Michael Gorman

Curriculum vitae

 

Academic Posts

1999–present

School of Philosophy, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.

Associate Professor with tenure, 2006–present

Assistant Professor, 1999–2006


1997–99

Program in Catholic Studies, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, N.S., Canada

Assistant Professor.



Education

Boston College
Ph.D., Theology, 1997
“The Hypostatic Union according to Thomas Aquinas”

State University of New York at Buffalo
Ph.D., Philosophy, 1993
 “Ontological Priority”

The Catholic University of America
Licentiate in Philosophy [equivalent of M.A.], 1989
“The Psychological Way to Transcendental Reduction in the Philosophy of Edmund Husserl”

University of Toronto, St. Michael’s College
B.A., Christianity and Culture, 1987



Research Visits
Thomas-Institut, Universität zu Köln, January-May 2008.  Research on Thomas’s Christology.

Institute for Formal Ontology and Medical Information Science / Philosophisches Seminar, Universität Leipzig, January – December 2004.  Research on essence.

 

Philosophisches Seminar B, Universität Bonn, June – July 1997.  Research on Scotus’s Christology.


Thomas-Institut, Universität zu Köln, 1996-97.  Research on Thomas’s Christology.



Grants

Fulbright Senior Research/Lecturing Fellowship for work at Thomas-Institut, Universität zu Köln, January-May 2008.

 

University Research Fund Committee grant from The Catholic University of America to fund a project entitled “Essence and Substance,” June-Nov. 2005.

 

Forschungsstipendium from the Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung to fund research at the Universität Leipzig, Jan. – Dec. 2004.

Bradley Fellowship (Bradley Fellow, 2003-04) to support research on medieval approaches to essence, Institute for Medieval Philosophy and Theology, Boston College, Fall 2003.


University Research Fund Committee grant from The Catholic University of America to fund a project entitled “Modal Theories of Essence,” Jan. – June 2003.

 

University Research Fund Committee grant from The Catholic University of America to fund a project entitled “The Late Metaphysical Views of Franz Brentano,” Jan. – June 2002.

University Research Fund Committee grant from The Catholic University of America to fund a project entitled “The Analysis of Substance in Analytic Metaphysics,” Jan. - June 2001.

University Research Fund Committee grant from The Catholic University of America to fund a project entitled “Natural Function and the Intentionality of Belief,” Jan. - June 2000.

Teaching Innovation grant from St. Francis Xavier University to create a web page of Christian art (www.stfx.ca/academic/catholic-studies/art), Summer 1998.

Fellowship from Heinrich-Hertz-Stiftung for research at the Universität Bonn, June – July 1997.

Fellowship from Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung for research at the Thomas-Institut, Universität zu Köln, 1996-97.

 

 

Publications– click here

 


Academic Talks
“Defending the Personal Status of Some Alleged Non-Persons: The Normativity Approach.” Society of Christian Philosophers, Eastern Division.  Columbia, SC, April 2007.

Faculty member in summer graduate seminar entitled “Metaphysics, Ethics, and Politics in the Thomistic and Analytic Traditions”; taught class on Thomas’ metaphysics; co-taught, with Alex Pruss, classes on (i) causality and (ii) teleology, infinity, and the Five Ways.  Seminar sponsored by the Witherspoon Institute and held in Princeton, NJ, August 2006. 

 

“Thomas Aquinas on Reason and Faith.”  Sino-American Symposium on Philosophy and Religious Studies, Beijing, China, July 2006.

 

“Thomas on the Number of Christ’s Esse:  What’s the Problem?”  Cornell Summer Colloquium on Medieval Philosophy, Ithaca, NY, June 2006.

 

“Re-Thinking Essence and Substance: An Attempt to Overcome an Impasse in Analytic Metaphysics.”  Society for Catholicism and Analytical Philosophy, Notre Dame, IN, October 2005.

 

“Afterlife and Human Fulfillment according to Thomas Aquinas.”  Medieval Studies Lecture Series, Loyola University Chicago, February 2005.

 

“Necessary Accidents.”  Czech Society of Thomas Aquinas, Prague, December 2004.

