Curriculum Vitae

Publications	Reviews	Presentations	Memberships
Books	Current Projects	Media Presentations	Courses Taught
Journal Articles	Awards	Offices	References
Other Essays and Articles	Education	Service

EMPLOYMENT

• Creighton University Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, December 2020 to present
• Arizona State University Adjunct Faculty, School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, Sept. 2019 to May 2020; Jan. 2021 to present
• Creighton University Professor of Philosophy, July 2016 to December 2020
• Creighton University Professor of Philosophy and of Classical & Near Eastern Studies, March 2005 to June 2016
• Creighton University Associate Professor of Philosophy and of Classical & Near Eastern Studies, March 1997 to February 2005 (tenured March 1996)
• Creighton University Assistant Professor of Philosophy, August 1990 to March 1997

FELLOWSHIPS, GRANTS, and AWARDS

• Creighton University Dr. George F. Haddix President’s Faculty Research Fund: “Epictetus’ Encheiridion: A new English translation” (May 2017–March 2018)
• Creighton University “Iggy” Award (for outstanding mentors, counselors, advocates, and role models) 3 Feb. 2015
• Creighton University Academic Affairs 2014 Summer Faculty Research Fellowship: “Epictetus on Tragedy, Homeric Unheroes, and Stoic Heroism”
• Creighton University Kripke Center for the Study of Religion & Society 2010 fall cycle grant: Marcus Aurelius: A Guide for the Perplexed
• Creighton University Graduate School 2010 Summer Faculty Research Fellowship: Marcus Aurelius: A Guide for the Perplexed
• Creighton University Academic Development and Technology Center eFellowship fall 2009 to spring 2010
• Creighton University Graduate School 2008 Research Initiative Grant: Lessons in Liberation: Epictetus as Educator
• Creighton University Kripke Center for the Study of Religion & Society 2008 spring cycle grant: “The Providential Tourist: Epictetus on Journeys”
• Creighton College of Arts & Sciences Diversity Program stipend as facilitator of the Diversity and the Environment Faculty Reading Group 2007-08
• Cardoner Program Vocation Fellowship Creighton University, summer 2005 to spring 2006
• Winner of the Omicron Delta Kappa Teaching for Tomorrow Award, Creighton University, 7 Feb. 2005
• Nominee for the Omicron Delta Kappa Teaching for Tomorrow Award, Creighton University, 30 Jan. 2002
• Creighton University Office of Institutional Research & Assessment 2002 summer assessment grant for the Philosophy Dept. Assessment Committee
• Visiting Scholar at the Department of Classics, University of California, Berkeley, 13 Jan. to 18 Dec. 1999
• Affiliated Scholar at The Ethics Center, University of South Florida (100 Fifth Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL), 24 Aug. to 22 Dec. 1998
• Creighton University Graduate School 1998 Summer Faculty Research Fellowship: “Socrates and Stoic Heroism in Epictetus”
• Center for Hellenic Studies Summer Fellowship, Washington, D.C., 25 June to 6 Aug. 1997
• William F. Kelley, S.J. Outstanding Service Achievement Award for the Waste Reduction Advisory Committee of Creighton University, 26 Sept. 1996
• US WEST Academic Development and Technology Fellowship, Creighton University summer 1995
• NEH travel stipend to participate in Duty, Interest & Practical Reason: Aristotle, Kant & the Stoics, organized by the Program in Classics, Philosophy & Ancient Science, University of Pittsburgh, 18–20 March 1994
• Creighton College of Arts & Sciences 1993 Summer Faculty Development Grant: How to Write Philosophy Papers: A Manual
• Creighton University Graduate School 1992 Summer Faculty Research Fellowship: “Epictetus’ Ethics of Stoic Love and Happiness as Freedom”

EDUCATION

The University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) Sept. 1984 – May 1990

• Ph.D. in philosophy received May 1990
• University Teaching Fellowship Sept. 1984 – May 1990

Dissertation: Stoic Strength: An Examination of the Ethics of Epictetus

Committee Members

• Charles H. Kahn (in memoriam), (Supervisor) Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Professor Emeritus of Classical Studies, The University of Pennsylvania, inaugural Werner Jaeger Award winner awarded by the German Gesellschaft für antike Philosophie
• John M. Cooper (in memoriam), Henry Putnam University Professor of Philosophy, Princeton University
• Alexander Nehamas, Edmund N. Carpenter II Class of 1943 Professor in the Humanities, Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Literature, Princeton University
• R. Jay Wallace, William and Trudy Ausfaul Chair in Philosophy, University of California, Berkeley

Earlham College (Richmond, Indiana) Sept. 1982 – June 1984

• B.A. in philosophy received June 1984
• Honors Received:
  • Phi Beta Kappa Society, Delta Chapter of Indiana, May 25, 1984
  • Departmental Honors in Philosophy
  • College Honors
  • Georgia M. Watkins Scholarship in Greek & Latin

The College of Wooster (Wooster, Ohio) Sept. 1980 – June 1982

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION        Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy and Ethics

AREAS OF COMPETENCE       Ethics and Animals, Environmental Philosophy, Philosophy of the Person, History of Ethics, History of Modern Philosophy, Logic

LANGUAGES        Reading knowledge of Classical Greek, Latin, and German.  Fluent in English.

[Google Scholar CITATIONS of these publications]

PUBLICATIONS

BOOKS 

• Marcus Aurelius: Philosopher-King.# London: Reaktion Books / The University of Chicago Press, © 2025, pp. 232. ISBN 978-1-83639-116-6 hb (13 Oct.); ISBN 978-1836391524 eBook (20 Oct.).
• Epictetus’s Encheiridion: A New Translation and Guide to Stoic Ethics⁑ (with Scott Aikin), London: Bloomsbury © 2023, pp. xi+304. ISBN 978-1-3500-0950-9 hb; ISBN 978-1-3500-0951-6 pb, ePDF, eBook. [amazon.com rating 4.7]
• Adolf F. Bonhöffer, The Ethics of the Stoic Epictetus: An English translation, revised edition. William O. Stephens, translator. New York: Peter Lang, © 2021, pp. xliii+336. ISBN 978-1-4331-7613-5 ePub, ePDF, pb, hb. [amazon.com rating 5.0]
• Marcus Aurelius: A Guide for the Perplexed.‡  London: Bloomsbury (Continuum), © 2012, pp. xiv+191. ISBN 978-1-4411-2561-3 hb; ISBN 978-1-4411-0810-4 pb. [amazon.com rating 4.3].
• Stoic Ethics: Epictetus and Happiness as Freedom.* London: Bloomsbury (Continuum), © 2007, pp. xvii+178. ISBN 978-0-8264-9608-9 hb; ISBN 978-1-3500-6835-3 pb. [amazon.com rating 4.7]
• The Person: Readings in Human Nature. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson (Prentice Hall), © 2006, pp. xiv+415. ISBN 978-0-13-184811-5pb. [amazon.com rating 4.3].
• Adolf F. Bonhöffer, The Ethics of the Stoic Epictetus: An English translation† (with a biography of A.F.B. by Constantine Ritter), William O. Stephens, translator. New York: Peter Lang, © 1996, pp. xix+338. ISBN 0-8204-3027-7 hb; 2nd edition © 2000, ISBN 978-0-8204-5139-8 pb.

