Texas TechTexas Tech University
Department of Philosophy

Howard J. Curzer

LINKS

Vita

 

Teaching

Introduction to Ethics
PHIL 2320, Spring 2012, Syllabus
 
Classical Greek Philosophy, PHIL 3301, Fall 2011, Syllabus
 
Graduate Research Ethics PHIL 5125, Spring 2012, Syllabus
 
Graduate Virtue Ethics, PHIL 5320, Spring, 2012, Syllabus

Existentialism and Phenomenology, PHIL 3304, Spring 2009, Syllabus

  
 
Books
 
Aristotle and the Virtues (Oxford University Press, 2012).
 
 
Recent Articles
 
“When Bad Thoughts Happen To Good People: A Thought Experiment,” American Philosophical Quarterly, forthcoming
 
“A Constructive Critique of Confucian Rituals,” Journal of Chinese Philosophy, forthcoming.
 
“Environmental Research Ethics: Extensions of the Three R’s,” Environmental Ethics, forthcoming (with P. Muhlberger, G. Perry, D. Perry, and M. Wallace)
 
“Managing Conflict of Interest in Research: Some Suggestions for Investigators,” Accountability in Research, 19 (2012), (with G. Santillanes)
 
 
“Teaching Wildlife Research Ethics: A Progress Report,” Teaching Ethics, forthcoming (with P. Muhlberger, G. Perry, D. Perry, and M. Wallace)
 
“Benevolent Government Now,” Comparative Philosophy, 3 (2012), 75-86
 
"An Aristotelian Account of Civility," in Civility in Politics and Education, ed. by Deborah Mower and Wade Robison (Routledge, 2012)
 
"Spies and Lies: Faithful, Courageous Israelites and Truthful Spies," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 35 (2010), 187-195
 
"An Aristotelian Critique of the Traditional Family," American Philosophical Quarterly, 47 (2010), 135-147

I received both B.A. and M.A. degrees in mathematics from Wesleyan University, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin. I have taught at Texas Tech University since 1985. My research falls into eight marginally related areas. (1) The core of my research is about Aristotle’s ethical theory. I have written a book plus several papers in which I lay out my interpretation of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics. I also have some expertise in the rest of Aristotle’s philosophy and in classical Greek philosophy generally. (2) Virtue Ethics is a contemporary movement with Aristotelian roots. I am working on a book about the virtues. So far, I’ve written chapters about moral dilemmas, forgiveness, integrity, and civility. (3) The Confucian tradition is arguably a sort of Virtue Ethics. I have written several papers about a follower of Confucius named Mencius. (4) I have created a survey to assess the level of a person’s moral development from an Aristotelian perspective and given this survey to several classes as a pre- and post-test, hoping for publishable results. (5) Together with 3 scientists (Peter Muhlberger, Mark Wallace, Gad Perry), I received an NSF grant to work out the ethics of wildlife research, and find ways to teach it to grad students. I have also been teaching a more general Research Ethics course. (6) I have written some papers in Biomedical Ethics (e.g. stem cells, withdrawal of life support). (7) The Ethics of Care is a feminist moral theory. I have written papers about its relationship to Aristotle’s ethics and to Biomedical Ethics. (8) Finally, I have written a few papers in which I interpret passages of the Old Testament.

 

office: English/Philosophy Building #265K 
office phone: 806-742-3277-X341
office hours: TR 2:00-3:30

 
SOME FAVORITE QUOTES 

“He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things – terrible, yes, but great.” – Mr. Ollivander in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling
“From now on I want to be known as ‘the Big Aristotle.’ As Aristotle said: ‘Excellence is not a singular act, but a habit. You are what you repeatedly do.’” -- Shaquille O’Neal
“I don’t think it’s fair for some girls to have plenty of pretty things, and other girls nothing at all.” – Amy in Little Women by L. M. Alcott
Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what's right. – Salvor Hardin in Foundation by I. Asimov
Contemplation itself is sometimes injurious to heath. – Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics 1153a20
“Ever hear of Socrates? Plato? Aristotle? Morons!” – Vizzini in The Princess Bride
In practice people who study philosophy too long…become very odd birds, not to say thoroughly vicious; while even those who are the best of them are reduced by … [philosophy] to complete uselessness as members of society. – Plato, Republic (487c-d)
Philosophy never makes things easier, but only more difficult. – Heidegger, Introduction to Metaphysics, 12 (H9)
When conservatism was a movement of ideas, it attracted oddballs; now that it's a movement with power, it attracts sleazeballs. -- David Brooks, NYT 12/8/05
Creative paranoia means developing at least as thorough a We-system as a They system. – T. Pynchon, Gravity’s Rainbow
“‘I can't explain myself, I'm afraid, Sir,’ said Alice, ‘because I'm not myself today you see.’ ‘I don't see,’ said the caterpillar.” – Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
Every profound spirit needs a mask. – Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil
“It’s not who you are underneath; it’s what you do that defines you.” – Rachel in Batman Begins
“Science is important, but so is ethics.” – President Bush, debate on 10/8/04
Love is a kind of war, and no assignment for cowards. -- Ovid, Ars Amatoria 

 
Other Activities

Lawsuit Against Lubbock Independent School District, 03

Visiting France, 05

Visiting Turkey, 06

Paragliding in New Zealand, 07

My Daughter's Wedding, 08

NEH Summer Seminar, 08