professor, tenure-track.
• Stephen Biggs (2007), "Modality and Mind". Advisor: Terry Horgan. University of Toronto, three year post doc.
• Stefan Sciaraffa (2007), "Role Identification and the Authority of the State". Advisor: Thomas Christiano. Rice University, Visiting Assistant Professor.
• Paul Thorn (2007), "Three Problems of Direct Inference". Advisor: John Pollock. New College of Florida, Visiting Assistant Professor.
• Michaela Mueller (2007), "Epistemic Luck, Epistemic Agency, and Skepticism". Advisor: Terry Horgan.
• Matt Bedke (2007), "Meta-Normativity". Advisor: David Schmidtz. University of Arizona, Assistant Professor.
• Jason Brennan (2007)," The Best Moral Theory Ever: The Methodology of Moral Theorizing". Advisor: David Schmidtz. The Political Theory Project, Brown University, post-doctoral research fellow.
• Patrick Dieveney (2006), "Indispensable Ontological Commitments". Advisor: Shaughan Lavine. California State University, Long Beach, Assistant Professor tenure-track.
• Justin Fisher (2006), "Pragmatic Conceptual Analysis". Advisor: Terry Horgan. University of British Columbia, Visiting Assistant Professor.
• Allen Habib (2006), "Promises and Promissary Obligations". Advisor: Thomas Christiano. University of Calgary, Assistant Professor, tenure-track.
• Joel Martinez (2006), "Livability and the Moral Perspective". Advisor: Julia Annas. Lewis and Clark College, Assistant Professor, tenure-track.
• Joel Press (2006), "The Employment of Intrinsically Defined Representations and Functions". Advisor: Richard Healey. California University at Pennsylvania, Assistant Professor, tenure-track.
• Cara Nine (2005), "The Morality of National Borders". Advisor: David Schmidtz. University College Cork, Ireland, Permanent Appointment.
• Sarah Wright (2005), "Virtue Epistemology: Its Proper Form and Its Applications". Advisor: Keith Lehrer. University of Georgia, Assistant Professor, tenure-track.
• Josh Cowley (2004), "The Role of Inference in a Theory of Concepts". Advisor: John Pollock. Bilkent University, Assistant Professor, tenure-track.
• Rachael Poulsen (2004), "A Foundationalist Defense of the Given". Advisor: John Pollock. Utah Valley State College, adjunct professor.
• Margaretta Slabey (2007), "Proper Names, Improper Beliefs". Advisor: Marga Reimer. Auburn University, visiting assistant professor.
• Jennifer Baker (2003), "To Make Us Good: Ancient Eudaimonist Theories and Their Practical Ethic". Advisor: Julia Annas. College of Charleston, tenure-track.
• Ashley McDowell (2003), "Two Senses of Justification in Epistemology". Advisor: Keith Lehrer. Kalamazoo College, tenure-track.
• Brad Thompson (2003). "The Nature of Phenomenal Content". Advisor: David Chalmers. Southern Methodist University, tenure-track.
• Matt Zwolinski (2003), "The Separateness of Persons and Distributive Justice". Advisor: David Schmidtz. University of San Diego, tenure-track.
• Tim Bayne (2002), "The Unity of Consciousness". Advisor: David Chalmers. Macquarie University (Australia), tenure-track.
• Todd Stewart (2002), "Skepticism and the End of Moral Epistemology". Advisor: Alvin Goldman. Illinois State University, tenure-track.
• Daniel Farnham (2002), "Eudaimonism: A Rationalist Theory of the Good". Advisor: Tom Christiano. University of St. Thomas, visiting assistant professor.
• Anthony Gillies (2001), "Rational Belief Change". Advisor: John Pollock. University of Michigan, tenure-track.
• Scott Hendricks (2001), "Belief and Theory of Reasons". Advisor: Keith Lehrer. Clark University, tenure-track.
• Kristen Hessler, (2001), "A Theory of Interpretation for Human Rights". Advisor: Allen Buchanan. Iowa State University, three year renewable assistant professor.
