Robert F. Almeder
Encyclopedia
Robert F. Almeder worked as an American Professor of Philosophy at Georgia State University until his retirement in 2005 and has written extensively on the Philosophy of Science
, Epistemology, and Ethics
. Books by Almeder include Beyond Death (1987), Death and Personal Survival (1992), Blind Realism (1996), Harmless Naturalism (1998), and Human Happiness and Morality (2000).
Georgia State University
instituted a student award in honour of Almeder upon his retirement in 2005, the Robert F. Almeder Prize, awarded to the student who writes the best paper at the annual Georgia State Student Philosophy Symposium. He was the inaugural McCullough Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Hamilton College ( 2005–2007) where he taught courses in human rights and biomedical ethics and the law. He is currently working on a book manuscript on the science of Global Warming.
, and W.O. Quine
and subscribes to Cartesian dualism, broadly rejecting scientism
and materialism
. Stevenson's reincarnation research
work on children who claimed to remember past lives convinced Almeder that minds are irreducible to the brain or brain states. He argued that human minds are of a different order to normal physical objects which rely on a more primitive causality to enable interactions with physical entities. Almeder is critical of the academic and scientific community for not taking Stevenson's work seriously because of a mistaken understanding of the nature of his work and confusing it with the diminished respect for religion that has been associated with the rise of scientism.
Philosophy of science
The philosophy of science is concerned with the assumptions, foundations, methods and implications of science. It is also concerned with the use and merit of science and sometimes overlaps metaphysics and epistemology by exploring whether scientific results are actually a study of truth...
, Epistemology, and Ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
. Books by Almeder include Beyond Death (1987), Death and Personal Survival (1992), Blind Realism (1996), Harmless Naturalism (1998), and Human Happiness and Morality (2000).
Background
Almeder completed his PhD on "The Metaphysical and Logical Realism of Charles Peirce" at the University of Pennsylvania in 1969. Since then he has been the president of the Charles S. Peirce Society as well as president of the Georgia Philosophical Association. In 1973 Almeder received the Outstanding Educator of America Award and then the Georgia State University Alumni Distinguished Professor Award for teaching and research in 1984 and 1995. Almeder was the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship in 1992 and then again in 2005.Georgia State University
Georgia State University
Georgia State University is a research university in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1913, it serves about 30,000 students and is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities...
instituted a student award in honour of Almeder upon his retirement in 2005, the Robert F. Almeder Prize, awarded to the student who writes the best paper at the annual Georgia State Student Philosophy Symposium. He was the inaugural McCullough Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Hamilton College ( 2005–2007) where he taught courses in human rights and biomedical ethics and the law. He is currently working on a book manuscript on the science of Global Warming.
Views on minds
Almeder was strongly influenced by Charles Sanders Peirce, Ian StevensonIan Stevenson
Ian Pretyman Stevenson, MD, was a Canadian biochemist and professor of psychiatry. Until his retirement in 2002, he was head of the Division of Perceptual Studies at the University of Virginia, which investigates the paranormal.Stevenson considered that the concept of reincarnation might...
, and W.O. Quine
Willard Van Orman Quine
Willard Van Orman Quine was an American philosopher and logician in the analytic tradition...
and subscribes to Cartesian dualism, broadly rejecting scientism
Scientism
Scientism refers to a belief in the universal applicability of the systematic methods and approach of science, especially the view that empirical science constitutes the most authoritative worldview or most valuable part of human learning to the exclusion of other viewpoints...
and materialism
Materialism
In philosophy, the theory of materialism holds that the only thing that exists is matter; that all things are composed of material and all phenomena are the result of material interactions. In other words, matter is the only substance...
. Stevenson's reincarnation research
Reincarnation research
Reincarnation research is a branch of parapsychology. Psychiatrist Ian Stevenson, from the University of Virginia, investigated many reports of young children who claimed to remember a past life...
work on children who claimed to remember past lives convinced Almeder that minds are irreducible to the brain or brain states. He argued that human minds are of a different order to normal physical objects which rely on a more primitive causality to enable interactions with physical entities. Almeder is critical of the academic and scientific community for not taking Stevenson's work seriously because of a mistaken understanding of the nature of his work and confusing it with the diminished respect for religion that has been associated with the rise of scientism.
Selected books
Almeder has authored and co-authored 24 books, including: Truth and Scepticism: ( Rowman and Littlefield, 2010, 275 pages); Blind Realism: An essay on human knowledge and natural science ( Rowman and Littlefield, 1991. 261 pages); Harmless Naturalism: ( Open Court, 1998.260 pages)- Biomedical Ethics and the Law (co-edited with J. Humber), 2nd edition revised (New York: Plenum Press, 1979), 700 pages.
- The Philosophy of Charles S. Peirce: A Critical Introduction (The American Philosophical Quarterly Library. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1980; and Lanham, Md.: Rowman and Littlefield, 1980), 218 pages.
- Praxis and Reason: Studies in the Philosophy of Nicholas Rescher (New York: The University Press of America, 1982).
- Beyond Death: The Evidence for Life After Death. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C Thomas, (1987) Translated into Japanese (1991).
- Death and Personal Survival. Lanham, Md.: Rowman and Littlefield, (Spring 1992), 291 pages.
- Glossary of Epistemology and Philosophy of Science (co-authored with James Fetzer) New York: Paragon Press (1992).
- Business Ethics: Corporate Values and Society (co-edited with M. Snoeyenbos and J. Humber), Buffalo, N.Y.: Prometheus Press, (revised edition 1992)
- Human Happiness and Morality: A Brief Introduction to Ethics. Buffalo, N.Y.: Prometheus Press (Dec. 2000)
- Biomedical Ethics Reviews (new edition each year from 1983–2004) (co-edited with James Humber) ( New York:Humana Publishing Corporation, 1983).
Editorial roles
Almeder served as the Editor of The American Philosophical Quarterly from 1998–2003, and been co-edited the annual book series Biomedical Ethics Reviews from 1983 to 2004. He has also served on several editorial board,including:- The American Philosophical Quarterly (1978–1998)
- The History of Philosophy Quarterly (1983–1994)
- The Journal of Business Ethics (1983–1996)
- Journal of Philosophical Research. (1980–present)
- The Transactions of the Charles S. Peirce Society:A Quarterly Journal of American Philosophy (1980–present)
- The International Journal of Applied Philosophy (1982–present)
- The Journal of Value Inquiry (1991–present)
- Public Affairs Quarterly (1995–present)
External links
- Interview with Almeder about Stevenson's reincarnation research