CURRICULUM VITAE
Geoffrey Gorham
| Department of Philosophy St. Olaf College Northfield, MN USA 55057 Email: gorhamga@uwec.edu |
1776 Stanbridge Ave. |
EDUCATION:
Ph.D. in Philosophy, 1994, University of Minnesota. Minor in History of Science. Dissertation: "The Structure of Theoretical Progress." Advisor: Ronald N. Giere.
M. A. in Philosophy, 1988, University of Calgary. Thesis: "Explanatory Inference and Entity Realism." Advisor: John Heintz.
B. A. in Philosophy, 1986, First Class Honours and University Gold Medal, Dalhousie University (King’s College).
AOS: Philosophy and History of Science, Early Modern Philosophy.
AOC: Metaphysics, Logic, Ancient Philosophy.
PUBLICATIONS (Books, Articles, Chapters, and Reviews):
- Philosophy of Science: A Beginner's Guide. Under contract with One World Press, Oxford.
- "Descartes on God's Relation to Time". Forthcoming, Religious Studies, 2008.
- “Theology and Philosophy in Seventeenth Century England.” Blackwell Companion to the Philosophy of Religion. Forthcoming, 2008.
- “Descartes on Time and Duration.” Early Science and Medicine 12: 28-54, 2007.
- “Cartesian Temporal Discontinuity: A New Defense; A New Refutation.” Forthcoming, British Journal of the History of Philosophy, 2007.
- “Descartes on Persistence and Temporal Parts”, Forthcoming in Time and Identity: Topics in Contemporary Philosophy, Vol. 6, MIT Press, 2007.
- Review of Jonathan Edwards and the Metaphysics of Sin, Oliver Crisp, Ashgate Publishing Co. Forthcoming, Faith and Philosophy, 2006.
- Review of Early Modern Philosophy: Mind, Matter and Metaphysics, Christia Mercer and Eileen O’Neill (ed.), Oxford University Press. Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews, 2005.
- "The Metaphysical Foundation of Cartesian Physics: The Law of Rectilinear Motion." Perspectives on Science, 13: 431-451, 2005.
- “Norman Kemp Smith.” Encyclopedia of Modern British Philosophers, Thoemmes Press, 2005. (Also published in Encyclopedia of Modern American Philosophers. Substantially revised version will be published in Biographical Encyclopedia of British Idealism.)
- “Cartesian Causation: Continuous, Instantaneous, Overdetermined.” Journal of the History of Philosophy 42: 389-423, 2004.
- “Descartes’s Dilemma of Eminent Containment.” Dialogue: Canadian Philosophical Review 42: 3-25, 2003.
- “Descartes on the Innateness of All Ideas.” Canadian Journal of Philosophy. 32: 355-388, 2002.
- “Review of William Lane Craig: God, Time, and Eternity.” Faith and Philosophy, October, 2002.
- "Causation and Similarity in Descartes." In New Essays on the Rationalists, R. Gennaro and C. Huenemann (eds.), Oxford University Press, 1999.
- “Review of David Hausman and Alan Hausman: Descartes’s Legacy: Minds and Meaning in Early Modern Philosophy.” Philosophy in Review, August, 1998.
- Review of John Leslie: The End of the World: The Science and Ethics of Human Extinction.” Philosophy in Review, April, 1998.
- "Does Scientific Realism Beg the Question?" Informal Logic: A Journal of Theory and Argumentation, 18: 225-33, 1996.
- "Similarity as an Intertheory Relation." Philosophy of Science, 63 (Supplementary Volume): pp. 220-29, 1996.
- "The Concept of Truth in Feminist Sciences." Hypatia: A Journal of Feminist Philosophy (Special Issue on Analytical Philosophy and Feminism) 10: 99-116, 1995.
- "Mind-Body Dualism and the Harvey-Descartes Controversy." Journal of the History of Ideas, 55: 211-34, 1994.
- "Planck's Principle and Jeans's Conversion." Studies in the History and Philosophy of Science, 22: 471-97, 1991.
ACADEMIC PRESENTATIONS:
- "What sort of Realism can Explain the Success of Science? Comments on Harker". American Philosophical Association, Central Division Meeting, Chicago, IL, April 18, 2008.
- "'The Twin-Brother of Space': Spatial Analogies in Precursors of Absolute Time". South Central Seminar in Early Modern Philosophy, University of Tulsa, November 16, 2007
- "Scientific Understanding: Comments on Newman". Minnesota Philosophical Society Annual Meeting. Inver Hills Community College, October 20, 2007.
- “Descartes, God, Eternity”. Canadian Philosophical Association, Annual Congress, Saskatoon, May 28, 2007.
- “Descartes and the Causal Connection: Comments on De Rosa”. American Philosophical Association, Central Division Meeting, Chicago, IL, April 21, 2007.
