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Roger P. Ebertz Professor of Philosophy Department of Philosophy and Religion University of Dubuque
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CURRICULUM VITA: EDUCATION Ph.D.
Philosophy, M.A.
Philosophy, M.Div.
Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary, B.A.
Philosophy, AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION Epistemology Ethical theory ADDITIONAL AREAS OF TEACHING COMPETENCE History of philosophy Philosophy of religion Introductory philosophy Introductory logic Applied ethics Environmental philosophy Introduction to Religion CURRENT RESEARCH AND WRITING AREAS Epistemology Moral epistemology Applied ethics Philosophy and popular culture (movies) Philosophical hermeneutics Christian faith and higher education
GRADUATE COURSEWORK
Graduate philosophy courses taken include: Theory of Knowledge Justification, Reliability & Rationality Metaphysics Philosophy of Mind Formal Logic Philosophy of Language Advanced Logic/Theory of Meaning A Priori Knowledge Philosophy of Mathematics Moral Epistemology Recent Kantian Ethics Recent Contractarian Ethics Survey of Greek Philosophy Aristotle's Epistemology Hellenistic Philosophy Descartes and Spinoza Kant's Ethics Kant's Metaphysics and Epistemology Themes in the Philosophy of Religion Graduate theology courses include: New Testament Studies (multiple courses) Old Testament Studies (multiple courses) New Testament Greek Old Testament Hebrew Philosophy of Religion Systematic Theology (multiple courses) Church History (multiple courses) Social Ethics Counseling Skills I and II Homiletics Campus Ministry Intercultural Communication Small Group Principles Church Growth DISSERTATION ABSTRACT THE SEARCH FOR COHERENCE BETWEEN BELIEFS: A STUDY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COHERENCE AND JUSTIFICATION Dissertation Supervisor: Professor Robert Audi This study investigates the relation between coherence and epistemic justification. Part One is primarily critical. A preliminary chapter outlines three reasons coherentist theories of justification are attractive and a basic anticoherentist argument which concludes that pure coherentist theories of justification cannot account for justification. Subsequent chapters flesh out this argument through a critical evaluation of the coherentist theories of Keith Lehrer and Laurence BonJour. Given this understanding of justification, a theory of epistemic responsibility is developed according to which coherentist considerations and methods play important roles as a believer seeks to be epistemically responsible. The resulting theory of justification and responsible belief shares many of the features which make coherentist theories attractive, yet provides a more adequate account of justifying reasons within a modest foundationalist framework. PUBLICATIONS Book Review of Christianity in the Academy: Teaching at the Intersection of Faith and Learning, by Harry Lee Poe, in Teaching Theology and Religion, Volume 8, Issue 1, 2005. “The Vocation of Teaching: Themes and Models from the Presbyterian Tradition,” coauthored with Margaret P. Cowan and Mary E. Shields, Teaching Theology and Religion, Volume 5, Issue 3, July 2002. Book Review of Faith and Knowledge: Mainline Protestantism and American Higher Education, by Douglas Sloan, in Teachers College Record, Volume 98, Number 1, Fall 1996. "Socratic Teaching and the Search for Coherence," in Knowledge, Teaching and Wisdom, edited by Keith Lehrer, B. Jeannie Lum, Beverly A. Slichta, and Nicholas D. Smith, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 1996. "Is Reflective Equilibrium a Coherentist Model?" Canadian Journal of Philosophy, Volume 23, Number 2, June 1993. PROFESSIONAL PAPER PRESENTATIONS “Thinking Christianly in a Post-Modern Culture: Insights from Gadamer,” to After Worldviews, the First Annual Civitas Conference, Cornerstone University, September 16-18, 2004, Grand Rapids, MI. “The
Vocation of Teaching: Themes and Models from the Presbyterian Tradition,” with
Margaret P. Cowan and Mary E. Shields, to the Consultation on the Vocation of
the Presbyterian Teacher, Comments on “‘Gettier-Proofing’ (and then some),” by Todd Furman, at the Central States Philosophical Association Meeting, October 17-18, 1997, St. Louis, MO. "Toward a Theocentric Approach to Environmental Value," to a joint session of the Midwest Meeting of the Society of Christian Philosophers and the Dubuque Area Theological Forum, March 8, 1996, Dubuque, IA. "Why I Find Coherentism Unsatisfying" to the Summer Institute on Knowledge, Teaching and Wisdom sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, July 29, 1993, Berkeley, CA. "Varieties of Epistemic Responsibility" at the spring meeting of the West Virginia Philosophical Society, March 27-28, 1992, Morgantown, West Virginia, and at the Midwest Meeting of the Society of Christian Philosophers, October 30-31, 1992, St. Paul, MN. "Is
Reflective Equilibrium a Coherentist Model?" at the Eastern Division
Meeting of the American Philosophical Society, "Religious
Experience and Foundational Beliefs" at the Midwestern Regional Meeting of
the Society of Christian Philosophers, PUBLIC ADDRESSES "God's Work: Fixing Broken People and a Broken World." A sermon on stewardship. University of Dubuque Chapel Service, Fall 2004. "Launching Dreams: A Charge to Graduates." Commencement Exercises, University of Dubuque, May 15, 1999. "Looking Downstream: A Message to Graduating Seniors." An address to the Senior Banquet at the University of Dubuque, Spring 1996. "What I Did Over Summer Vacation or Falling in Love with Nature and Ending Up at Home." An address to the University of Dubuque Model Earth Summit, Friday, November 15, 1996. "Seeking God and the Search for Wisdom." A sermon the joint chapel service of the University of Dubuque College of Liberal Arts and the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, October 26, 1993. PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE AND SEMINAR PARTICIPATION Recipient,