 

“Essence and Accident in Analytic Metaphysics.”  Department of Philosophy, Università degli Studi di Verona, November 2004.

 

Normativity in Metaphysics.”  Institute for Formal Ontology and Medical Information Science, Leipzig, May 2004.

 

Commentary on Thomas Flint’s “‘A Consummation Devoutly to be Wished’: Aquinas and the Possibility of Multiple Incarnations.”  Kenneth Konyndyk Memorial Lecture, Society of Christian Philosophers, Chicago, IL, April 2004.

 

Commentary on Peter King’s “Augustine’s Encounter with Neoplatonism.”  Henle Conference in Philosophy, St. Louis University, April 2004.

 

Essentialismus ohne Modalität.”  Philosophisches Kolloquium, Universität Leipzig, January 2004.

 

“Can We Think about Particulars That Have Never Existed?”  Department of Philosophy, Franciscan University of Steubenville, October 2003.

 

“Thomas Aquinas on the Unity of Christ.”  Bradley Lecture Series, Institute for Medieval Philosophy and Theology, Boston College, September 2003.

 

“Essence and the Essential-Accidental Distinction.”  Cornell Summer Colloquium in Medieval Philosophy, Ithaca, NY, May 2003.


“Metaphysical Grounds of Concern for the Immature, Damaged, and Defective.”  American Maritain Association, Princeton, NJ, October 2002.

“Avoiding Anachronism in Understanding Accidents:  Notes on Aquinas and Scotus.”  International Conference on Patristic, Medieval, and Renaissance Studies, Villanova, PA, September 2002.

Christologie: Natur und Person.”  Paper given (in English) at a working conference at the Universität Würzburg in support of the publication of Die Summa theologiae des Thomas von AquinWerkinterpretationen, ed. Andreas Speer (Verlag Walter de Gruyter, 2003).  May / June 2002.

“Two Senses of Essence.”  Society for Catholicism and Analytical Philosophy, Albany, NY, November 2001.
 
“Thomas Aquinas and the Questions Concerning Christ’s Existences.”  International Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, MI, May 2001.

 

“Categories and Normativity.”  Metaphysical Society of America, Buffalo, NY, March 2001.

“Personal Unity and the Problem of Christ’s Knowledge.”  American Catholic Philosophical Association, Dallas, TX, November 2000.

“Thomas Aquinas on Christ as a Composite Person.”  Medieval and Byzantine Studies Program, Faculty Seminar Lecture Series, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., September 2000.

“Can We Believe That There Are No Purposes in Nature?”  St. John’s Seminary College, Brighton, MA, March 2000.


“A Searlean Approach to Brentano’s Problem.”  Society for Catholicism and Analytic Philosophy, Minneapolis, MN, November 1999.

Scotus as Dependence Theorist.”  Conference on Christian Philosophy, Franciscan University of Steubenville, September 1999.

 

“What was the Question of the Existences of Christ?--Thomas and Others.”  Society for Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy, Kalamazoo, MI, May 1999.

 

“Incarnation and Human Fulfillment in Aquinas, Scotus, and Ockham.”  Medieval theology group, Catholic Theological Society of America, Ottawa, Ontario, June, 1998.

 

“Traditional and Technical Senses of natura in Thomas’s Ninth Quodlibet.”  International Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, MI, May 1998.

 

Commentary on Beverly Whelton’s “Human Nature, Substantial Change, and Modern Science: Rethinking When a New Human Life Begins.”  American Catholic Philosophical Association, Pittsburgh, PA, March 1998.

 

“Thomas Aquinas on the Human Existence of Christ.”  Boston Colloquium in Medieval Philosophy, Boston, MA, January 1998.

 

“Natur und Person in der Christologie des Thomas von Aquin.”  Arbeitsgemeinschaft Kritische Scholastikforschung, Philosophisches Seminar B, Universität Bonn, June 1997.

 

“Akzidentelle Vereinigung und die Christologie des Thomas von Aquin.”  Forschungskolloquium, Thomas-Institut, Universität zu Köln, April 1997.

 

“Husserlian and Scotistic Dependence.”  Société pour l’Etude de la Philosophie Médiévale, Boston, MA, June 1996.

