THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS DR. CHRISTOPHER MARTIN Dr. Christopher Martin Center for Thomistic Studies Professor Bio Professional Record Present position Professor, Center for Thomistic Studies, University of St Thomas, Houston. Degrees M.A., Oxford. Congratulated first class in Literae Humaniores (Classics, Ancient History and Philosophy), 1979. B.Phil in Philosophy, Oxford, 1981. D.Phil., Oxford, May 1984. Thesis: "A distinction between two notions of existence in the writings of St Thomas Aquinas". Supervisor: Prof. P.T. Geach Prizes, Scholarships, etc. College Exhibition, 1975-9 College Prize 1979 Senior State Scholarship, 1979-82 Linguistic competence Ancient Greek, Latin, Spanish, Italian, French. Some palaeographic skills and experience. Academic appointments Professor, Center for Thomistic Studies, University of St Thomas, Houston, 1999- Director, Center for Thomistic Studies, University of St Thomas, Houston, 1999-2000 Lecturer, University of Glasgow, 1989-99 Professore visitante, Università della Santa Croce, Rome, 1998-2003 Professore visitante, Ateneo Romano della Santa Croce, Rome, 1995-8 Profesor visitante, University of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain, 1994-6 Profesor extraordinario, University of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain, 1989-91 College lecturer, Corpus Christi College, Oxford 1988-9 Temporary lecturer, University of Glasgow 1986-8 Temporary lecturer, University of Edinburgh, 1987-8 Profesor visitante, University of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain, 1984-6 Publications See Publications page Work in progress / projects I have recovered my rights in my 1987 book The Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas: Introductory Readings, and am working on a revision for a second edition, on the recommendation of experienced colleagues. I am working on a note on Aristotle’s use of archery metaphors in his ethical writings, and the actual practice of archery in ancient Greece., and on a paper comparing two apparently defective arguments on teleological causality in Aristotle and Aquinas. The latter I will deliver at a conference in Fordham this Fall. I have been invited by Robert Pasnau, editor of the Hackett Aquinas series, to submit a proposal to the publishers for a translation with commentary of St Thomas’s treatment of the virtues in the summa Theologiae. I am currently working on this. The Director of the Center for Thomistic Studies is anxious that there should be an academic conference to mark the 25 th anniversary of the Center. I was able to suggest to her a suitable theme – palliative care and the meaning of suffering – which I am currently working with her to organize. The organization of a conference focusing on a definite medical topic, within the context of a center of studies in the humanities, is naturally a delicate one: we risk trying too much, or trying too little, and either way satisfying no-one. We believe that by concentrating philosophical attention on the definition and extent of palliative care, we will be able to provide a framework within which many others will be able to make valuable contributions. With the Director of the Center for Thomistic Studies I am working on the framework of a series of five-minute radio talks about philosophical themes of popular interest and importance – “Thinking out Loud”. Teaching Undergraduate teaching experience: courses taught Houston 1999-2003 1st year: Ancient Philosophy 2nd year: Ethics 3rd year: Metaphysics 4th year: Contemporary Logic, Analytic Philosophy Glasgow 1989-99, 1986-8 1st year: Existence of God; General philosophy 2nd year: Theories of existence 3rd year: Formal logic; Moral and political philosophy; Philosophical logic, theory of knowledge, and metaphysics; Rationalists and empiricists 4th year: Ancient philosophy; Medieval philosophy; Modal logic; Philosophy of religion Spain 1994-6, 1984-6 1st year: Logic; Practical truth; Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics; Philosophy of nature 5th year: Aquinas's theory of science Oxford 1988-9, 1979-84 1st year: Hume; Locke; Mill 2nd year: History of philosophy, Descartes to Kant; Plato, Crito and Meno; Euthyphro and Meno; Phaedo 3rd year: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics; Contemporary moral philosophy; Theories of existence; Medieval philosophy; Moral and political philosophy; Philosophical logic, theory of knowledge, and metaphysics; Plato, Republic; Plato, Sophist and Theaetetus Edinburgh 1987-8 3rd year: Aristotle, Metaphysics ; Plato, Republic These courses were taught in a variety of modes: in individual tutorials, small-group tutorials, small classes and seminars, and in lecture groups of up to 250 pupils. Examining at all levels. Graduate teaching experience Houston 1999-2004 directed and taught courses on “Introduction to Philosophy at the Center”, “God and Explanations”, “Modern Moral Philosophy”, “Analytical Thomism”, and “Philosophy of Religion”; planned and executed implementation of new regulations for M. A. comprehensive examination. Doctoral and master's supervision. Doctoral and master's examination. Glasgow 1986-8, 1989-93 sole person responsible for Department’s graduate school. During this period admissions increased, completion rates improved, submission periods shortened. Extensive teaching and supervision on master's programme, and doctoral supervision. Examination for doctorates at Glasgow and other British and Spanish universities. Teaching theoretical and historical part of an innovative course on philosophical dialogue, aimed at mature students. Other research and teaching collaboration Invited seminars and specialist lecture courses on ancient philosophy, medieval philosophy, moral philosophy, and the Scottish common-sense school, at universities in Chile, Italy, Mexico, Spain, and Uruguay. Invited seminars in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Oxford, St Andrews, Stirling. Public lectures in Spain and Sweden, and papers to legal and medical associations, and to conferences and seminars on the history of ideas in Britain. Books referred to me by Oxford University Press for review, and articles referred by the journal Ancient Philosophy. 1990-6: Co-ordinator of a project to promote research into the historical relations between Spanish and Scottish philosophy. Academic staff and postgraduate students from the universities of Glasgow, Barcelona, Navarre, Valencia and Zaragoza so far involved: interest expressed at Groningen, Nijmegen and Coimbra, as well as from other Scottish and Spanish universities. This project has twice won awards from the British Council and the Spanish Ministry of Education, under the Acciones Integradas scheme, amounting to £12,000 in all. Administrative experience Houston: Director of Center for Thomistic Studies, Chair of undergraduate department, 1999-2000 Glasgow: Service on departmental committees: computing committee, curriculum review committee. Service on Arts Faculty consultative body 1991-1994, faculty commitee for student feedback 1992-3. Service on University appointments committee 1991. Spain: Service on Arts Faculty consultative body. Oxford: Service in selection procedures (interviewing prospective students). 21st July 2004 Copyright 2006-2007 University of St. Thomas. All Rights Reserved. http://www.stthom.edu/Faculty_Bios/M_thru_O/Martin_Christopher.aqf