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91Perceiving God through Natural BeautyFaith and Philosophy 32 (3): 293-312. 2015.In Perceiving God, William Alston briefly suggests the possibility of perceiving God indirectly through the perception of another object. Following recent work by C. Stephen Evans, we argue that Thomas Reid’s notion of “natural signs” helpfully illuminates how people can perceive God indirectly through natural beauty. First, we explain how some natural signs enable what Alston labels “indirect perception.” Second, we explore how certain emotions make it possible to see both beauty and the excell…Read more
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67In contrast to the widely held view that emotions are obstacles to ideal epistemic functioning, emotions, as evaluative perceptual states, can contribute in significant ways to our achievement of valuable epistemic goods including justified beliefs, understanding, and wisdom. That emotions are evaluative perceptual states – call this the perceptual thesis of emotion – is evidenced by the extent of the structural and functional parallels between emotions and sense perceptions. Emotions, like sens…Read more
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53Respect for Human Dignity as an Emotion and VirtueRes Philosophica 92 (4): 743-763. 2015.Although it does not appear on many traditional lists of the virtues, respect for human dignity is an important virtue in its own right that is characterized as much by emotions as by other mental states and actions. The virtue of respect for human dignity essentially involves the dispositions to feel the emotion of respect for the dignity of others and an emotional sense of one’s own dignity. As exemplified by Nelson Mandela, this virtue also involves a keen perceptual sensitivity to humiliatin…Read more
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48Foundational Beliefs and Persuading with Humor: Reflections Inspired by Reid and KierkegaardFaith and Philosophy 31 (3): 267-285. 2014.The most important and common solution to the Pyrrhonian skeptic’s regress problem is foundationalism. Reason-giving must stop somewhere, argues the foundationalist, and the fact that it does stop does not threaten knowledge or justification. The foundationalist has a problem, though; while foundationalism might adequately answer skepticism, it does not allow for a satisfying reply to the skeptic. The feature that makes a belief foundationally justified is not the sort of thing that can be given…Read more
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41Emotions, Character, and Associationist PsychologyJournal of Moral Philosophy 14 (6): 623-645. 2017.Emotions are pivotal in the manifestation and functioning of character traits. Traits such as virtues and vices involve emotions in diverse but connected ways. Some virtues are exemplified, in important part, by feeling emotions. Others are exemplified in managing, bypassing, or even eliminating emotions. And one virtue at least is exemplified in not-feeling a certain range of emotions. Emotions are a kind of perceptual state, namely construal, involving concern or caring about something, in whi…Read more
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41Temptation, Virtue, and the Character of ChristFaith and Philosophy 36 (1): 81-101. 2019.The author of Hebrews writes that Jesus Christ was “tempted as we are, yet without sin”. Many Christians take the sinlessness of Jesus to imply that he was perfectly virtuous. Yet, susceptibility to the experience of at least some temptations, plausibly including those Jesus experienced, seems incompatible with the possession of perfect virtue. In an attempt to resolve this tension, I argue here that there are good reasons for believing that Jesus, while perfectly sinless, was not fully virtuous…Read more
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37Emotions, Character, and Associationist PsychologyJournal of Moral Philosophy 14 (6): 623-645. 2017._ Source: _Page Count 23 Emotions are pivotal in the manifestation and functioning of character traits. Traits such as virtues and vices involve emotions in diverse but connected ways. Some virtues are exemplified, in important part, by feeling emotions. Others are exemplified in managing, bypassing, or even eliminating emotions. And one virtue at least is exemplified in _not_-feeling a certain range of emotions. Emotions are a kind of perceptual state, namely _construal_, involving concern or c…Read more
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23Book Review: The Emotions: A Philosophical Introduction, written by Julien A. Deonna and Fabrice Teroni (review)Journal of Moral Philosophy 12 (2): 239-242. 2015.
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23The Courage of FaithPhilosophia Christi 16 (2): 377-393. 2014.In Fear and Trembling, Søren Kierkegaard’s pseudonymous character, Johannes de Silentio, highlights the spiritual danger inherent in the Christian life of enjoying finite goods without giving into the temptation to idolize or become too dependent for our happiness on them. In light of this danger, de Silentio suggests that the life of faith depends on a special kind of courage—“the courage of faith.” Here, I offer an analysis of the courage of faith, underscoring its importance for the Christian…Read more
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21Faith and Virtue Formation: Christian Philosophy in Aid of Becoming Good (edited book)Oxford University Press. 2021.Edited by Adam C. Pelser and W. Scott Cleveland * Includes interdisciplinary essays on underexplored issues in virtue formation * Provides fresh perspectives on neglected virtues including honesty, graciousness, intellectual humility, and accountability * Features profound insights from first-rate Christian philosophers in aid of moral and spiritual formation * Advances philosophical, psychological, and theological understanding of virtue formation by drawing on ancient philosophical/theological…Read more
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20Fostering Respect in the MilitaryJournal of Military Ethics 20 (3-4): 281-292. 2022.Fostering a culture and climate of respect is a point of emphasis for the United States military. Yet, despite its clear commitment to the value of respect—and, more specifically, respect for human...
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13Virtues and Their Vices, edited by Kevin Timpe and Craig A. Boyd (review)Faith and Philosophy 33 (3): 382-386. 2016.
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1Emotion, evaluative perception, and epistemic justificationIn Sabine Roeser & Cain Samuel Todd (eds.), Emotion and Value, Oxford University Press Uk. 2014.
Areas of Specialization
2 more
Value Theory |
Philosophy of Religion |
Christianity |
Emotions |
Moral Epistemology |
Virtue Ethics |
Moral Character |
Areas of Interest
2 more
Virtue Ethics |
Moral Character |
Philosophy of Religion |
Christianity |
Value Theory |
Emotions |
Moral Epistemology |