• Cindy Holder, (2001), "Groups, Rights and Special Obligations: Towards An Ethics of Group Membership". Advisor: Allen Buchanan. University of Victoria, tenure-track.
• Avery Kolers (2001), "Grounding Global Justice". Advisor: Allen Buchanan. University of Louisville, tenure-track.
• Seungbae Park (2001), "Scientific Realism Vs Scientific Antirealism". Advisor: Richard Healey. University of Maryland University College, Asia, Adjunct Professor.
• Mark Wunderlich (2001), "Incomparability in Epistemology: Possibilities for Epistemic Justification and Knowledge". Advisor: Alvin Goldman. Iowa State, tenure-track.
• Alan Belasco (2000), "The Role of Detection in Mental Representation". Advisor: John Pollock. Private industry.
• Joseph Cruz (2000), "Epistemology in Scientific Image". Advisor: Alvin Goldman. Williams College, tenure-track.
• Scott LaBarge (2000), "The Legacy of the Meno Paradox: Plato and Aristotle on Learning and Error". Advisor: Julia Annas. Santa Clara University, tenure-track.
• Daniel Russell (2000), "Plato on Pleasure and our Final End". Advisor:Julia Annas. Wichita State University, tenure-track.
• Patrick Rysiew (2000), "Contextualism In Epistemology" Advisor: Alvin Goldman. Visiting Instructor, University of Arizona. University of British Columbia, tenure-track.
• Bongrae Seok (2000), "Modularity of Mind, Encapsulation by Nature". Advisor: Chris Maloney. Alvernia College, tenure-track.
• Rhonda Smith (2000), "The Moral Implications of Self Respect." Advisor: David Schmidtz. US Air Force Academy, tenure-track.
• Christopher Griffin (1999), "Democratic Collective Decisionmaking: Equality and Justice" Advisor: Thomas Christiano. Northern Arizona University, tenure-track.
• Steven Scalet (1999), "Justice and Responsibility." Advisor: David Schmidtz. SUNY Binghamton, tenure-track.
• Mark Lebar (1999), "Virtue Ethics and the Interests of Others." Advisor: Julia Annas. Ohio University, tenure-track.
• Jack Lyons (1999), "The Consequences of a Faculty Psychology for a Theory of Epistemic Justification." Advisor: Alvin Goldman. University of Arkansas, tenure-track.
• Laleh Quinn (1999), "Consciousness and Explanation." Advisor: Chris Maloney. UC San Diego, Neuroscience, post-doctoral fellowship.
• David Truncellito (1999), "The Concept of Epistemic Justification." Advisor: Keith Lehrer. George Washington University, Assistant Professor of Writing.
• John Armstrong (1998), "The Politics of Virtue in Plato's Laws." Advisor: Julia Annas. Southern Virginia University, tenure-track.
• Greg Loeben (1998), "Medical Futility." Advisor: Tom Christiano. Midwestern University, permanent position.
• Terry Price (1998), "Mistake and Moral Blameworthiness: An Account of the Exusing Force of Faultless Mistakes of Fact and Faultless Mistakes of Morality."Advisor: Joel Feinberg. Jepson School of Leadership Studies, Richmond Virginia, tenure-track. 
• Franz-Peter Griesmaier (1997), "Simple Minds: A Cognitive Account of Theoretical Simplicity and the Epistemology of Understanding."Advisor: Rob Cummins. University of Wyoming, tenure-track.
• Barbara Hall (1997), "Fathers' Rights and Responsibilities." Advisor: Joel Feinberg. Georgia State University, tenure-track.
• Michael King (1997), "Analog Computation and Psychoneural Reduction." Advisor: Rob Cummins. Deceased.
• Stephan McCaffery (1997), "Deictic Use." Advisor: Robert Harnish. University of Arizona Law School.
• Joel Pust (1997), "Intuitions as Evidence." Advisor: Alvin Goldman. University of Delaware, tenure-track.
• Linda Radzik (1997), "The Nature of Normativity." Advisor: David Schmidtz. Texas A&M University, tenure-track.
• David Silver (1997), "A Virtue Theory of Practical Reason." Advisors: Jean Hampton (deceased); Thomas Christiano. University of Delaware, tenured.