# Reviewed in:

• “‘Marcus Aurelius’ Review: The Mind and the Sword,” The Wall Street Journal (Jan. 11, 2026), by James Romm
• The Stoic Gym, 8, no. 1 (Jan. 2026), by Chuck Chakrapani
• Brief notice in “The Critic’s Notebook,” The New Criterion (Dec. 16, 2025), by A.G.
• Modern Stoicism (Dec. 6, 2025), by Judith Stove
• Morning Star (Nov. 28, 2025), by Richard Murgatroyd

⁑ Reviewed in:

• The Stoic Gym, 6, no. 6 (June 2024), by Chuck Chakrapani
• Philosophie Antique, 24 (2024), by Gabriele Flamigni
• Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 2024.01.48, by Gerard Boter
• Heroes in the Seaweed, medium.com (Dec. 11, 2023), by Matt Sharpe
• Goodreads.com [4 reviews; 10 ratings = 4.4]

‡ Reviewed in:

• Shepherd.com books on Marcus Aurelius recommended by Donald J. Robertson
• Ancient Philosophy, 34 (2014): 458–462, by Andrew Fiala
• Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 2013.12.26, by Rogier L. van der Wal
• Strategypage.com, Oct. 28, 2013, by A. A. Nofi

* Reviewed in:

• Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 2010.08.08, by Eve A. Browning
• Ancient Philosophy, 29, no. 2, (Fall 2009): 468–471, by Rory Goggins
• The Classical Review, 59, no. 1, (2009): 79–80, by John Sellars
• Notre Dame Philosophical Review, 2009.05.14, by Ricardo Salles

† Reviewed in:

•    Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 2001.08.41, by Scott M. Rubarth
•    Journal of Hellenic Studies, 120 (2000): 170–171, by Christopher Gill
•    Ancient Philosophy, 20, no. 2 (Fall 2000): 521–524, by Robert J. Rabel
•    The Classical Review, 50, no. 1 (2000): 154–155, by George Boys-Stones
•    Journal of the History of Philosophy, XXXVII, no. 4 (Oct. 1999): 671–673, by Eric Brown
•    Electronic Antiquity, 3, no. 7 (May 1997), by Brad Inwood

JOURNAL ARTICLES

• “Stoicism and Food Ethics.” Symposion 9, no. 1, Special Issue on Stoicism and Contemporary Thought, S. Aikin and W. O. Stephens, eds. (May 2022): 105–124.
• “Introduction” (with S. Aikin) Symposion, 9, no. 1, Special Issue on Stoicism and Contemporary Thought, S. Aikin and W. O. Stephens, eds. (May 2022): 7–10.
• “How Might a Stoic Eat in Accordance with Nature and ‘Environmental Facts’?” (with K. Whiting et al.), Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 33, no. 3 (July 14, 2020): 369–389.
• “Refugees, Stoicism and Cosmic Citizenship.” Pallas: Revue d’études antiques, 112 (2020): 289–307.
• “Public Health, Ethical Vegetarianism, and the Harms of the Animal Food Industry.” Archives in Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology, 2, no. 1 (July 2, 2019) [ISSN 2687-8100].
• “Refugees, Exiles, and Stoic Cosmopolitanism.” Journal of Religion and Society, Supplement 16: Religion and Globalization (2018): 73–91.
• “Epictetus on Fearing Death: Bugbear and Open Door Policy.” Ancient Philosophy, 34, no. 2 (Fall 2014): 365–391.
• “Stoicism and the Philosophies of the Jedi and the Sith.” The Stoic Philosopher, 9 (Jan./Feb./Mar. 2014).
• “The Mereology of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus.” History Research, 2, no. 2 (February 2012): 164–172.
• “The Ideal of the Stoic Sportsman” (with R. M. Feezell), The Journal of the Philosophy of Sport, XXXI, no. 2 (2004): 196–211. [Listen to an AI podcast of this article]
• “If Friendship Hurts, an Epicurean Deserts: A Reply to Andrew Mitchell.” Essays in Philosophy, 3, no. 1 (Jan. 2002): 70–72.
• “Real Men Are Stoics: An interpretation of Tom Wolfe’s A Man in Full.” The Stoic Voice Journal, 1, no. 3 (April 2000) ISSN 1529-2835.
• “Masks, Androids, and Primates: The Evolution of the Concept ‘Person’.” Etica & Animali, 9, Special issue on Nonhuman Personhood (1998): 111–127.
• “Epictetus on How the Stoic Sage Loves.” Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy, XIV** (1996): 193–210. **reviewed in Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 97.6.12 by Brad Inwood
• “The Simile of the Talus in Cicero, De Finibus 3.54” (with B. S. Hook), Classical Philology, 91, no. 1 (Jan. 1996): 59–61.
• “Straying and Spaying: What Do Cats Care About?” Between the Species: An Online Journal for the Study of Philosophy and Animals, 11, no. 3 (Summer/Fall 1995): 111–113.
• “Five Arguments for Vegetarianism.” Philosophy in the Contemporary World, 1, no. 4 (Winter 1994): 25–39.
• “Stoic Naturalism, Rationalism, and Ecology.” Environmental Ethics, 16, no. 3 (Fall 1994): 275–286.
• “The Argument from Marginal Cases: Is Speciesism Defensible?” (with R. M. Feezell), Contemporary Philosophy, 16, no. 4 (July/Aug. 1994): 7–16.
• “The Fate Debate: Stoic Responses to Contemporary Reflections.” Contemporary Philosophy, 15, no. 6 (Nov./Dec. 1993): 1–5.

OTHER ARTICLES and ESSAYS

• “The Memoranda of Marcus Aurelius” in The Oxford Handbook of Stoicism, D. Bailey, ed. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press (forthcoming).
• “On Food” in Brill’s Companion to Musonius Rufus, J. Sellars and L. Gloyn, eds. Leiden/Boston: Brill (forthcoming autumn 2026).
• “On Cutting the Hair” in Brill’s Companion to Musonius Rufus, J. Sellars and L. Gloyn, eds. Leiden/Boston: Brill (forthcoming autumn 2026).
• “Marcus Aurelius” in Classical and Medieval Literature Criticism, Layman Poupard/Gale-Cengage (forthcoming).
• “Epictetus” in Classical and Medieval Literature Criticism, Layman Poupard/Gale-Cengage (forthcoming).
• “Tennis and Stoicism.” Modern Stoicism, 15 Nov. 2024.
• “Is Santa a Stoic?” Practical Stoicism, 23 Dec. 2023.
• “Daylight, Time, and Stoicism.” Practical Stoicism, 8 Nov. 2023.
• “Frightful Lawn Care and Stoicism.” Practical Stoicism, 31 Oct. 2023.
• “Dungeons, Dragons, and Stoicism.” Practical Stoicism, 17 June 2023.
• “Midwest Stoicism, Agrarianism, and Environmental Virtue Ethics” in Environmental Ethics in the Midwest: Interdisciplinary Approaches, I. A. Smith and M. Ferkany, eds. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press, Dec. 2022: 1–42.
• “Phobias, Terrorism, and Stoic Therapies to Arrest Fear” in Stoicism Today: Selected Writings, Vol. 3, L. Goldrick and G. B. Sadler, eds. Modern Stoicism, Dec. 2021: 225–236.
• “The Stoics and their Philosophical System” in The Routledge Handbook of Hellenistic Philosophy, Kelly Arenson, ed. Abingdon-on-Thames: Routledge, 30 June 2020: 25–37.
• “A Stoic Approach to Travel and Tourism” in Modern Stoicism, 24 Nov. 2018.
• “Stoicism and Food” in Encyclopedia of Food and Agricultural Ethics, D. M. Kaplan, ed. Dordrecht: Springer, first online 1 Jan. 2019; 2nd print edition: 2245–2251.
• “Fake Meat” in Encyclopedia of Food and Agricultural Ethics, D. M. Kaplan, ed. Dordrecht: Springer, first online 1 Jan. 2019; 2nd print edition: 864–867.
• “Phobias, Terrorism, and Stoic Fearlessness.” Modern Stoicism, 28 Oct. 2017.
• “Stoic Theology, Science, and Love: Thoughts on Stoic Week 2016.” Modern Stoicism, Nov. 26, 2016.
• “Epictetus” in AncientThought.com, 8 Dec. 2014.
• “Epictetus on Beastly Vices and Animal Virtues” in Epictetus: His Continuing Influence and Contemporary Relevance, D. R. Gordon and D. B. Suits, eds. Rochester, NY: RIT Press, April 2014: 207–239.
• “The Roman Stoics on Habit” in A History of Habit: From Aristotle to Bourdieu, T. Sparrow and A. Hutchinson, eds. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, June 2013: 37–65.
• “Musonius Rufus.” The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 16 April 2013; updated 25 Sept. 2021.
• “Can a Stoic Love?” in Sex, Love, and Friendship. Studies of the Society for the Philosophy of Sex and Love: 1993–2003, A. L. McEvoy, ed. Value Inquiry Book Series. Amsterdam/New York: Rodopi, 2011: 79–88.
• “Wise Woman vs. Manic Man: Diotima and Alcibiades in Plato’s Symposium” in Sex, Love, and Friendship. Studies of the Society for the Philosophy of Sex and Love: 1993–2003, A. L. McEvoy, ed. Value Inquiry Book Series. Amsterdam/New York: Rodopi, 2011: 177–180.
• “If Friendship Hurts, an Epicurean Deserts: A Reply to Andrew Mitchell” in Sex, Love, and Friendship. Studies of the Society for the Philosophy of Sex and Love: 1993–2003, A. L. McEvoy, ed. Value Inquiry Book Series. Amsterdam/New York: Rodopi, 2011: 345–348.
• “Separated Spouses and Equal Partners: Cicero, Ovid, and Marriage at a Distance” in Sex, Love, and Friendship. Studies of the Society for the Philosophy of Sex and Love: 1993–2003, A. L. McEvoy, ed. Value Inquiry Book Series. Amsterdam/New York: Rodopi, 2011: 449–452.
• “What’s Love Got to Do with It?  Epicureanism and Friends with Benefits” in College Sex – Philosophy for Everyone: Philosophers with Benefits, M. Bruce and R. M. Stewart, eds. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010: 77–90.
• “The Providential Tourist: Epictetus on How a Stoic Travels.” From Ancient Greek to Asian Philosophy, Proceedings of the Athens Institute for Education and Research First International Conference on Philosophy, E. Hoppe and R. Weed, eds. Athens: ATINER, 2007: 127–140.
• “Masks, Androids, and Primates: The Evolution of the Concept ‘Person’.” Reprinted in The Person: Readings in Human Nature, W. O. Stephens, ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2006: 397–408.
• “Marcus Aurelius.” Meet the Philosophers of Ancient Greece, P. O’Grady, ed. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2005: 211–213.
• “Stoicism in the Stars: Yoda, the Emperor, and the Force” in Star Wars and Philosophy, K. Decker and J. Eberl, eds. Chicago: Open Court Publishing, 2005: 16–28.
• “Stoic Ethics.” The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 24 Oct. 2004.
• “Five Arguments for Vegetarianism.” [abridged] Reprinted in The Animal Ethics Reader (1^st edition), S. J. Armstrong and R. G. Botzler, eds. London/New York: Routledge, 2003: 201–208.
• “Five Arguments for Vegetarianism.” Reprinted in Environmental Ethics: Concepts, Policy, and Theory, J. DesJardins, ed. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing, 1999: 288–301.
• “Epictetus.” The Historical Encyclopedia of World Slavery, 2 vols. J. P. Rodriguez, ed. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 1997: 258.
• “Seneca.” The Historical Encyclopedia of World Slavery, 2 vols. J. P. Rodriguez, ed. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 1997: 573–574.
• “The Ethics of Environmental Mediation” (with J. B. Stephens and F. Dukes) in Mediating Environmental Conflicts: Theory and Practice, J. W. Blackburn and W. M. Bruce, eds. Westport, CT: Quorum Books, 1995: 167–184.
• “Stoic Love in Epictetus.” Hellenistic Philosophy, v. 2, K. J. Boudouris, ed., Studies in Greek Philosophy, No. 12. Athens: International Center for Greek Philosophy and Culture, 1994: 216–224.