 

Commentary on Amie Thomasson’s “Ontological Categories and How to Use Them.”  American Philosophical Association, Eastern Division, New York, NY, December 1995.

 

“Thomas Aquinas and Godfrey of Fontaines on Christ’s Unity and Plurality.”  International Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, MI, May 1995.

 

“Seeking and Finding in Jn 20.11-17.”  Tri-regional meeting of the Society for Biblical Literature, Boston, MA, March 1995.

“Logical and Metaphysical Form: Lessons from the Theory of Dependence.”  American Catholic Philosophical Association, Washington D.C., March 1995.

 

Commentary on Erwin Tegtmeier’s “The Ontological Problem of Order.”  Conference on the Ontology and Epistemology of Relations, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, September 1994.

 

“Hume on the Nature of Belief.”  American Philosophical Association, Eastern Division, Washington, D.C., December 1992.

 

“Error and Intentionality.”  Tri-State Philosophical Association, Fredonia State College, Fredonia, NY, Fall 1991.

 

[Michael Gorman and B. Richard Beatch] Commentary on Barbara Tuchanska’s “Science as a Historical Whole.”  Tri-State Philosophical Association, Buffalo State College, Buffalo, NY, Fall 1990. 

 

 

Extra-Academic Talks

Thomistic Thoughts on Reason, Faith, Philosophy, and Theology” and “Philosophy as a Tool for Theology--Some Christological Illustrations,” February 2006; “Speech-Act Theory and the Bible,” date TBA.  Conferences given at Holy Cross Abbey, Berryville, VA.

 

“Ethical Decision-Making,” Leadership Retreat, University of Maryland Catholic Student Center, February 2006.

 

“‘I am not my soul’:  Thomas Aquinas on Human Nature and Human Fulfillment,” Catholic Information Center, Washington, D.C., January 2006.

 

Smithsonian Associates, Washington, D.C.  Six-week course entitled “Philosophy Cafe:  What Does it Mean to be Human?”  Jan – March, 2002.

  

 

Languages
German:  reading and speaking knowledge.
French:  reading knowledge, some speaking knowledge.
Latin:  reading knowledge.

 


Honors

Nominee, Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2006, The Catholic University of America.

 

Teacher of the Month, January 2002, Alpha Delta Gamma fraternity, The Catholic University of America.

 

Matchette Award, 1995, American Catholic Philosophical Association.

 

Perry Dissertation Prize (co-recipient), 1993, State University of New York, Buffalo.

 

College Gold Medal in Christianity and Culture, 1987, St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto.

 

T. J. Lang Philosophy Award, 1987, St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto.

 


Learned Societies
American Philosophical Association.


American Catholic Philosophical Association

(executive council 2005-2007).

Metaphysical Society of America

(program committee – 2001; nominations committee – 2001).

Society of Christian Philosophers

(Eastern regional committee, 2007-2010).

Society for Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy.

Catholic Theological Society of America

(convener of medieval theology group 1999-2003).

 

 

Courses Taught

The Catholic University of America

Philosophy of Language (graduate)
Universals and Particulars in Analytic Metaphysics (graduate)

Analytic Philosophy of Mind (graduate)

Essence and Necessity in Analytic Metaphysics (graduate)

Functions of Philosophy in Theology (joint graduate-undergraduate)

Senior Seminar II (undergraduate)

The Classical Mind (undergraduate, including special honors sections)

            The Modern Mind (undergraduate, including special honors sections)

            Metaphysics (undergraduate)

            Philosophy of Human Nature (undergraduate)

 

St. Francis Xavier University (all undergraduate)

            Introduction to the Catholic Church

            Christianity and Science

            Christianity and the Arts

            Sin and Salvation in the Catholic Tradition

            Christ in the Catholic Tradition

            Introduction to Christianity

 

St. John’s Seminary College

            Philosophy of Human Nature (undergraduate)

            Philosophical Inquiry (introduction to philosophy for graduate-level students)

            Ancient Philosophy (undergraduate)

            Medieval Philosophy (undergraduate)

            Universals and Individuals (undergraduate)

 

State University of New York, Buffalo

            Knowledge and Reality (undergraduate)

            Introduction to Deductive Logic (undergraduate)

 

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