This is my first real webpage, so bear with me…
I really got into philosophy late in the game. In fact hadn't even thought about out it until I was at my second college, on my way to a degree in the fine arts (yeah, cause THAT would have gotten me a whole lot farther than philosophy). I left Onondaga Community College to pursue the environment of a smaller, albeit Christian, school outside of Rochester, New York (Roberts Wesleyan College).
I really enjoyed life as a student artist—I had my own studio space, access to numerous mediums (i.e., lots of dumpsters to dive in for spare canvas and framing material). I came to not enjoy the stifling spiritual space. The school was quite unreceptive to those "outside the mold"—perhaps protesting the invasion of Iraq while in the midst of herds of Conservative-Republican-Bushites was a bad idea.
It was during my Junior year, however, that I found my (other) calling. One of the TWO philosophy professors on the campus was Andrew Koehl. He was a true Christian Aristotelian, and although he certainly was devote in his faith, he had such a passion and love for teaching that I was hooked from the get-go.
In spite of my (now obvious) undergraduate-naivete, I immersed myself in my classes. The draw, I think, was the ability (if not the necessity) to question, to prod, to push, to ask "why?". I can't stress enough how well that characteristic of "academic philosophy" fit with my personality.I didn't produce anything truly spectacular as an undergraduate philosopher. I did an independent study on Plato and Impressionism, trying to reconcile Plato's negativity towards the fine arts (specifically painting).
After graduation I knew that I wanted to go on to grad school, but I took a year off to mull things over and save some money. During that time I realized that I was lacking a formal background in Ancient & Medieval philosophy, so I took a long distance directive study with one of my former professors (the OTHER philosophy professor on campus, David Basinger). Upon completion I submitted applications to only a couple schools: U. Rochester and SUNY Albany. Maybe my aim was too low, but if there is one thing I truly believe is that things happen for a reason—SOME reason; and so, I am here.
Other students in the department might think of me as a hermit—and it certainly is true that I can be a recluse. I tend to myself, though certainly not out of a desire to abstain from the drink. I believe it was a current professor who, upon entering her ethics class, informed us that if we wanted to be a philosopher we must learn to hold our liquor. I digress…
My philosophic interests have tended towards ethics and political philosophy; i wrote my MA thesis on human rights and access to AIDS medication. But as of late I have revived my interest in aesthetics and art theory, and I hope to write my dissertation on depiction and representation in the arts, looking specifically at the work of Ernst Gombrich, Nelson Goodman and Kenneth Walton. My own view tends towards that of Gombrich's "illusion" theory (especially in light of work done in cognitive psychology), but I must admit that I am still green in this area, in spite of my zealous enthusiasm.
The other major highlight of the year (and my life thus far) was my wedding in May of '07. My (now) wife Katrin and I got hitched after 9 years of dating. We performed synchronized dances, wore some nice clothes, drank some fine ales, had some pictures taken…no garters were thrown though.
To end this brief treatise, please enjoy what's here and come back sporadically to check up on things. I appreciate any and all of those who take the time to look over the sight (or to even have read this far).
Cheers.