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ABOUT
I am an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Clark Atlanta University. My research focuses on moral and political philosophy, comparative philosophy, and the history of skepticism.
Much of my recent work examines how philosophical ideas shape our understanding of moral obligation, equality, well-being, and resistance to injustice. Current projects explore competing conceptions of love in the political thought of Martin Luther King Jr. and Huey P. Newton, and the ways in which commitments to equality may underdetermine practical judgments about how we should treat one another.
A second area of research is comparative philosophy, particularly Buddhist philosophy, Pyrrhonism, Stoicism, and Classical Chinese thought. I am interested in how these traditions address enduring questions about how to live well and attain wisdom.
My teaching emphasizes clarity, accessibility, and critical engagement, helping students examine philosophical questions about knowledge, reality, value, meaning, and human welfare.
RESEARCH
Moral and Political Philosophy
My current research examines the relationship between moral ideals and practical obligation. One project explores competing conceptions of love in the political thought of Martin Luther King Jr. and Huey P. Newton, arguing that different understandings of love can give rise to distinct approaches to resistance and social justice. A second project investigates the extent to which the moral ideal of equality determines concrete moral responsibilities, challenging the commonplace assumption that egalitarian commitments can resolve disagreements about what we owe to one another.
Comparative Philosophy
I also work in comparative philosophy, with specific interests in Buddhism, Stoicism, Pyrrhonism, and Chinese philosophy. My research examines how these traditions address questions concerning suffering, tranquility, and wisdom. Recent projects include studies of Buddhism and Stoicism, the Dhammapada, and philosophical skepticism in the Zhuangzi.
Skepticism and the History of Philosophy
A third strand of my research centers on skepticism in both ancient and modern philosophy. I have published work on Descartes and skepticism and continue to explore the influence of skepticism on figures such as Hume, the Pyrrhonists, and Zhuangzi. I am especially interested in skepticism less as an epistemological challenge and more as a way of life connected to tranquility and human flourishing.
TEACHING
My teaching is based on the view that philosophy should be intellectually rigorous and accessible to students from diverse backgrounds. I encourage students to engage critically and fairly with competing viewpoints, and to connect the philosophical ideas we study to both individual and contemporary social and political questions.
I regularly teach courses in ethics, critical thinking, philosophy of religion, and introductory philosophy. In addition, I have developed specialized courses and seminars on topics including Buddhism and Stoicism, mental illness and moral responsibility, and the problem of evil.
Whether I am teaching introductory or advanced courses, I strive to create a classroom environment in which students develop both philosophical knowledge and the habits of careful reasoning, charitable interpretation of competing positions, and reflective self-examination.
CV
You can access my CV here.
CONTACT
Religion and Philosophy Department
Clark Atlanta University
245 McPheeters-Dennis Hall
223 James P. Brawley Drive
Atlanta, GA 30314