REVIEW ARTICLE

• “A Stoicism for Our Time?” a review of Lawrence C. Becker, A New Stoicism. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1998. International Journal of the Classical Tradition, 6, no. 3 (Winter 2000): 438–446.

REVIEWS

• Living with Justice: A Philosophical Study of Porphyry’s On Abstinence. By Miira Tuominen. Verlag Karl Alber, 2025 (Ancient Philosophy, 46, 2026: forthcoming)
• The Oxford Handbook of Hellenistic Philosophy. Edited by J. Klein and N. Powers. Oxford University Press, 2025 (Bryn Mawr Classical Review, forthcoming)
• Learning to Live Naturally: Stoic Ethics and Its Modern Significance. By Christopher Gill. Oxford University Press, 2022. Ancient Philosophy, 45, no. 2, Fall 2025: 611–616.
• How to Care about Animals: An Ancient Guide to Creatures Great and Small. Selected, translated, and introduced by M. D. Usher. Princeton University Press, 2023. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2024.11.15.
• The Invention of Duty: Stoicism as Deontology. By Jack Visnjic. Brill, 2021. Journal of the History of Philosophy, 60, no. 4, October 2022: 690–692.
• The Stoic Theory of Beauty. By Aistė Čelkytė. Edinburgh University Press, 2020. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2021.07.44.
• Die Gebetslehre Epiktets. Form, Inhalt und Funktionen der Gebete Epiktets im Kontext der antiken Gebetstradition. By K. M. Landefeld. Orbis Antiquus 54. Münster: Aschendorff, 2020. The Classical Review 71, no. 1 (online 11 Feb. 2021, print April 2021): 72–74.
• How to Think Like A Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius. By Donald Robertson. St. Martin’s Press, 2019. Ancient Philosophy, 40, no. 2, Fall 2020: 516–519.
• One True Life: The Stoics and Early Christians as Rival Traditions. By C. Kavin Rowe. Yale University Press, 2016. Ancient Philosophy, 38, no. 2, Fall 2018: 477–481.
• Kommentar zu Epiktets Encheiridion. By Ulrike Brandt. Wissenschaftliche Kommentare zu griechischen und lateinischen Schriftstellern. Heidelberg: Winter, 2015. Anzeiger für die Altertumswissenschaft, LXIX. Band, Jänner/April 2016, 1./2. Heft: 18–23.
• Seneca Philosophus. Edited by Jula Wildberger and Marcia L. Colish. Trends in classics – supplementary volumes, 27. De Gruyter, 2014. Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 2015.09.54.
• Gandhi and the Stoics: Modern Experiments on Ancient Values. By Richard Sorabji. University of Chicago Press, 2012. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2013.11.18.
• A Seneca Reader: Selections from Prose and Tragedy. By James Ker. Mundelein, IL: Bolchazy-Carducci, 2011 (with D. T. Barber). Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2012.09.38.
• Musonius Rufus, Lectures and Sayings. Translated by Cynthia King, preface by W. B. Irvine. Lulu, 2010. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2011.11.47.
• The Cambridge Companion to Galen. Edited by R. J. Hankinson. Cambridge University Press, 2008. The Classical Bulletin 85, no. 1, Summer 2010: 121–123.
• The Philosophy of Epictetus. Edited by Theodore Scaltsas and Andrew Mason. Oxford University Press, 2007. Ancient Philosophy, 29, no. 2, Fall 2009: 477–483.
• Epictetus’ Handbook and the Tablet of Cebes: Guides to Stoic Living. By Keith Seddon. New York and London: Routledge, 2005. Ancient Philosophy, 28, no. 2, Fall 2008: 460–466.
• Stoicism and Emotion. By Margaret R. Graver. University of Chicago Press, 2007. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2008.07.56.
• Dumb Beasts and Dead Philosophers: Humanity and the Humane in Ancient Philosophy and Literature. By Catherine Osborne. Oxford University Press, 2007. Social Theory and Practice, 34, no. 1 (Jan. 2008): 139–145.
• Don’t Worry, Be Stoic: Ancient Wisdom for Troubled Times. By Peter J. Vernezze. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2005. Ancient Philosophy, 27, no. 2, Fall 2007: 452–455.
• The Philosophers of the Ancient World: An A-Z Guide. By Trevor Curnow. London: Duckworth, 2006. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2007.07.28.
• The Roman Stoics: Self, Responsibility, and Affection. By Gretchen Reydams-Schils. University of Chicago Press, 2005. Ancient Philosophy, 26, no. 2 (Fall 2006): 438–443.
• Food for Thought: The Debate over Eating Meat. Edited by Steve F. Sapontzis. Amherst: Prometheus Books, 2004. Journal of Philosophy, Science and Law 6, no. 1 (March 2006): 1–4.
• The Cambridge Companion to the Stoics. Edited by Brad Inwood. Cambridge University Press, 2003. The Classical Journal 100, no. 4 (April–May 2005): 430–433.
• Simplicius, On Epictetus’ “Handbook 1–26 and 27–53.”  Translated by Tad Brennan and Charles Brittain. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2002. Ancient Philosophy, 24, no. 2 (Fall 2004): 519–523.
• Die Funktion der Dialogstruktur in Epiktets Diatriben. By Barbara Wehner. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag, 2000, and Epictetus: A Stoic and Socratic guide to life. By A. A. Long. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. Ancient Philosophy, 23, no. 2 (Fall 2003): 472–481.
• Forgiveness and Revenge. By Trudy Govier. London and New York: Routledge, 2002. Essays in Philosophy 4, no. 2 (June 2003).
• Epictetus: A Stoic and Socratic Guide to Life. By A. A. Long. Oxford University Press, 2002. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2002.11.03.
• Cato’s Tears and the Making of Anglo-American Emotion. By Julie Ellison. University of Chicago Press, 1999. International Journal of the Classical Tradition, 8, no. 2 (Fall 2001): 319–322.
• To Eat Flesh They Are Willing, Are Their Spirits Weak? Vegetarians Who Return to Meat. By Kristin Aronson. Pythagorean Publishers, 1996. Between the Species (August 2002).
• Epictetus, Discourses. Book I. Translated with introduction and commentary by Robert F. Dobbin. Oxford University Press, 1998. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 1999.11.21.
• Logic and the Imperial Stoa. By Jonathan Barnes. Brill, 1997. Journal of the History of Philosophy, 37, no. 2 (April 1999): 357–359.
• Marcus Aurelius, Meditations. Translated by R. Hard, edited by C. Gill. Wordsworth Editions Limited, 1997. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 1998.6.23.
• Stoic Studies. By A. A. Long. Cambridge University Press, 1996. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 1997.11.20.
• Essays on Hellenistic Epistemology and Ethics. By Gisela Striker. Cambridge University Press, 1996. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 1997.6.9.
• The Case for Vegetarianism. By John L. Hill. Rowman & Littlefield, 1996. Environmental Ethics, 19, no. 2 (Summer 1997): 221–224.
• The Discourses of Epictetus. Translated by R. Hard, edited by C. Gill. Everyman, 1995. Ancient Philosophy, 17, no. 1 (Spring 1997): 268–273.
• Introducing New Gods: The Politics of Athenian Religion. By Robert Garland. Cornell University Press, 1992. Ancient Philosophy 15, no. 2 (Fall 1995): 598–601.
• Animal Minds and Human Morals: The Origins of the Western Debate. By Richard Sorabji. Cornell University Press, 1993. International Journal of the Classical Tradition, 1, no. 4 (Spring 1995): 147–150.
• Lukrez, der Kepos und die Stoiker. By Jürgen Schmidt. Peter Lang, 1990. Ancient Philosophy, 14, no. 2 (Fall 1994): 461–463.
• Why me? A Philosophical Inquiry into Fate. By Michael Gelven. Northern Illinois University Press, 1991. Man and World, 26, no. 3 (Sept. 1993): 351–354.