• Juanita Simpson (1997), "The Theoretical Foundations for an Environmental Ethic." Advisor: Joel Feinberg.
• Andre Ariew (1997), "Innateness: A Developmental Account." Advisor: Rob Cummins. University of Rhode Island, tenure-track.
• Jonelle DePetro (1996), "Practical Rationality and the Limits of Instrumentalism." Advisor: Keith Lehrer. Eastern Illinois University, tenure-track.
• Patrick Fitzgerald (1996), "Equality, Charity and Democracy." Advisor: Joel Feinberg. Lawrence College, tenured position.
• Ken O'Day (1995), "Morality and Practical Reason." Advisor: Jean Hampton. University of Bristol, England, permanent appointment.
• David Gill (1994), "Civic Equality and Social Justice in Aristotle." Advisor: Julia Annas. University of California at Berkeley, tenure-track.
• Thom Hudson (1994), "Pluralisms and Political Self-Determination." Advisor: Tom Christiano. Clerk for Judge William C. Camby, Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit (Phoenix).
• Howard Klepper (1994), "Children's Rights and Family Justice." Advisor: Joel Feinberg. Loyola University of Chicago, tenure-track.
• Mark Perlman (1994), "Conceptual Flux: The Case Against Misrepresentation." Advisor: Rob Cummins. Western Oregon University, tenure-track.
• Michele Svatos (1994), "The Structure of Virtue Ethics." Advisor: Julia Annas. Iowa State University, tenure-track.
• Kit Wellman (1994), "Liberalism, Self-Determination, and Secession." Advisor: Joel Feinberg. Georgia State, tenure-track.
• Laura Ekstrom (1993), "Freedom, Coherence, and the Self." Advisor: Keith Lehrer. William and Mary University, tenure-track.
• Don Fawkes (1993), "Cognitive Grounds for Choice Among Equally Well Confirmed Alternative Physical Theories." Advisor: Henry Byerly. Fayetteville State University, tenure-track.
• Gail Merten (1993), "Searching for Theory X: A Quality-Only Approach to the Problem of Future Generations." Advisor: Holly Smith.
• Jan Thomas (1993), "The Frog is a Liar: What We Can Say About What We Can Do." Advisor: Keith Lehrer. University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Liberal Studies, tenure-track position.
• Clark Wolf (1993), "A Theory of Intergenerational Justice." Advisor: Joel Feinberg. University of Georgia, tenure-track.
• Angelo Corlett (1992), "Moral Compatibilism: Rights and Compensation Responsibility Punishment." Advisor: Joel Feinberg. University of San Diego.
• Jeff Hershfield (1992), "Reduction and Explanation in the Theory of Content." Advisor: Joseph Tolliver. Wichita State University, tenure-track
• Kihyeon Kim (1992), "The Defense Activation Theory of Epistemic Justification." Advisor: Alvin Goldman. University of Oklahoma, tenure-track.
• Russell Shafer-Landau (1992), "Moral Indeterminacy." Advisor: Joel Feinberg. University of Kansas, tenure-track.
• Leopold Stubenberg (1992), "Consciousness and Qualia." Advisor: Keith Lehrer. University of Notre Dame, tenure-track.
• Scott Sturgeon (1992), "Having Reason in Mind." Advisor: John Pollock. Oxford University, Professor.
• Joe Campbell (1991), "The Logic of Freedom." Advisor: Keith Lehrer. Washington State University, tenure-track.
• Ann Levey (1991), "Liberty, Property and the Foundations of Libertarianism." Advisor: Allen Buchanan. University of Calgary, tenured.
• Ed Covey (1990), "Becoming Persons: The Ethical Problems of Potentiality, Identity and Kinds." Advisor: Joel Feinberg. Russell Sage College, tenure-track.
• Jordan Curnutt (1990), "Guilding the Lily? Metaethical Studies in Environmental Philosophy." Advisor: Joel Feinberg. St. Cloud State University, tenure-track.
• George Rainbolt (1990), "The Concept of Rights." Advisor: Joel Feinberg. Gerogia State University, Professor and Department Head