William O. Stephens, Ph.D.        Professor of Philosophy Professor of Classical & Near Eastern Studies Creighton University 2500 California Plaza, Omaha NE 68178-0301 e-mail: stphns at creighton dot edu

Courses on the Web

Curriculum Vitae

EMPLOYMENT

Creighton University Professor of Philosophy and of Classical & Near Eastern Studies, March 2005 to present
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 Graduate School 2008 Research Initiative Grant: Lessons in Liberation: Epictetus as Educator
• Creighton Univ. 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, February 7, 2005
• Nominee for the Omicron Delta Kappa Teaching for Tomorrow Award, Creighton University, January 30, 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, January 13 to December 18, 1999
• Affiliated Scholar at The Ethics Center, University of South Florida (100 Fifth Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL), August 24 to December 22, 1998
• Creighton University Graduate School 1998 Summer Research Fellowship: Socrates and Stoic Heroism in Epictetus
• Center for Hellenic Studies Summer Scholar, June 25 to August 6, 1997, Washington, D.C.
• William F. Kelley, S.J. Outstanding Service Achievement Award for the Waste Reduction Advisory Committee of Creighton University, Sept. 26, 1996
• US WEST Academic Development and Technology Fellowship, Creighton Univ. Summer 1995.  View my 12.5 minute exit interview (.wmv file).
• National Endowment for the Humanities 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, March 18–20, 1994
• Creighton College of Arts & Sciences 1993 Summer Faculty Development Grant: How to Write Philosophy Papers: A Manual
• Creighton University Graduate School 1992 Summer Research Fellowship: Epictetus’ Ethics of Stoic Love and Happiness as Freedom

EDUCATION

The College of Wooster (Wooster, Ohio) Sept. 1980 – June 1982
Earlham College (Richmond, Indiana) Sept. 1982 – June 1984
B.A. in philosophy received June 1984     Honors Received:  Phi Beta Kappa (Delta Chapter of Indiana)
                                                                                                Departmental Honors in Philosophy
                                                                                                College Honors
                                                                                                Georgia M. Watkins Scholarship in Greek & Latin
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
Supervisor: Charles H. Kahn, Professor of Philosophy, The University of Pennsylvania
Other committee members:
    Alexander Nehamas, Professor of Philosophy and Professor of the Humanities and of Comparative Literature, Princeton University
    John M. Cooper, Stuart Professor of Philosophy, Princeton University
    R. Jay Wallace, Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the Philosophy Department, University of California, Berkeley

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
Classical Greek Philosophy, Hellenistic Philosophy, and Ethics

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

LANGUAGES (reading knowledge)
Classical Greek, Latin, and German

PUBLICATIONS

BOOKS

• Stoic Ethics: Epictetus and Happiness as Freedom. London: Continuum, Studies in Ancient Philosophy © 2007, ISBN 0-8264-9608-3 hb.
• The Person: Readings in Human Nature. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, © 2006, ISBN 978-0-13-184811-5 pb.
• 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, ISBN 0-8204-3027-7 hb; 2nd edition © 2000, ISBN 978-0-8204-5139-8 pb.

* 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 XX, no. 2 (Fall 2000): 521–524, by Robert J. Rabel
•    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

ARTICLES

• “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, volume 2: 1993–2003, P. Marino (ed.), Value Inquiry Book Series. Amsterdam: Rodopi (forthcoming).
• “Can a Stoic Love?” in Sex, Love, and Friendship. Studies of the Society for the Philosophy of Sex and Love, volume 2: 1993–2003, P. Marino (ed.), Value Inquiry Book Series. Amsterdam: Rodopi (forthcoming).
• “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, volume 2: 1993-2003, P. Marino (ed.), Value Inquiry Book Series. Amsterdam: Rodopi (forthcoming).
• “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, volume 2: 1993-2003, P. Marino (ed.), Value Inquiry Book Series. Amsterdam: Rodopi (forthcoming).
• “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 {2006} International Conference on Philosophy], E. Hoppe & R. Weed (eds). Athens: ATINER, 2007: 127–140.
• “Philosophy as Therapy for the Soul,” (with M. A. Brown) Creighton University Magazine, Winter 2006: 30–35.
• “Amour et compassion selon Épictète,” a French translation by Elen Buzaré of “Epictetus on How the Stoic Sage Loves,” Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy XIV (1996) at www.leportique.net/Fichiers/14_11_2006Amour_Epictete.pdf and groups.yahoo.com/group/stoiciamici.
• “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, Patricia 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 & J. Eberl (eds), Philosophy and Popular Culture Series. Chicago: Open Court Publishing, 2005: 16–28.
• “To Cheer Without Fear: Could a Cubs Fan Be a Stoic?” (with R. Feezell) Creighton University Magazine, Winter 2004: 22–27.
• “The Ideal of the Stoic Sportsman,” (with R. Feezell) The Journal of the Philosophy of Sport XXXI, no. 2 (2004): 196–211.
• “Stoic Ethics,” The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Oct. 2003.
• “Five Arguments for Vegetarianism,” [abridged] reprinted in The Animal Ethics Reader, S. J. Armstrong & R. G. Botzler (eds). London and New York: Routledge, 2003: 201–208.
• “If Friendship Hurts, an Epicurean Deserts: A Reply to Andrew Mitchell,” Essays in Philosophy 3, no. 1 (Jan. 2002).
• “The Rebirth of Stoicism?” Creighton University Magazine, Winter 2000: 34–39.
• “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.
• “Five Arguments for Vegetarianism,” reprinted in Environmental Ethics: Concepts, Policy, and Theory, J. DesJardins (ed.). Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing, 1999: 288–301.
• “Masks, Androids, and Primates: The Evolution of the Concept ‘Person’,” Etica & Animali 9, Special issue on Nonhuman Personhood (1998): 111–127.
• “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.
• “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 3.16.54,” (with B. S. Hook) Classical Philology 91, no. 1 (Jan. 1996): 59–61.
• “Straying and Spaying: What Do Cats Care About?” Between the Species: A Journal of Ethics 11, no. 3 & 4 (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. Feezell) Contemporary Philosophy 16, no. 4 (July/Aug. 1994): 7–16.
• “Stoic Love in Epictetus,” Hellenistic Philosophy, v. 2, K. J. Boudouris (ed.), Studies in Greek Philosophy No. 12. Athens (1994): 216–224.
• “The Fate Debate: Stoic Responses to Contemporary Reflections,” Contemporary Philosophy 15, no. 6 (Nov./Dec. 1993): 1–5.