MAGAZINE ARTICLES

• “A Philosopher-Emperor’s Approach to Conflict Management,” Creighton University Magazine, Spring 2012: 20–21.
• “Philosophy as Therapy for the Soul,” (with M. A. Brown) Creighton University Magazine, Winter 2006: 30–35.
• “To Cheer Without Fear: Could a Cubs Fan Be a Stoic?” (with R. M. Feezell) Creighton University Magazine, Winter 2004: 22–27.
• “The Rebirth of Stoicism?” Creighton University Magazine, Winter 2000: 34–39.

PEDAGOGICAL MANUAL

• How to Write Philosophy Papers: A Manual for Beginning Philosophy Students (Creighton University, 1993).

MONOGRAPH IN PROGRESS

• Stoic Lessons in Liberation: Epictetus as Educator  (85,000 words)
  • Introduction. Stoicism as Liberation Philosophy
  • Chapter 1. Musonius Rufus, Epictetus, Flavius Arrianus, and Stoic Pedagogy
  • Chapter 2. What is Up to Us vs. What is Not:  Freedom, Self-Respect, and Stoic Happiness
  • Chapter 3. Tragedy, Homeric Antiheroes, and Stoic Heroism
  • Chapter 4. The Zoo Curriculum: Animal Examples in Stoic Teaching
  • Chapter 5. Serious Play: Sport, Games, and the Stoic Athlete
  • Chapter 6. Virtue’s Journeys with the Providential Traveler
  • Chapter 7. Death as Change: Bugbear and Open Door Policy
  • Chapter 8. The Stoic Lover, Educator, and Liberator

OTHER WORK IN PROGRESS

• Hulk and Philosophy: From Myth to Marvel, edited by W. O. Stephens (Bloomsbury Academic)
• “The Grammar of Stoic ‘Indifferents’: Aristo’s Alphabet Argument and Situationism” (paper)
• “Rage vs. Reason: Is a Credible Stoic Stronger than the Incredible Hulk?” In: Hulk and Philosophy (paper)
• “On a Supposed Duty to Eat Happy Animals” (paper)
• “Death, Godlovitch, and the Wisdom of the Stoics” (paper)
• “Cynics and Freegans: autarkeia then and now” (germinal paper)
• “Do Stoics Commit the Fallacies of Composition and Division?” (germinal paper)