- “Descartes on God’s Relation to Time”. Midwest Seminar in Early Modern Philosophy, University of Chicago, March 3, 2007.
- “The Spatialization of Time in Seventeenth Century Natural Philosophy”. Society for the History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS), Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris. June 15, 2006.
- "Enhancement and Achievement: Comments on Stieg”. Minnesota Philosophical Society Annual Meeting. University of St. Thomas. St. Paul, MN. October 22, 2005.
- “Descartes on Persistence and Temporal Parts”. Inland Northwest Philosophy Conference. University of Idaho, Moscow, ID. April 2, 2005.
- "Descartes' Naturalism". Conference on Reason, Rationality and Knowing How. California State University, Long Beach. February 18, 2005.
- “The Crisis of the Cogito: Comments on Stephen Wagner”. Minnesota Philosophical Society Annual Meeting, Mankato, MN, October 23, 2004.
- “Why Cartesian Souls Lack Endurance”. Eastern Canadian Seminar in Early Modern Philosophy. Halifax, NS, July 9, 2004.
- “Descartes’s Internalist Epistemology: Comments on Williston”. Canadian Philosophical Association Annual Meeting, Winnipeg, MB, May 29, 2004.
- “Cartesian Time”. American Philosophical Association, Pacific Division Meeting, Pasadena, CA, March 27, 2004.
- “Why Cartesian Souls Lack Endurance”. St. Olaf Philosophy Department Colloquium. Northfield, MN November 17, 2003.
- “Material Falsity in Descartes: Response to Clemenson”. Minnesota Philosophical Society, St. Olaf College, October 4, 2003
- “Descartes on the Endurance of the Soul”. South Central Seminar in Early Modern Philosophy, St. Louis, September 27, 2003.
- "Descartes on the Metaphysics and Physics of Time". Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science. Halifax, Nova Scotia, May 31, 2003.
- "Descartes on Freedom". Macalester College Philosophy Department Colloquium. Nov. 7, 2002.
- “Problems of Disciplinary Pluralism: Comments on Kellert”. Minnesota Workshop on Scientific Pluralism. University of Minnesota. October 12, 2002.
- “Descartes on Circular Inertia: Comments on Slowik”. Minnesota Philosophical Society, University of Minnesota. September 26, 2002.
- “The Metaphysical Foundations of Cartesian Physics: The Law of Rectilinear Motion”. History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS) Society Biennial Meeting. Montreal, Canada, June 23, 2002.
- “Descartes’ Rejection of Secondary Causality.” Midwest Seminar in Early Modern Philosophy, Spring Meeting. University of Chicago, May 25, 2002.
- “Descartes on Divine Action and Human Freedom.” Minnesota Philosophical Society, College of St. Benedict. Collegeville, MN, September 14, 2001.
- “Descartes’ Dilemma: Pantheism or Something from Nothing.” American Philosophical Association, Central Division Meeting. Minneapolis, MN. May 29, 2001.
- “Cartesian Causation: Continuous, Instantaneous and Overdetermined.” University of Minnesota Studies in Science and Technology Colloquium Series. Jan. 26, 2001.
- “Boethius on Freedom of the Will: Comments on Nash-Marshall.” Minnesota Philosophical Society. University of St. Thomas, October 28, 2000.
- “Descartes on Continuous Creation and Simultaneous Causation.” American Philosophical Association, Eastern Division Meeting, Boston, MA, Dec. 29, 1999.
- “Descartes' Problem of Body ® Mind Causation.” University of Iowa Philosophy Department Lecture Series, Dec. 4, 1998.
- “Descartes on the Innateness of Sensory Ideas.” Iowa Philosophical Association, Iowa State University, Nov 8, 1997.
- “The Value of Truth: Comments on Adam Kovach.” Wheaton College Philosophy Conference on Realism and Truth, Wheaton, IL, October 25, 1997.
- “Body, Mind, and Causation in Descartes." Annual Congress of the Canadian Philosophical Association, St. John's, NFLD, June 3, 1997.
- "Similarity as an Intertheory Relation." Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association, Cleveland, Ohio, November 2, 1996.
- "Conceptual Progress, Reference, and Structural Similarity." Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science, Calgary, Alberta, June 12, 1994.
- "Explaining Scientific Progress." American Philosophical Association, Central Division Meeting, Chicago, IL, April 24, 1993.
- "Truth-Realism vs. Progress-Realism." Minnesota Philosophical Society Meeting, Macalester College, October 17, 1992.
- “The Descartes-Harvey Controversy." Annual Congress of the Canadian Philosophical Association, Charlottetown, P.E.I., May 28, 1992.
- "Stephen Stich's Pragmatic Epistemology." Discipuli Graduate Conference in Philosophy, University of Southern California, March 28, 1992.
TEACHING POSITIONS (list of courses taught appended):
St. Olaf College, Associate Professor, 2007 – Present.
