Hello

Philosophy has always been about more than academic ideas to me. It is a practical tool for living well. My work through Philosophy 4 Life grew out of a career spent exploring how philosophical thinking can help individuals and communities navigate life’s most important questions.

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I am a philosopher, educator, attorney, and author. I earned my Ph.D. in philosophy from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, where my research focused on applied ethics and virtue ethics. Earlier in my career, I earned a J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law and practiced law before transitioning fully into higher education. Over the past four decades, I have taught philosophy and ethics at universities and community colleges across the United States, including Plymouth State University, Lone Star College in Texas, and now Southern New Hampshire University Online. My teaching and scholarship explore questions of ethics, happiness, technology, law, and the choices that shape our character and communities.

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While teaching in the classroom has been central to my professional life, I have always believed philosophy should extend far beyond university walls. Philosophy 4 Life grew out of that conviction. Through public talks, radio programs, community workshops, and writing, I work to bring philosophical ideas into everyday life, helping people think more deeply about happiness, ethical decision-making, resilience, and what it means to live a flourishing life.

 

My books, including Mind the Gap: Exploring Happiness as a Community, reflect this mission of connecting philosophy with lived experience. I have also had the privilege of working with libraries, community organizations, and public programs across New Hampshire to explore topics such as happiness, technology ethics, and our relationship with the natural world. I am now enjoying expanding my partnerships across the United States.

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One of my favorite projects involved traveling to all fifty states to explore how people transform spaces into meaningful places. This journey became an art exhibition and public humanities project. Experiences like this continually remind me that philosophy is not just something we study; it is something we practice through the choices we make, the communities we build, and the values we cultivate.

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Philosophy 4 Life exists to make philosophy accessible, practical, and meaningful. It’s goal is to help people ask better questions, make wiser choices, and live more thoughtful and fulfilling lives.