LECTURES and CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

• “Democracy, Education, and Environmental Cosmopolitanism” presented at Democracy and Tyranny, a virtual conference of Plato’s Academy Centre, 26 July 2025.
• Comments on Anna Marmodoro, “She Did It! But She is Innocent. Helen of Troy, according to the sophist Gorgias” at the American Philosophical Association Pacific Division Meeting, San Francisco, California, 19 April 2025 [10L, Symposium: Pre-Socratic Moral Theory, p. 77].
• “The Grammar of Stoic ‘Indifferents’: Aristo’s Alphabet Argument and Situation Ethics” presented at the American Philosophical Association Pacific Division Meeting, San Francisco, California, 16 April 2025 [G1D, Hellenistic Philosophy Society, p. 22].
• “The Grammar of Stoic Indifferents: The Alphabet Argument of Aristo of Chios” presented at the second Royal Holloway Stoicism Workshop: Ethics in the Early Stoa, University of London, England (online), 30 April 2021.
• Comments on Josh Mund, “Non-Conscious Entities Do Not Have Individual Well-Being” presented at the American Philosophical Association Central Division Meeting (online), 24 Feb. 2021 [6N. Submitted Colloquium: Well-Being, p. 23].
• “Stoicism and Food” presented at the Vanderbilt University Philosophy Department Colloquium (online), 5 Feb. 2021.
• “Religion, Politics, and Carnism” presented by co-author Alyssa M. Ellerbusch at the Kripke Center for the Study of Religion & Society the Symposium: Religion and the New Politics, Creighton Univ., Omaha, Neb., 14 Feb. 2020.
• “Epictetus’ Zoo: Animal Examples in Stoic Teaching,” presented at the workshop Zoophthoria: The Exploitation and Destruction of Animals, Universita’ degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy, 5 Sept. 2019.
• “The Evils of Oysters and the Virtues of Vegetables: The Roman Stoics on Food,” presented at the Athens Institute for Education and Research 14^th Annual International Conference on Philosophy, Athens, Greece, 27 May 2019.
• “The Diet of a Stoic Knight: Musonius Rufus on Food Ethics,” presented at the first Royal Holloway Stoicism Workshop: Musonius Rufus, University of London, England, 12 April 2019.
• “The Evils of Oysters and the Virtues of Vegetables: The Roman Stoics on Food,” co-sponsored by Eta Sigma Phi (National Classics Honors Society) and Phi Sigma Tau (International Philosophy Honors Society) presented at Creighton Univ., Omaha, Neb., 2 Nov. 2018.
• “A Stoic Approach to Travel and Tourism” (video) presented at Stoicon, Royal Holloway, University of London, London, England, 29 Sept. 2018.
• “Dissociative Identities, Integrity of Mind, and the Olympics of the Soul:  Interpreting Enchiridion 29” presented at the Invited Symposium on Epictetus at the American Philosophical Association Pacific Division Meeting, San Diego, California, 28 March 2018 [3C. Invited Symposium: Epictetus, p. 12].
• “Stoicism: The Olympics of the Mind” presented at the Phi Beta Kappa Omaha Association Founders’ Day banquet, Omaha, Neb., 18 March 2018.
• “Angels, Animals, and Authenticity in the Blade Runner Universe,” a talk presented to a panel on Blade Runner (1982) and Blade Runner: 2049 (2017), co-sponsored by the Beta Chapter of Nebraska Phi Beta Kappa Society and the Honors Program, Creighton Univ., Omaha, Neb., 24 Oct. 2017.
• “Phobias, Terrorism, and Stoic Fearlessness” (video) an invited plenary session presented at Stoicon, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 14 Oct. 2017.
• “Cosmologies: Stoic, Christian, Secular” presented at the Kripke Center for the Study of Religion & Society Symposium: Religion & Secularism, Creighton Univ., Omaha, Neb., 6 Oct. 2017.
• “Refugees, Stoicism, and Cosmic Citizenship” presented at the Conference on Political Refugees in the Ancient Greek World at the Maison méditerranéenne des sciences de l’homme, Université Aix-Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, France, 16 June 2017.
• “Terrorism, Phobias, and Stoic Therapies for Arresting Fear” presented at the Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii, Uniwersytet Warszawski, Warsaw, Poland, 6 June 2017.
• “Refugees, Exile, and Stoic Cosmopolitanism” presented at the Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii, Uniwersytet Warszawski, Warsaw, Poland, 5 June 2017.
• “Refugees and Stoic Cosmopolitanism” presented at the Kripke Center for the Study of Religion & Society Symposium: Religion in Global Context, Creighton University, Omaha, Neb., 17 Feb. 2017.
• “Integrity” address presented at the National Society of Collegiate Scholars New Member Induction Ceremony, Creighton Univ., Omaha, Neb., 30 Oct. 2016.
• “Epictetus on Tragedy, Homeric Unheroes, and Stoic Heroism” presented at the Instyt Filozofii i Socjologii, Uniwersytet Warsawski, Warsaw, Poland, 19 May 2016.
• “A Stoic Understanding of Responsibility, Self-Respect, and Happiness” presented at the Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii, Uniwersytet Warsawski, Warsaw, Poland, 17 May 2016.
• “Epictetus on Fearing Death” presented to The Emersonian Society of Elon University, Burlington, North Carolina, 12 March 2015.
• “What Makes a Stoic Happy?” presented at the Conference on Happiness and the Virtues at Viterbo University, La Crosse, Wisconsin, 11 April 2014.
• “A Stoic Understanding of Responsibility, Self-Respect, and Happiness” presented at the Vanderbilt University Philosophy Department Colloquium, Nashville, Tennessee, 28 March 2014.
• “Epictetus on Death as a Bugbear and Immortality as a Curse” presented at the 66th Annual Mountain-Plains Philosophy Conference at Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, Iowa, 18 Oct. 2012.
• “Bugbear and Open Door Policy: Epictetus on Why Stoics Don’t Fear Death” presented at the Purdue University Philosophy Department Colloquium, West Lafayette, Indiana, 11 Oct. 2012.
• “Epictetus on Stoic Heroism” presented at the 37th Annual European Studies Conference at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, 5 Oct. 2012.
• “Is It Lonely At the Top?  The Memories of a Stoic Emperor” a Faculty Friday talk presented at Creighton Univ., Omaha, Neb., 3 Feb. 2012.
• “Bugbear and Open Door Policy: Epictetus on Death” presented to the Department of Classics & Religious Studies and the Department of Philosophy of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 15 Nov. 2011.
• “The Late Stoics on Habit” presented at the 36th Annual European Studies Conference at the University of Nebraska–Omaha, 7 Oct. 2011.
• “Death, Beauty, and Logos: The Memoranda of Rome’s Philosopher-King” presented at the 37th Conference on Value Inquiry at Creighton Univ., Omaha, Neb., 15 April 2011.
• “How to Eat Ethically” presented as the Second Annual William R. Connolly Ethics Lecture at the University of Evansville, Evansville, Indiana, 15 Nov. 2010.
• “Death, Beauty, and Logos: The Memoranda of Rome’s Philosopher-King” presented to the Western Civilization Program of Providence College, Providence, Rhode Island, 1 Nov. 2010.
• “The Mereology of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus” presented to the Missouri Valley History Conference, Omaha, Neb., 5 March 2010.
• “Bugbear and Open Door Policy: Epictetus on Death” presented to the Iowa Philosophical Society 65th Annual Meeting, Cornell College, 18 Oct. 2008, Mount Vernon, Iowa.
• “Bugbear and Open Door Policy: Epictetus on Death” presented to the University of Nebraska at Omaha Philosophy Program Colloquium, 4 April 2008.
• “Bugbear and Open Door Policy: Epictetus on Death” presented to the University of Nevada Las Vegas Philosophy Department Colloquium, 1 Dec. 2006 [last page].
• “The Providential Tourist or Epictetus on How a Stoic Travels” presented to the Athens Institute for Education and Research International Conference on Philosophy, Vilia, Greece, 2 June 2006.
• “Epictetus on Death: The Bogeyman Only Frightens Children” presented to the Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy Workshop, at The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 30 Nov. 2005.
• “Kantian Animals and the Virtues of Eudaimonism” comments on H. Fieldhouse, “Animals as Subjects in Kant’s Kingdom of Ends,” presented to the Society for the Study of Ethics and Animals, at the American Philosophical Association Central Division Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, 29 April 2005.
• “Too Manly by Half?  Stoicism in Tom Wolfe’s A Man in Full” (with G. Bakewell) presented to the Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, Honolulu, Hawaii, 11 Jan. 2004.
• “Beastly Virtues: Animal Exempla in Seneca and Epictetus” presented to the panel on Roman Virtues, Vices, and Cultural History at the American Philological Association Meeting, San Francisco, Cal., 5 Jan. 2004 [Section 57 Continental 8].
• “To Cheer without Fear: The Stoic Sportsman” presented to the Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, Honolulu, Hawaii, 14 Jan. 2003.
• Comments on Sabine Grebe, “The Transformation of the Husband/Wife Relationship during Exile: Letters from Cicero and Ovid” presented to the Society for the Philosophy of Sex and Love, at the American Philosophical Association Central Division Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, 25 April 2002.
• Comments on A. J. Mitchell, “Friendship Amongst the Self-Sufficient: Epicurus” presented to the Society for the Philosophy of Sex and Love, at the American Philosophical Association Central Division Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, 22 April 2000.
• “Real Men Are Stoics: An interpretation of Tom Wolfe’s A Man in Full” presented to the Nebraska Beta Chapter of Phi Sigma Tau, the National Honor Society in Philosophy, Creighton Univ., Omaha, Neb., 28 March 2000.
• “The Manliness of Stoicism in Tom Wolfe’s A Man in Full” presented to the Society for Philosophy in the Contemporary World, at the conference on Time, History, and Social Change, Estes Park Center, Colorado, 13 Aug. 1999.
• “Epictetus’ Use of Animal Examples” presented to the Department of Classics graduate seminar on Epictetus led by A. A. Long, Irving Stone Professor of Literature and Professor of Classics, at the University of California, Berkeley, 31 March 1999.
• “Stoic Happiness?” presented at The Ethics Center of the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida, 2 Dec. 1998 (abstract published in Fall 1998 Newsletter).
• “Epictetus on Death and Suicide, or Why Halloween Doesn’t Frighten Stoics” presented at the University of South Florida Philosophy Department Colloquium, Tampa, Florida, 30 Oct. 1998.
• “Masks, Androids, and Primates: The Evolution of the Concept ‘Person’” presented to the Society for the Study of Ethics and Animals, with comments by Kent Baldner, Western Michigan University, at the American Philosophical Association Central Division Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, 7 May 1998.
• “Environmentalism and Vegetarianism” delivered at Earth Day Omaha, Heartland of America Park, Omaha, Neb., 26 April 1998.
• “Epictetus on the Irrationality of Fearing Death and Reasons for Suicide” presented at the Iowa State University Philosophy Department Colloquium, Ames, Iowa, 26 Feb. 1998.
• “Epictetus on the Irrationality of Fearing Death and Reasons for Suicide” presented at the Meeting of the Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, 26 Oct. 1997.
• Comments on Laura Duhan Kaplan “Love’s Longing Fulfilled: Metaphysical Comfort and Plato’s Symposium” presented to the Society for the Philosophy of Sex and Love, at the American Philosophical Association Central Division Meeting, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 24 April 1997.
• “Animal Virtues and Human Vices: Epictetus’ Philosophical Zoology” presented at the Northern Illinois University Philosophy Department Colloquium, DeKalb, Illinois, 11 April 1997.
• “Socrates, Aristotle, Epicurus, and Epictetus on the Rationality of Fearing Death” presented at the Purdue University Philosophy Department Colloquium, West Lafayette, Indiana, 6 March 1997.
• “Epictetus on Animalitarianism” presented to the Society for the Study of Ethics and Animals, with comments by Alan Schwerin, Monmouth University, at the American Philosophical Association Eastern Division Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, 28 Dec. 1996.
• “Socrates: Epictetus’ Stoic Hero” presented to the Australasian Society for Ancient Philosophy at its conference at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand, 31 Aug. 1996.
• “Four Ancient Perspectives on Everyday Death” presented to the Society for Philosophy in the Contemporary World, at the conference on Philosophy and Everyday Life, Estes Park Center, Colorado, 12 Aug. 1996.
• Comments on Clifton B. Perry “Students, Teachers, and Carnal Knowledge,” the Mountain-Plains Philosophy Conference, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 27 Oct. 1995.
• “Five Arguments for Vegetarianism,” presented to the Society for the Study of Ethics and Animals, with comments by Brian A. Luke, University of Dayton, at the American Philosophical Association Central Division Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, 28 April 1995.
• “Can a Stoic Love?” presented to the Society for the Philosophy of Sex and Love, with comments by Martha C. Nussbaum, Ernst Freund Professor of Law and Ethics, University of Chicago Law School, at the American Philosophical Association Central Division Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, 27 April 1995.
• “Environmental Ethics,” a talk given to the Environmental Justice Workshop sponsored by the Nebraska State Recycling Association, Creighton University, Omaha, Neb., 26 April 1995.
• Comments on Lilly-Marlene Russow, “What Do Animals Care About?” presented to the Society for the Study of Ethics and Animals, at the American Philosophical Association Pacific Division Meeting, San Francisco, California, 30 March 1995.
• Comments on John Ferguson Heil, “Why is Aristotle’s Brave Man So Frightened? The Paradox of Courage in the Eudemian Ethics” presented at the American Philosophical Association Eastern Division Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, 28 Dec. 1994.
• “Five Arguments for Vegetarianism” presented to the Society for Philosophy in the Contemporary World, with comments by Peter Singer, Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics, University Center for Human Values, Princeton University, at the conference on Philosophy and Cultural Diversity, Estes Park Center, Colorado, 16 Aug. 1994.
• “The Argument from Marginal Cases: Why Speciesism is Indefensible” Willard Environmental Ethics Symposium, The University of Nebraska at Omaha, April 15, 1993.
• “Was Socrates a Stoic?” presented at the Central States Philosophical Association Meeting, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, 16 Oct. 1992.
• “The Fate Debate: Stoic Responses to Contemporary Reflections,” presented at the Mountain-Plains Philosophy Conference, Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas, 9 Oct. 1992.
• “Stoic Love,” presented at the International Association for Greek Philosophy Fourth International Conference, on Hellenistic Philosophy, Rhodes, Greece, 28 Aug. 1992.
• “Nietzsche’s Eternal Recurrence,” presented to the Nebraska Beta Chapter of Phi Sigma Tau, the National Honor Society in Philosophy, Creighton Univ., Omaha, Neb., 10 Oct. 1990.

