Salem State University

Faculty Member, Philosophy

About

I am currently interested in the philosophy of happiness: exploring both its nature and causes through both philosophy and empirical science.  In particular, I am curious about how happiness, understood as a mental state, can figure into an account of well-being or living well.  I am also using the concept of happiness to shed new light on the debate between liberalism and communitarianism in political philosophy especially as concerns the atomism/social thesis debate brought to the fore by Charles Taylor.

My other areas of study include Ethical Theory and Political Philosophy.  In particular whether it is possible to develop a cogent defense of liberty from within an act utilitarian ethical framework.