- Philosophy: Introduction to Philosophy; Logic; Ethical Theory; Ancient Philosophy; Medieval Philosophy; Women in Philosophy; Philosophy of Religion; Philosophy in Science Fiction; Utopias & Dystopias.
- Classical Studies: Elementary & Advanced Latin; Elementary & Advanced Greek; Gender in Ancient Greece.
- Humanities: Introduction to Humanities; Arts & Contemporary Society.
- Educational Consultant, Quadrivium Educational Consulting August 2002 - present
public relations, website design, computer tutoring - Assistant Professor, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove PA Fall 1996-August 2002
- Instructor, Austin Community College, Austin, TX Fall 1991-Summer 1996
- Lecturer, Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, TX Fall 91-Spring 94, Fall 95
- Lecturer, the University of Texas at Austin, Spring 1993-Summer 1994
- Graduate Assistant, the University of Texas at Austin, Fall 1985-Summer 1991
- 37th International Medieval Congress, Kalamazoo, Michigan, May 2002: "From Dynamis to Virtus in Two Difficult Steps: The Metaphysical Effect of a Linguistic Decision as seen in Thomas Aquinas' Commentary on the Latin version of the Liber de Causis."
- 36th International Medieval Congress, Kalamazoo, Michigan, May 2001: "The Assimilation of the Intelligences in Thomas Aquinas' Commentary on the Liber de Causis."
- 34th International Medieval Congress, Kalamazoo, Michigan, May 1999: "Membership or Transcendence? Being, Life, and Intelligence in Thomas Aquinas' Commentary on the Liber de Causis."
- Pennsylvania Classical Association, October 1998: "Plato Goes to Middle School," joint presentation with Owen M. Smith.
- Susquehanna University Student-Sponsored Forum, November 1998: "Multiculturalism in Star Trek."
- Susquehanna University Faculty Colloquium, October 1998: "Arab Influence on 13th Century Medieval European Philosophy."
- Plymouth Medieval Studies Forum, April 1998: "The Legitimacy of the Analogy of Being in Aquinas’ Commentary on the Liber de Causis"
- Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association National Conference, April 1998: "'As Clever And Deceitful As He Is Powerful': Descartes’ Concept of the Evil Genius in the Star Trek: The Next Generation Episode 'Ship in a Bottle'"
- “The Philosophy of Star Trek: Popular Culture as Hermeneutical Springboard,” Teaching Philosophy Dec. 1995 (18:4).
- Translation of excerpts from the Problemata of Heloise, together with the accompanying Solutiones of Peter Abelard, with annotations designed to assist Latin students and an introductory essay. Published in the anthology Women Writing in Latin, edited by Jane Jeffrey, Laurie Churchill, and Phyllis Brown, 2002.
- Co-authored with Owen M. Smith. Ten entries for the reference work Medieval Europe and the Rise of Christendom, 500-1300 AD: an Interdisciplinary Biographical Dictionary, edited by Jana Schulman, 2002.
- Accepted by InteLex for the Complete Works of Thomas Aquinas on CD-ROM: Translation of Aquinas' Commentary on the Liber de Causis.
- Replications by J. P. Telotte.
- The Physics of Star Trek by Lawrence Krauss.
- In Teaching Philosophy: Enterprise Zones by Harrison, Ono, Projansky & Helford.
- In The Journal of American Culture: Textual Poachers by Henry Jenkins.
The Metaphysics of Star Trek by Richard Hanley. - In The Journal of Popular Culture: Enterprising Women by Camille Bacon-Smith.
- In FEMSPEC: Deep Space, Sacred Time by Wagner and Lundeen.
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(October 2003) Selinsgrove PA 17870 (570) 374-8408 ACSmith@digital-link.net Education Ph.D., Philosophy, December 1991. The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX. M.A., Philosophy May 1984, and B.A. Honors Philosophy and Classics (magna cum laude), May 1983. The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. Areas of Specialization Ancient & Medieval Philosophy, Classical Metaphysics Areas of Competence History of Philosophy, Ethics, Introductory Logic & Critical Thinking, Philosophy in Popular Culture Courses Taught Positions Held Adviser: Louis H. Mackey Topic: A Translation and Analysis of Thomas Aquinas’ Expositio Super Librum de Causis Foreign Languages French, German, Latin, Greek. Presentations: Publications: Book reviews
Published online: Published in print:
It is easy to demonstrate that Thomas purports to be giving a straight account of the meaning of the Liber de Causis. He is at pains to correct false impressions, and there is an underlying presumption that if the Liber de Causis is explicated correctly, then it will concord with the truth. On the other hand, the way in which Thomas proceeds to understand the Liber de Causis “correctly” is at odds with what the text actually says. My analysis is intended to show that Thomas’ interpretation is often inconsistent with the wording of the Liber de Causis itself, and with its neoplatonic origin. The problem of natural theology is a natural focus for this discussion, since it is an issue where Thomas holds strong opinions. I examine three particular issues concerning the nature of God: Thomas’ identification of the Christian God as the “First Cause” of the Liber de Causis; Thomas’ identification of the principles of Being, Life, and Intelligence expounded in the Liber de Causis with God’s essence; and Thomas’ identification of God as the neoplatonic “One Beyond Being.” I conclude by examining Thomas’ method of interpetation, comparing it to previous models, and suggesting possible philosophical motives. References available upon request |
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