OFFICES

• Editorial Board member of Brill Publishers’ Philosophy as a Way of Life: Texts and Studies series, Nov. 2019 to present. Series editors: Michael Chase, Eli Kramer, Matthew Sharpe.
• President of the Beta Chapter of Nebraska (Creighton University) Phi Beta Kappa Society, Sept. 2016 to Sept. 2019.
• Historian of the Beta Chapter of Nebraska (Creighton University) Phi Beta Kappa Society, Sept. 2012 to Sept. 2016.
• Chair of the Members-in-Course Committee of the Beta Chapter of Nebraska (Creighton University) Phi Beta Kappa Society, Oct. 2013 to Sept. 2016.
• Academic Fellow of the College of Stoic Philosophers of the New Stoa, July 2008 to present.
• Chair of the Committee for Defense of the Professional Rights of Philosophers, American Philosophical Association, July 2008 to June 2011.
• Member of the Committee for Defense of the Professional Rights of Philosophers, American Philosophical Association, Nov. 2002 to June 2008.
• President of the Creighton University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors, Oct. 2004 to May 2009.
• Vice President of the Creighton University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors, Oct. 2003 to Sept. 2004.
• Secretary-Treasurer of the Creighton University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors, Oct. 2002 to Sept. 2003.
• Nebraska State Coordinator for The Humane Society of the United States (July 1998 to February 2005).
• Referee for the following journals:
•        Acta Analytica
•        American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly
•        Ancient Philosophy
•        Apeiron: A Journal for Ancient Philosophy and Science
•        Archiv für Geschichte der Philosophie
•        British Journal for the History of Philosophy
•        Eirene: Studia Graeca et Latina
• Environmental Ethics
•        Environmental Values
•        Epoché: A Journal for the History of Philosophy
•    Ethics and the Environment
•        Harvard Theological Review
•        History of Philosophy Quarterly
•        Illinois Classical Studies
•        Journal of Philosophical Research
•        The Journal of Politics
•        Journal of the Philosophy of Sport
•        Philosophical Papers
•        Philosophy in the Contemporary World
•        Revue de Théorie et Culture Existentialistes et Phénoménologiques
•        Social Theory and Practice
•        The Southern Journal of Philosophy

• Reviewer for Routledge. Animals in Greek and Roman Thought: A Sourcebook, by Stephen T. Newmyer (London and New York, 2011, first edition) (March 2025).
• Referee for Palgrave Macmillan. Manuscript evaluated Socially Stoic: Social Theory encounters Stoic Philosophy, by Will Johncock (May and Sept. 2019).
• Referee for Routledge. Proposal evaluated The Stoics (for the Routledge Philosophers series), by Jacob Klein and Nathan M. Powers (May 2019).
• Editorial Review Board member of Quest, the Creighton University journal for undergraduate research, April 2015 to Aug. 2017.
• Editorial Review Board member of the journal Philosophy in the Contemporary World: ISSN 1077-1999, Spring 1997 to Fall 2019.
• Referee for Hackett Publishing.  Manuscript evaluated Seneca: Selected Dialogues and Consolations, trans. with intro. and notes by P. J. Anderson (March 2015):
•         A detailed report on the English translations of On Providence and On the Resolute Nature of the Wise Man, October 2012.
•         A detailed report on the Introduction, Further Reading, and Glossary, January 2014.
• Referee for Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.  Manuscript evaluated:
•         Steven M. Cahn, Reason and Religions, August 2011.
• Referee for Wadsworth Publishing/Thomson Learning.  Manuscripts evaluated:
•         Robert M. Johnson, Fundamentals of Reasoning: A Logic Book revisions for 5th edition, May 2005.
•         Do the Right Thing: Readings in Applied Ethics and Social Philosophy, January 2000.
• Referee for Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group).  Manuscripts evaluated:
•         James Rocha, proposal for a book Hook Up Morality, February 2016.
•         Andrew Chignell, Terence Cuneo, and Matthew C. Halteman’s working manuscript of Philosophy Comes to Dinner: Essays on the Ethics of Eating, December 2014.
•         Andrew Chignell, Terence Cuneo, and Matthew C. Halteman’s proposal for a book Philosophy Comes to Dinner: Essays on the Ethics of Eating, September 2010.
•         Elisa Aaltola’s proposal for a book Introduction to Animal Ethics, July 2009.
•         Amy Coplan’s proposal for a book on Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner in the Philosophers on Film series, January 2008.
• Referee for Broadview Press.  Manuscripts evaluated:
•         Robert M. Martin’s commentary and revised trans. of George Long’s (1862) trans. of Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, December 2025.
•         Philip Rose’s proposal for a book Environmental Philosophy: A Comprehensive Groundwork, February 2010.
•         Doug Al-Maini’s proposal for an edition with translation The Discourses of Musonius Rufus, June 2009.
• Referee for Oxford University Press.  Manuscripts evaluated:
•         L. Gruen, D. Jamieson, & C. Schlottmann’s proposal for 2nd edition of Reflecting on Nature, late July 2009.
•         William Irvine, The Joyful Stoics, April 2006.
• Referee for Baylor University Press.  Manuscript evaluated:
•         Andrew Linzey & Tom Regan’s manuscript Other Nations: Animals and Modern Literature, July 2008).
• Referee for Acumen Publishing.  Manuscript evaluated:
•         John Sellars, Stoicism, August 2005.
• Referee for McGraw-Hill Higher Education.  Manuscript evaluated:
•         Basically Logic, December 2002.
• Referee for Macmillan Publishing and St Martin’s Press.
• Referee for the Society for Philosophy in the Contemporary World conferences.
• Referee for the second annual Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, Honolulu, 8–11 January 2004.
• Referee for the Mountain-Plains Philosophy Conference, Santa Fe, New Mexico, October 26–28, 1995.
• Local Arrangements Chair of the 1994 Mountain-Plains Philosophy Conference (keynote speaker: the late James Rachels, Professor of Philosophy, University of Alabama at Birmingham) Creighton University, 20–22 October 1994.

CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY SERVICE

• University Athletic Board, Aug. 2016 to Aug. 2019.
• Faculty Grievance Committee, Aug. 2013 to Aug. 2016.
• Faculty Associate of The Rabbi Myer and Dorothy Kripke Center for the Study of Religion & Society, Spring 2007 to Dec. 2020.
• Chair, Department of Classical & Near Eastern Studies, July 2003 to Sept. 2006.
• College of Arts and Sciences Identity and Academic Planning Committee, May 2004 to May 2005.
• College of Arts and Sciences Budget Committee, May 2003 to May 2004.
• University Committee on Benefits, Aug. 2003 to May 2004.
• Chair, College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Development Committee, Aug. 2002 to July 2003.
• Faculty Moderator for the Creighton University Chess Club, Jan. 2001 to May 2019.
• Pre-Law Advising Committee, Aug. 1992 to Dec. 2020.
• Faculty and Academic Councils, Aug. 2001 to July 2003.
• Webmaster for the Department of Philosophy, 1998 to 2009.
• Webmaster for the Department of Classical & Near Eastern Studies, 1998 to 2003, 2006 to 2007, 2008 to 2009, Jan. to July 2012.
• Chair, Committee on Academic Freedom and Responsibility, Aug. 1997 to July 2000.
• Co-founder, Waste Reduction Advisory Committee, Aug. 1994 to July 1998.
• Committee on Academic Policy, Dismissals and Appeals, Aug. 1997 to July 2000.
• University Committee on Student Discipline, Aug. 1994 to July 1997.
• Faculty Development Committee, Aug. 1993 to July 1996.
• Nebraska Easter Seal Society fund-raising event participant, June 17–18, 1995.
• Faculty Advisor for the Nebraska Beta Chapter of Phi Sigma Tau, National Honor Society in Philosophy, Aug. 1991 to July 1995.