McElroy Faculty-Student Research Grant for research with an undergraduate on the
Philosophies of language of Ludwig Wittgenstein and Hans-Georg Gadamer,
2001-2002. Awarded by the Steering
Committee Member and Presenter, Consultation
on the Vocation of the Presbyterian Teacher, Associate
Director, Participant,
Participant,
Summer Institute on Knowledge, Teaching and Wisdom, sponsored by the National
Endowment for the Humanities, June 23- Participant,
Participant,
Summer Seminar on Science and Christianity, sponsored by the Institute for
Advanced Christian Studies, UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPTS (Available upon request) “Toward a Theocentric Approach to Environmental Value" “Is Making Money the Purpose of Business?” "Beyond Worldview: Insights from Gadamer on Christian Scholarship" PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS American Philosophical Association, Society of Christian Philosophers TEACHING EXPERIENCE Professor
(1998-present), Associate Professor (1995 to 1998), Assistant Professor
(1992-1995), Visiting
Assistant Professor (1990-1992), Lecturer
(1988-1990), Instructor
(1989-1990), Instructor
(Fall Semester, 1987), Northwestern College, Teaching
Assistant (1984-1985 and 1986-1987,
1988, 1989), SUMMARY OF COURSES TAUGHT Lower Level Undergraduate Courses Taught: The Art of Reasoning and Decision Making Elementary Logic Introduction to Philosophy (Historical) Philosophical Questions (Topical Introduction) Introduction to Religions and Worldviews Ethics and Contemporary Issues Environmental Perspectives Business Ethics New Student Seminar Introduction to Christian Studies Philosophy at the Movies Judeo-Christian Journeys World View Seminar One: The Good Life
Upper Level Undergraduate Courses Taught: Ethical Theory History of Ethics Social and Political Philosophy Ancient Philosophy Ancient and Medieval Philosophy Modern and Contemporary Philosophy Kierkegaard’s Philosophy Hans-Georg Gadamer’s Philosophy Philosophy of Religion African and African-American Philosophy Seminar on Religion and Higher Education Knowledge and Reality Senior Research Seminar
Business Strategy (Team taught in MBA Program). TEACHING AWARDS Teacher of
the Year, 1997-1998. An award
presented by the John Knox Coit Prize for Excellence in Teaching and Advising, 1998. An award and monetary prize presented by the Board of Trustees of the University of Dubuque in connection with an endowed Faculty Hall of Fame. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE Chair,
Department of Philosophy and Religion,
Faculty Advisor (1992-present). Serve as advisor to philosophy and religion majors (1992 to present), to pre-seminary students (1992 to present), to Native-American Students (1993-present), and to first-year students (1995-present). Faculty Committee Member and Chair. Committees have included: Promotion, Tenure and Professional Development Committee (Chair); University Advisory Council, University Planning, Advancement and Finance Committee (Member); Admissions Committee (Member); Academic Standing Committee (Member); Library Committee (Chair). Steering Committee Member, North Central Association/Higher Learning Commission Self-Study Committee, University of Dubuque, 2003-2005. Served as member of the subcommittee on “Criterion Four: Acquisition, Discovery, and Application of Knowledge.” Project
Director, The Future of the
Church-Connection at the Conference
Director, Midwest Annual Meeting of
the Society of Christian Philosophers, held at the Faculty
Representative to the Board, 1997 to
2000. Represented the faculty of the Steering Committee Member, North Central Association Self-Study Committee, University of Dubuque, 1996-1999. Chaired the subcommittee on “Criterion V: Integrity.” Editorial
Consultant, Task Force
Member, Project Director, "Exploring Our Presbyterian Connection," This project was funded by a grant from the Synod of Lakes and Prairies and focused on the meaning of Church-related higher education (1996 to 2000). Grant awarded by the Synod of Lakes and Prairies. Responsibilities included: grant-writing, budgeting, organizing forums and discussions, leading faculty colloquia, teaching a seminar on Church-Related Higher Education. Chair, Undergraduate Faculty Assembly (1994-1996,1999-2000). Responsibilities included: moderating faculty meetings and Educational Policy Council meetings, communicating with faculty, representing faculty on committees, serving as liaison to administration, overseeing faculty actions, and at times mediating faculty disputes. Task Force
Member, Tri-College Steering
Committee (1995-1996). This task force was appointed by the Presidents of
the ADMINISTRATIVE WORKSHOP PARTICIPATION Participant, Workshop for Department and Division Chairs, Council of Independent Colleges, June 4-6, 2002, St. Louis, MO. Participant,
Association of Theological Schools workshop on standards, Participant, “Mentor, Colleague, Boss: Department Chairs as Instructional Leaders,” Workshop of The Collaboration for the Advancement of College Teaching and Learning, January 16, 1998, Luther College, Decorah, IA. Participant,
North Central Association Regional Workshop on Beginning and Refining the
Assessment Plan,
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