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Philosophy

J. Aaron Simmons    

Assistant Professor
Department of Philosophy
Furman University

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Education

Ph.D. Vanderbilt University (2006)
M.A. Vanderbilt University (2005)
M.A. Florida State University (2001)
B.A. Lee University (1999)

Areas of Specialization: 19th and 20th Century European Philosophy (especially Existentialism and Phenomenology), Philosophy of Religion

Areas of Competence: Political Philosophy, Environmental Philosophy, Ethics

Curriculum Vitae

Contact Information

Office: Furman Hall 125F
Hours (spring 2013):  M/W 2:00 to 3:00 pm and T 10:00 to 11:15 am
Phone: 864-294-3526
Email: aaron.simmons@furman.edu

News and Announcements

  • I am very pleased to report that Reexamining Deconstruction and Determinate Religion: Toward a Religion with Religion, a book that I co-edited with Stephen Minister and that features extended essays by Stephen and I, and Drew M. Dalton, Jeffrey Hanson, Bruce Ellis Benson, John D. Caputo, and Merold Westphal, is now in print from Duquesne University Press.  
  • I recently posted an essay entitled, "Postmodern Kataphaticism?" at The Other Journal's Church and Postmodernism Blog.  I would love any feedback (critical or otherwise)!
  • See also my essay, "On the Relevance of Philosophy of Religion to Religious Studies: Of Gaps and Gratitude," also at The Other Journal's Church and Postmodernism Blog.  This is still an idea in progress and so I would welcome any comments or criticism as I continue to work out my thoughts on this disciplinary intersection. 

spring 2013 courses

  • PHL 101-06 Introduction to Philosophy (Syllabus)
  • PHL 205-01 20th Century Philosophy (Syllabus)
  • FYW 1221-01 - God and Justice (Syllabus)

Books           

Selected Journal Articles and Book Chapters   

  • J. Aaron Simmons, "Postmodern Kataphaticism: A Constructive Proposal," Analecta Hermeneutica (forthcoming).
  • J. Aaron Simmons and John Sanders, "A Goldilocks God," Element (forthcoming).
  • J. Aaron Simmons, "On Shared Hopes for (Mashup) Philosophy of Religion: A Reply to Trakakis," Heythrop Journal (forthcoming) - with replies by Nick Trakakis and Merold Westphal. 
  • J. Aaron Simmons, "Helping More than a Little: Recent Books on Kierkegaard and Philosophy of Religion," International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 72 (2012): 227-42. 
  • J. Aaron Simmons and Scott F. Aikin, "Prospects for a Levinasian Epistemic Infinitism," International Journal of Philosophical Studies 20, no.3 (July, 2012): 437-60. 
  • J. Aaron Simmons, "Richard Rorty: Kierkegaard in the Context of Neo-Pragmatism," Kierkegaard Research: Sources, Reception, and Resources Vol 11: Kierkegaard's Influence on Philosophy: Tome III: Anglophone Philosophy, ed. Jon Stewart (Ashgate, 2012).
  • J. Aaron Simmons, "Toward a Relational Model of Anthropocentrism: A Levinasian Approach to the Ethics of Climate Change," Faces of Nature: Levinasian Ethics and Environmental Philosophy, eds. William Edelglass, Chris Diehm, and Jim Hatley (Duquesne University Press, 2012).
  • J. Aaron Simmons, "Apologetics After Objectivity," Reexamining Deconstruction and Determinate Religion: Toward a Religion with Religion, ed. J. Aaron Simmons and Stephen Minister (Duquesne University Press, forthcoming).
  • Fred Ablondi and J. Aaron Simmons, "Gabriel Biel and Occasionalism: Overcoming An Apparent Tension," History of Philosophy Quarterly 28, no.2 (April 2011): 159-74.
  • J. Aaron Simmons, "A Faith Without Triumph: Emmanuel Levinas and Prophetic Pragmatism," Reflections on Levinas: Mono Kurgusuz Labirent 4, no.8-9 (Fall 2010): 467-84.
  • J. Aaron Simmons, "Vision Without Image: A Levinasian Topology," Southwest Philosophy Review 25, no.1 (2009): 23-31.
  • J. Aaron Simmons and Nathan R. Kerr, "From Necessity to Hope: A Continental Perspective on Eschatology Without Telos," Heythrop Journal 50, no.6 (Fall 2009): 948-65.
  • Scott F. Aikin and J. Aaron Simmons, "Levinasian Otherism, Skepticism, and the Problem of Self-Refutation," Philosophical Forum 40, no.1 (Spring 2009): 29-54.
  • J. Aaron Simmons, "God in Recent French Phenomenology," Philosophy Compass 3, no.5 (Fall 2008): 910-32.
  • J. Aaron Simmons, "Is Continental Philosophy Just Catholicism for Atheists? On the Political Relevance of Kenosis," Philosophy in the Contemporary World 15, no.1 (Spring 2008): 94-111.
  • J. Aaron Simmons, "What About Isaac? Re-Reading Fear and Trembling and Re-Thinking Kierkegaardian Ethics," Journal of Religious Ethics 35, no.2 (Spring 2007): 319-45.
  • J. Aaron Simmons, "Politics As An Ethico-Religious Task: Kierkegaard and Levinas on Religion in the Public Square," Soundings 89, no.1-2 (Spring/Summer 2006): 1001-1018.
  • J. Aaron Simmons, "Finding Uses for Used-Up Words: Thinking Weltanschauung After Heidegger," Philosophy Today 50, no.2 (Summer 2006): 156-69.
  • J. Aaron Simmons and Diane Perpich, "Making Tomorrow Better than Today: Rorty's Dismissal of Levinasian Ethics," Symposium 9, no.2 (Fall 2005): 241-266.

Selected Recent and Upcoming Presentations

  • 2012 - "Arendt and Heidegger on Identity Politics," with Kimberly Maslin, Association for Political Theory.
  • 2012 - "On the Continued Relevance of Impossible Ethical Ideals: Niebuhr and Levinas," with Kevin Carnahan, The Personalist Seminar.  
  • 2012 - "What Remains Of Religion Today?: A Philosophical Consideration" University of Alabama Department of Religious Studies Lecture Series on Religion and Culture (invited).
  • 2012 - "Continental Philosophy of Religion: A Primer," Marlboro College (invited - virtual lecture).
  • 2011 - "On Postmodern Apologetics," The Carolina Continental Philosophy Symposium (invited).
  • 2011 - "Levinasian Approaches to Epistemology," North American Levinas Society.

Offices Held in Professional Organizations

American Academy of Religion - Southeast Region Philosophy of Religion Section Chair
Society of Christian Philosophers - Central Region Committee Member

Works in Progress

  • "A Pentecostal Kierkegaard?" in preparation for an edited volume on Kierkegaard.
  • "Malebranche With Some Help From Audi" (with Fred Ablondi) - in progress.





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