MEDIA INTERVIEWS, PRESENTATIONS, and STORIES

• “Marcus Aurelius: The Philosopher Emperor” (1:09:00) The Ancients, a History Hit Podcast (Episode 595) hosted by Tristan Hughes, 19 Oct. 2025.
• Reason in Society panel hosted by Brittany Polat (with Aldo Dinucci and Jacob Klein) for Stoicon 2025: Engaged Citizenship, 18 Oct. 2025.
• “Marcus Aurelius: Philosopher-King” (11:57) an episode of Conversations with Modern Stoicism, 11 Oct. 2025.
• “William O. Stephens — Marcus Aurelius: Philosopher-King” (55:00) The Avid Reader Show, Wellington Square Bookshop, hosted by Sam Hankin, 2 Oct. 2025.
• “Democracy, Education, and Environmental Cosmopolitanism” (23:50) talk at the virtual conference Democracy and Tyranny: A Deep Look into Democracy’s Future [from 1:19:33 to 1:43:24], Plato’s Academy Centre, 26 July 2025.
• “Models of Vice and Virtue? Animals in Stoic Philosophy” (30:01) an episode of Conversations with Modern Stoicism hosted by Phil Yanov, 17 May 2025.
• “Stoicon-X Melbourne 2024 conversation with William O. Stephens” (52:48) hosted by Judith Stove, 26 Oct. 2024.
• “William O. Stephens, Scott Aikin, and Matthew Sharpe: The Enchiridion of Epictetus” (1:23:00) on The Walled Garden, 15 April 2024.
• “An Hour with A. A. Long” (1:07:00) conversation with A. A. Long and Tanner Campbell on The Practical Stoicism podcast, 22 March 2024.
• “11 Stoic Instructions for Living a Good Life” Psychology Today, updated 21 Feb. 2024, Marianna Pogosyan interview of WOS.
• “On Being Oikeiôtic with Prof. William Stephens” (1:04:00) conversation with Tanner Campbell on The Practical Stoicism podcast, 5 Jan. 2024.
• “William Stephens on the Six Core Themes of Stoicism” (50:38) conversation with Caleb Ontiveros on StoaMeditation.com, 5 Jan. 2024.
• “Stoicism and Emotions: The Good and the Bad” (1:25:17) panel discussion with Matthew Sharpe, WOS, and Judith Stove on The Walled Garden, 1 Dec. 2023.
• “William O. Stephens on Musonius Rufus, Food, and Fashion” (58:26) conversation with Caleb Ontiveros on StoaMeditation.com, 10 Nov. 2023.
• “If You Ought, You Kant” (1:04:34) interview on Epictetus’s Encheiridion: A New Translation and Guide to Stoic Ethics (Bloomsbury 2023) with Tanner Campbell on The Practical Stoicism podcast, 3 Nov. 2023.
• “Unveiling the Love of Wisdom: A Journey through Ancient Philosophy and Stoic Ethics, An interview with William O. Stephens” Plato’s Academy Centre, 9 June 2023.
• “The Meaning of ‘Resilience’” (28:50) presented at Philosophy and Resilience: Choose not to be harmed, a virtual conference of Plato’s Academy Centre, 20 May 2023.
• Marcus Aurelius Anniversary Symposium 2023 (1:42:11) Donald Robertson, John Sellars, and WOS discuss Marcus’ life, philosophy, and practical relevance today, 26 April 2023.
• “William O. Stephens on Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius” (1:05:23) interview with Donald Robertson of Plato’s Academy Centre, 25 April 2023.
• “William Stephens on Epictetus’s Handbook” (51:38) conversation with Caleb Ontiveros on StoaMeditation.com, 17 March 2023.
• “Sports, Virtue & Stoicism” with Nick Davis (1:15:49) conversation with Simon Drew on The Walled Garden, 12 Jan. 2023.
• “Eight Topics in which Traditional Stoicism Informs Contemporary Life and Philosophical Thought” (1:08:50 to 1:18:04 – The Walled Garden, YouTube) Stoicon-X Midwest, 12 Nov. 2022.
• “Rediscovering Unity in the Midst of Fragmentation” (1:42:58) conversation on Stoic theology and cosmology with Simon Drew on The Walled Garden, 7 Oct. 2022.
• “What Did the Stoics Think: Marcus Aurelius with William Stephens” (51:25 – YouTube) The Magna Aurea Podcast interview by Halston Williams, 22 June 2021.
• “An in-depth conversation about Stoicism with William O. Stephens” (53:35 – iTunes, Spotify, iHeart Radio, YouTube) The Archetypal Mosaic with Mikhail Tank, 17 March 2021.
• “William Stephens on Marcus Aurelius, philosopher” a Stoa Nova conversation with Rob Colter and Dr. Massimo Pigliucci, K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York, 25 Oct. 2020.
• “William Stephens – Writing Stoicism & Happiness” The Hidden Why Podcast interview by Leigh Martinuzzi, 23 Aug. 2020.
• “William Stephens: An Introduction to Marcus Aurelius” interview with Caleb Ontiveros on his blog Stoa, 12 July 2020.
• “Why Marcus Aurelius Matters, in 5 of His Classic Quotes” explained by William O. Stephens, HowStuffWorks.com 26 May 2020 story by Dave Roos.
• “Living in Agreement with Nature” The Practical Stoic Podcast interview with Simon Drew, 17 April 2020.
• “Stoicism during COVID-19: Interview with Professor William O. Stephens” with Jayney Goddard, 6 April 2020.
• “How Stoicism can offer peace of mind during pandemic and beyond” Creighton University, 6 April 2020.
• “William Stephens’ Guide to Marcus Aurelius” interview with Caleb Ontiveros on his blog Stoa, 19 Dec. 2019.
• “A Stoic Approach to Travel and Tourism” a YouTube video (22:44) of his talk at Stoicon at the University of London, England, 29 Sept. 2018.
• “The Jedi and the Stoics (Interview with William O. Stephens)” an episode of Memento the Stoics by Santiago Proaño, 13 Sept. 2018.
• “Yoda was a Stoic? Examining a Key Philosophy in Star Wars” by Creighton University, Omaha World-Herald, 18 Dec. 2017.
• “Stoicism in Star Wars” interview by Scott Voorhees on KFAB iHeartRadio 1110 AM, Dec. 14, 2017.
• “Phobias, Terrorism, and Stoic Fearlessness” a YouTube video (35:45) of his talk at Stoicon in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 14 Oct. 2017.
• “The Ancient Minimalist,” Creighton Magazine, Fall 2017.
• “Stoicism and Star Wars” by Adam Klinker, Creighton Magazine, Fall 2017.
• “Interview with William O. Stephens” by Gregory Sadler, ModernStoicism.com, 30 Aug. 2017.
• “Is There a Connection between the Jedi and the Stoics?  Professor William O. Stephens Has the Answer” by Stephen Hanselman, DailyStoic.com, 24 July 2017.
• “Hansen: Misdeeds of Bill Kintner, Keith Williams didn’t happen in a vacuum” by Matthew Hansen, Omaha World-Herald, 19 August 2016, reports my ethical evaluation of the misdeeds.
• “Star Wars and the Stoics: What ancient philosophy has in common with a galaxy far, far away” Creighton University News Center reports my research on Star Wars and Stoicism, June 2016.
• AcademicMinute.org broadcasted a 2½ minute segment on Stoic philosophy and death on WAMC Northeast Public Radio, Albany, New York, 12 Dec. 2014.
• “Polish Scholar Studies at Creighton” Creighton University News Center, 3 Jan. 2014.
• “Stoicism on Transhumanist: An Interview with Professor William O. Stephens” by Daniel Faggella http://sentientpotential.com/stoicism-on-transhumanist-an-interview-with-professor-william-o-stephens/#, 31 Dec. 2012.
• “Interview with a Stoic: William O. Stephens” by Avi Solomon http://boingboing.net/2011/11/04/interview-with-a-stoic-william-o-stephens.html, 4 Nov. 2011.
• “Ethicist to Chew Over Meal Choice Arguments” by Dan Latini, Evansville Courier & Press, 15 Nov. 2010.
• Spotlight interview of WOS by Erik Weigardt of the New Stoa: The Online Stoic Community, Registry Report, May/June 2008.
• “College Bans Nietzsche Quote on Prof’s Door” by Scott Jaschik, Inside Higher Education, 4 Nov. 2008, quotes WOS at the very end of the story.
• “Allegations Spur Debate on What’s Kosher” by Christopher Burbach, Omaha World-Herald, 15 Sept. 2008, includes my comments on the concept of moral taint.
• Quieting Quandaries, a philosophy radio show WOS co-hosted with Dr. Michael Brown, aired on Dateline: Creighton on KIOS 91.5 FM.First show 1 July 2004. Second show 30 Sept. 2004. Third show 14 Dec. 2006.
• Scott Patterson’s interview of Dr. Michael Brown and WOS on what happens when we die aired on Omaha’s KPTM (FOX 42) nine o’clock news 17 Dec. 2006.
• Roving Reporter Polly Stryker’s interview of WOS aired on KALW 91.7 FM San Francisco’s Philosophy Talk show 25 July 2006.
• “Revenge Served Hot” by John Keenan, Omaha World-Herald, 15 May 2005, includes WOS’s comments on Darth Vader as a tragic hero.
• Gary Smolen’s interview of WOS on unsportsmanlike conduct aired on Omaha’s WOWT (NBC 6) ten o’clock news 13 Oct. 2003.
• Prof. Wendy Wright, the Kenefick Humanities Chair, interviewed WOS 20 Feb. 2003 about his book The Ethics of the Stoic Epictetus.  The interview is on the DVD Books that Humanize.
• WOS’s lecture on ancient Greek philosophers’ concepts of infinity in the “Professors’ Notes” section of the Mannheim Steamroller Fresh Aire 8 DVD by Chip Davis (American Gramaphone 2001); WOS also provided research on the subject.
• A segment of WOS’s interview about the Nebraska Vegetarian Society aired on Omaha’s ABC affiliate KETV (ABC 7) five o’clock news 21 March 1998.

COURSES TAUGHT

LOWER LEVEL

• Honors: Foundational Sequence: Beginnings of the Christian Intellectual Tradition (HRS 100)
• Honors: Introduction to the Culture of Collegiate Life (RSP 104)
• Critical and Historical Introduction to Philosophy (PHL 107)
• ◊ Philosophical Ideas: Wisdom (PHL 118)
• Introduction to Logic (PHL 201)
• Philosophical Foundations for Ethical Understanding (PHL 250)
• ◊ Energy, Ethics, and Environment (PHL 255)
• Philosophical Ethics (PHL 270)
• ◊ Philosophical Ethics: Energy and Environment (PHL 275)

UPPER LEVEL

• Introduction to the Ancient Mediterranean World (CNE 300)
• Meaning in America (PHL 309)
• Classical Mythology (CNE 311)
• ◊ Honors: Sources & Methods: Animals, Persons, and Ethics (HRS 318)
• God and Persons: Philosophical Reflections (PHL 320)
• ◊ Honors: Sources & Methods: Stoics in Film and Literature (HRS 347)
• ◊ Environmental Ethics (PHL/EVS 354)
• History of Ethics (PHL 359)
• History of Classical Greek Philosophy (PHL/CNE 370)
• ◊ History of Hellenistic Philosophy (PHL/CNE 371)
• History of Modern Philosophy (Univ. of Pennsylvania)
• ◊ Honors Philosophy Seminar: Aristotle (past curriculum)
• ◊ Themes in Contemporary Philosophy: Animals, Cognition, Ethics (PHL 401)
• ◊ Stoicism (PHL/CNE 410)
• ◊ Environmental Philosophy (PHL/EVS 454)
• ◊ Plato & Platonism (PHL/CNE 460)
• Directed Independent Study (◊ PHL 495 Spring 2010 on Epicurus, Lucretius, and Marcus Aurelius)
• Directed Independent Study (◊ PHL 495 Spring 2007 on Classical Greek Philosophy)
• Directed Independent Readings (◊ PHL 493 Fall 2002 on Plato’s Timaeus & Phaedo, Epicureanism, The Simpsons and Philosophy)
• Directed Independent Study (◊ PHL 495 Spring 2001 on Porphyry and Plotinus)
• Senior Capstone Seminar (CNE/GRK/LAT 498)

◊ indicates a new course created by WOS

MEMBERSHIPS

• Phi Beta Kappa Society
• American Philosophical Association, Professor Emeritus
• National Society of Collegiate Scholars (inducted as a Distinguished Honorary Member, October 30, 2016)

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REFERENCES

• Anthony A. Long, Chancellor’s Professor of Classics Emeritus and Irving G. Stone Professor Emeritus of Literature, University of California, Berkeley
• John Sellars, Reader in Philosophy at Royal Holloway, University of London, Visiting Research Fellow at King’s College London, and a member of Common Room at Wolfson College, Oxford
• Peter A. French, Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, retired Center Director of the Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics and Lincoln Chair in Ethics, Arizona State University
• Randolph M. Feezell, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Creighton University
• Ronald Polansky, retired Professor of Philosophy, Duquesne University, Editor of Ancient Philosophy

last updated 14 January 2026