University of Connecticut
Department of Philosophy
PhD, 1982
APA Eastern Division
New Haven, CT, United States of America
Areas of Specialization
Applied Ethics
Meta-Ethics
Normative Ethics
Areas of Interest
Philosophy of Mind
  •  80
    Cheating 101
    Teaching Philosophy 26 (2): 131-145. 2003.
    This paper describes a ten-year experiment aimed at stopping cheating in the philosophy classroom. In addition to evaluating a number of common approaches to dealing with cheating in the classroom (e.g. punishing students, preventative measures), the author argues that combating cheating requires fostering a rational appreciation of right conduct while acknowledging that such conduct cannot be policed. One way that this conduct is instilled is through “contract grading”, a type of grading where …Read more
  •  64
    When is a fallacy not a fallacy?
    Metaphilosophy 19 (3‐4): 307-312. 1988.
    The informal fallacies can be conceived as enthymemes that are formally valid. But, then, what accounts for our sense of their fallaciousness? I explain this in terms of the notion of a warrant.
  •  10
    Moral Moments: The History of the World, Part 2
    Philosophy Now 48 38-38. 2004.
  •  385
    It is now generally recognized that Earth is at risk of a devastating collision with an asteroid or a comet. Impressive strides in our understanding of this threat have been made in recent decades, and various efforts to deal with it have been undertaken. However, the pace of government action hasn’t kept up with the advance of our knowledge. Despite the daunting dimensions of planetary defense, one intrepid NGO has stepped up to the plate: The B612 Foundation has embarked on a half-billion-doll…Read more
  •  16
    Moral Moments: Am I a Plagiarist?
    Philosophy Now 78 48-48. 2010.
  •  110
    Innocent and Innocuous: The Case Against Animal Research
    Between the Species (10): 98-117. 2010.
    Animal research is a challenging issue for the animal advocate because of what, besides animal well-being, is considered to be at stake, namely, human health. This article seeks to vindicate the antivivisectionist position. The standard defense of animal research as promoting the overwhelming good of human health is refuted on both factual and logical, or normative-theoretical, grounds. The author then attempts to clinch the case by arguing that animal research violates a deontic principle. Howe…Read more
  •  22
    The Heart Has Its Reasons
    Philosophy Now 83 39-39. 2011.
  •  85
    Joel Marks discusses the philosophical aspects of a question recently in the news: is Pluto a planet, or not?
  • Moral Moments: Testing Your Moral Metal
    Philosophy Now 29 51-51. 2000.
  •  62
    Activism as Integrity (review)
    Philosophy Now (67): 44-45. 2008.
    Review of Lee Hall's book, Capers in the Churchyard: Animal Rights Advocacy in the Age of Terror. Ostensibly about tactics in the animal rights movement, the book is in fact a manifesto for thinking about nonhuman animals in a wholly different way from what we have become accustomed to. The review focuses on the welfare/rights debate in the animal movement.
  •  17