University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, Assistant Professor, 2004 - 2007
St. Olaf College, Visiting Assistant Professor (two-year temporary appointment) 2003 - 2004
Macalester College: Visiting Assistant Professor, 2002-2003.
Gustavus Adolphus College: Visiting Assistant Professor, 2001-2002
St. Olaf College: Visiting Assistant Professor, 2000-2001.
Cornell College: Assistant Professor, 1997-2000; Visiting Assistant Professor, 1995-1997.
Marycrest International University: Visiting Assistant Professor, 1994-1995.
University of Minnesota: Instructor and Teaching Assistant, 1988-1994.
University of Calgary: Teaching Assistant, 1986-1988.
AWARDS, DISTINCTIONS, GRANTS:
2006: Co-Author of Templeton Foundation Metanexus Grant for a ‘Local Societies Initiative’: $15,000 for three years (matched by University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire).
2005: Awarded University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire Research Grant (‘URCA’) for Spring, 2006.
2004: Member of N.E.H. Summer Seminar for College and University Teachers: “The Intersection of Philosophy, Science and Theology in the Seventeenth Century”. Co-Directors: Steven Nadler, University of Wisconsin, and Donald Rutherford, UC, San Diego.
2001: Elected Resident Fellow, Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Minnesota.
2000: Member of N.E.H. Summer Seminar for College and University Teachers: “Descartes and His Contemporaries.” Co-Directors: Roger Ariew, Virginia Tech, and Daniel Garber, University of Chicago.
1996: Member of N.E.H. Summer Seminar for College and University Teachers: “Central Themes in Descartes, Spinoza and Leibniz.” Director: Jonathan Bennett, Syracuse University.
1993-94: University of Minnesota Dissertation Fellowship.
1992, 1990, 1989: Minnesota Philosophy Department Quarter Fellowships.
1990: University of Minnesota Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.
1988: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Doctoral Fellowship. (Renewed 1989, 1990 and 1991.)
1987, 1986: Province of Alberta Graduate Scholarships.
1986: Dalhousie University Gold Medal for Academic Distinction.
1985, 1983: King's College Academic Scholarships.
OTHER RELEVANT EMPLOYMENT AND ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE:
Referee for various publishers, conferences and journals including Perspectives on Science, Journal of the History of Philosophy, Isis, Early Science and Medicine and Journal of the History of Biology, and academic conferences including the Canadian Philosophical Association, the Wisconsin Philosophical Association and the Atlantic Canada Seminar on Early Modern Philosophy.
Organizer (with students) of 2004 Minnesota Undergraduate Philosophy Conference, St. Olaf College. April, 2004.
1991: Graduate Representative to Departmental Council and University Council of Graduate Students, University of Minnesota.
1987-1988: Vice-President of Graduate Students Association, and Member of University Senate, University of Calgary.
1985: Research Assistant for Prof. Stewart-Robertson, Philosophy, University of New Brunswick, Saint John. Duties: transcribing and editing original manuscripts of Thomas Reid.
REFERENCES:
Ronald N. Giere, Dept of Philosophy, University of Minnesota. Email: giere@umn.edu Phone: 612-625-4510
John Beatty, Department of Philosophy, University of British Columbia, Email: john.beatty@ubc.ca Phone: 604-822-2444
Daniel Garber, Dept. of Philosophy, Princeton University, Email: dgarber@princeton.edu Phone: 609-258-4289
C. Kenneth Waters. Department of Philosophy, University of Minnesota and Director, Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science. Email: ckwaters@umn.edu. Phone: 612-625-4325.
Janet Folina, Chair, Dept. of Philosophy, Macalester College. Email: folina@macalester.edu. Phone: 651-696- 6159.
Corliss Swain, Chair, Dept of Philosophy, St. Olaf College. Email: swain@stolaf.edu. Phone: 507-646-3277.
Scott Lowe, CHari, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. lowed@uwec.edu Phone: (715) 836-2993 or - 2545
Doug Huff, Chair, Dept. of Philosophy, Gustavus Adolphus College. Email: huff@gac.edu Phone: 507-933-3172
James White, Chair, Dept. of Philosophy, Cornell College. Email: jwhite@cornell-iowa.edu Phone: 319-895-4239
Courses Recently Taught:
| Malcalester College Symbolic Logic Problems of Philosophy Philosophy of Religion Modern Philosophy |
Gustavus Adolphus College Symbolic Logic Introduction to Philosophy American Philosophy Death and the Meaning of Life Modern Philosophy Philosophy of Time |
St. Olaf College |
| Cornell College Introduction to Philosophy Symbolic Logic Logic and Critical Thinking Ethics Philosophy of Science Seventeenth Century Philosophy Medieval Philosophy Ancient Philosophy Relativism, Objectivity, and Truth (I have also taught Biomedial Ethics and Business Ethics) |
Wisconsin Eau Claire |
