My teaching spans a broad range of areas in philosophy, including philosophy of religion, Islamic philosophy, ancient and medieval philosophy, epistemology, analytic philosophy, and critical thinking. At the University of Michigan–Dearborn, I teach courses ranging from introductory philosophy to advanced undergraduate courses, as well as interdisciplinary courses in the Honors Program.
I have developed or substantially redesigned courses across these areas and have supervised undergraduate independent studies and research projects. In my teaching, I place particular emphasis on careful reading, clear argumentation, critical thinking, and open discussion. I encourage students to take philosophical arguments seriously while also subjecting them to careful scrutiny, especially when addressing questions about which reasonable people may disagree.
I have taught philosophy at the University of Michigan–Dearborn since joining the faculty in 2010. My courses have included:
PHIL 100: Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 233: Critical Thinking
PHIL 301: Ancient Philosophy
PHIL 306: Islamic Philosophy
PHIL 307: Medieval Philosophy
PHIL 340: Analytic Philosophy
PHIL 365/RELS 385: Philosophy of Religion
PHIL 375: Problems of Human Knowledge
Study Abroad: Ancient Greek Philosophy
Study Abroad: Jewish, Christian, and Islamic Cultures of Spain
My teaching frequently intersects with my research. In courses such as Islamic Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion, students encounter both historical and contemporary arguments concerning religious belief, faith and reason, the existence and nature of God, religious diversity, and other central problems in the philosophy of religion. My courses in ancient and medieval philosophy explore philosophical traditions that have also played an important role in the development of Jewish, Christian, and Islamic thought.
I have been involved with the University of Michigan–Dearborn Honors Program since 2018 and currently serve as Co-Director. In addition to my administrative work with the program, I teach interdisciplinary Honors courses that bring philosophical texts and arguments into conversation with history, religion, literature, and other areas of the humanities.
Honors courses I have taught include:
The Four Trials/Great Trials in World History
Classical and Religious Traditions on the Good Life
The Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Reformation
My Honors teaching gives me an opportunity to approach philosophical questions in a broader interdisciplinary setting. These courses have examined topics such as happiness and the good life, friendship, virtue, religion, justice, and major intellectual and cultural transformations in Western and Islamic history.
An important part of my teaching involves working individually with students on independent research. I have supervised numerous undergraduate independent studies and research projects at UM–Dearborn, particularly in philosophy of religion and related areas. Some of this work has resulted in student conference presentations and publications.
I also encourage students to pursue opportunities to develop and present philosophical work beyond the classroom. My aim in supervising undergraduate research is to help students move from an initial philosophical question to a clearly formulated problem or argument and, where appropriate, to develop their work to a standard suitable for presentation to a wider academic audience.
Before joining the University of Michigan–Dearborn, I taught philosophy at the University of Auckland, where I was a Lecturer in Philosophy from 2006 to 2010, following earlier work as a Teaching Assistant. Courses I taught there included:
PHIL 105: Critical Thinking
PHIL 218/338: Problems in Epistemology
PHIL 207/327: Philosophy of Religion
Continuing Education: Islamic Philosophy