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 (Dec. 1999): 438–446.

REVIEWS

• Epictetus’ Handbook and the Tablet of Cebes: Guides to Stoic Living. By Keith Seddon. New York & London: Routledge, 2005. Ancient Philosophy (forthcoming Fall 2008)
• 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 XXVII, 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 XXVI, no. 2 (Fall 2006): 438–443.
• Food for Thought: The Debate over Eating Meat. Steve F. Sapontzis (ed.). Amherst: Prometheus Books, 2004. Journal of Philosophy, Science & Law 6 (March 20, 2006).
• The Cambridge Companion to the Stoics. Edited by Brad Inwood. Cambridge University Press, 2003. Classical Journal 100, no. 4 (April–May 2005): 430–434.
• Simplicius, On Epictetus’ “Handbook 1–26 and 27–53.” Tad Brennan & Charles Brittain (trans.). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2002. Ancient Philosophy XXIV, 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 XXIII, 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 (Dec. 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: An Electronic Journal for the Study of Philosophy and Animals, (August 2002).
• Epictetus, Discourses. Book I. Robert F. Dobbin (trans. intro. comment.). Oxford University Press, 1998. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 99.11.21.
• Logic and the Imperial Stoa. By Jonathan Barnes. Brill, 1997. Journal of the History of Philosophy XXXVII, no. 2 (April 1999): 357–359.
• Marcus Aurelius, Meditations. R. Hard (trans.), C. Gill (ed.). Wordsworth Editions Limited, 1997. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 98.6.23.
• Stoic Studies. By A. A. Long. Cambridge University Press, 1996. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 97.11.20.
• Essays on Hellenistic Epistemology and Ethics. By Gisela Striker. Cambridge University Press, 1996. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 97.6.9.
• The Case for Vegetarianism. By John L. Hill. Rowman & Littlefield, 1996. Environmental Ethics 19, no. 2 (Summer 1997): 221–224.
• The Discourses of Epictetus. R. Hard (trans.), C. Gill (ed.). Everyman, 1995. Ancient Philosophy XVII, no. 1 (Spring 1997): 268–273.
• Introducing New Gods: The Politics of Athenian Religion. By Robert Garland. Cornell University Press, 1992. Ancient Philosophy XV, 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 (March 1995): 147–150.
• Lukrez, der Kepos und die Stoiker. By Jürgen Schmidt. Peter Lang, 1990. Ancient Philosophy XIV, 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.

BOOK CHAPTER

“The Ethics of Environmental Mediation,” (with J. B. Stephens & F. Dukes) in Mediating Environmental Conflicts: Theory and Practice, J. W. Blackburn and W. M. Bruce (eds). Westport, CT: Quorum Books, 1995: 167–184.

PEDAGOGICAL MANUAL

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

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

• Lessons in Liberation: Epictetus as Educator, a book to contain:
  Chapter 1. Musonius Rufus, Epictetus, and Flavius Arrianus (planned)
  Chapter 2. τὰ ε̉φ’ ημι̃ν and τὰ ου̉κ ε̉φ’ ημι̃ν: The Logic of Freedom (planned)
  Chapter 3. Epictetus on Stoic Heroism (in progress; earlier version: “Socrates: Epictetus’ Stoic Hero”)
  Chapter 4. Epictetus’ Zoo: The Use of Animal Examples in Stoic Pedagogy (in progress)
  Chapter 5. Epictetus’ Games: The Stoic Sport Metaphor (earlier version in J. of the Phil. of Sport XXXI as “The Ideal of the Stoic Sportsman”)
  Chapter 6. The Providential Tourist: Epictetus on Journeys (earlier version in From Ancient Greek to Asian Philosophy, Hoppe & Weed eds. [Athens, 2007])
  Chapter 7. Bugbear and Open Door Policy: Epictetus on Death (in progress)
  Chapter 8. The Stoic Lover, Educator, and Liberator (earlier version in OSAP XIV as “Epictetus on How the Stoic Sage Loves”)
   

• “Epictetus’ Heracles: A Note on Diss. 1.6.28–36” submitted to Classical Philology
• “Manliness and Stoicism in Tom Wolfe’s A Man in Full” working paper
• “Therapy for the Fearful Self: Stoicism in the Age of Terror” germinal paper
• Review of The Philosophy of Epictetus edited by Theodore Scaltsas & Andrew Mason (Oxford Univ. Press, 2007) for Ancient Philosophy