The Henry Mixter Penniman Chair in Philosophy
Department Chair
Berea College
"The right attitude in philosophy
is to accept aims we can achieve only fractionally and imperfectly...It
means in particular not abandoning the pursuit of truth, even though if
you want the truth rather than merely something to say, you will have a
good deal less to say. Pursuit of the truth requires more than
imagination:...it
requires readiness to attack one's own convictions. That is the only
way
real belief can be arrived at."
Thomas Nagel. The View From Nowhere
(p.9)
Education
A.B. in Philosophy (cum
laude),
Davidson College, 1976
M.A. in Philosophy, The
University of Virginia, 1980
Thesis- W.V. Quine and Ontological Commitment
Ph.D. in Philosophy, The
University of Virginia, 1983
Thesis- J.S. Mill on Happiness and Morality
Courses and Teaching
Professional Interests
Grants
Honors
Other Interests and Activities
American
History, Native American culture and society, golf, tennis, surfing,
and good discussions of
good books with good friends.
" Philosophy, if it cannot answer so many questions as we could wish,
has
at least the power of asking questions which increases the interest of
the world, and shows the strangeness and wonder lying just below the
surface
even in the commonest things of daily life."
"Philosophy,...to
the doubts which it raises, is able to suggest many possibilities which
enlarge our thoughts and free them from the tyranny of custom. Thus,
while
diminishing our feelings of certainty as to what things are, it greatly
increases our knowledge as to what they may be; it removes the somewhat
arrogant dogmatism of those who have never traveled into the region of
liberating doubt, and it keeps alive our sense of wonder by showing
familiar
things in an unfamiliar aspect."
Bertrand
Russell. The
Problems of Philosophy (pp. 16, 157)
Additional Contact Information:
Prof. Robert Hoag
203B Draper Hall
CPO 1822
Berea College
Berea, KY 40404
(859) 985-3582
Links
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