Research Interests

History of Ethics

Ethical Theory

Medical Ethics

Professional Ethics

Philosophy of Law

Action Theory

Philosophy and Economics, especially decision theory, and property theory.

Two topics that have animated much of my recent research are the relationship between medical science and medical ethics, and the relationship between law and medical decision-making. These relationships generate several problems that appear to lead to inconsistent resolutions - e.g. that for doctors good science trumps good ethics, and for good law law trumps good ethics, yet both science and law are based on very sound moral principles (i.e. truth and justice).

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Courses Recently Taught

Medical Ethics (Spring 2011)

Applied Philosophy (Fall 2010)

British Moralists (Fall 2009)

Aristotle (Fall 2008)

Medical Ethics (Spring 2010, Spring 2008)

Ethics (core) (Fall 2007, 2006, 2004, 2003, 2001)

Medical Ethics (Spring 2007, 2006, 2005, 2003, 2002, 2001)

British Moral Philosophy (Fall 2005)

Applied Philosophy (Spring 2004)

Aristotle's Ethics (Fall 2002)

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Representative Publications

"Becoming Moral", Philosophical Forum

"Two Concepts of Justice", Midwest Studies in Philosophy

"Immorality", Midwest Studies in Philosophy

"Waste", Journal of Social Philosophy

"Putting Them Out on the Ice: Curtailing Care for the Elderly", Journal of Applied Philosophy

"Is There a Naturalistic Fallacy?", American Philosophical Quarterly

"Divorce", Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics

"Physician, Stay Thy Hand!"