1500 North University Drive

Waukesha, Wisconsin 53188

262-521-5544

dean.kowalski@uwc.edu

______________________________________________________________________________                  

Education

University of Wisconsin-Madison; Ph.D. (2000), M.A. (1995); graduate minor: Southeast Asian Studies

    Dissertation: Conditionals of Freedom as Bivalent: A Defense of Middle Knowledge

    Director: Keith E. Yandell, Julius R. Weinberg Professor of Philosophy

Spanish Jesuit Luis de Molina argued that a complete reconciliation of Church views on human freedom, divine grace and Providence requires that God know what free creatures would do were they placed in various circumstances, including those they never will, in fact, be in.  I defend Molina’s view by arguing that bivalence dictates there must be a truth to the matter about what free agents would do; thus, an essentially omniscient God could know the relevant propositions even if we cannot.

Ripon College (WI); A. B. (1992), cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa; undergraduate majors: Philosophy, History

Areas of Specialization

Metaphysics, Philosophy of Religion

Areas of Competence

Ethics, Asian Philosophy, Medieval and Early Modern Philosophy, Epistemology and Logic

Teaching Experience

Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Waukesha; Fall 2003 

Assistant Professor, University of Indianapolis; 2001 to 2003

Instructor, Loras College (Dubuque, IA); 1999 to 2001

Instructor, Clarke College (Dubuque, IA); 1998 to 2001 (full-time sabbatical replacement 98-99)

Lecturer, UW-Marshfield/Wood County; 1997 to 1998

Lecturer, UW-Wausau/Marathon County; 1996 to 1997

Courses Taught (Syllabi available upon request)

Ancient and Medieval Philosophy                       Human Nature, Society and Religion                  

Asian Philosophy                                               Introduction to Philosophy                     

Biomedical Ethics                                              Philosophy in Literature and Film                       

Critical Thinking                                                Philosophy of God                                            

Early Modern Philosophy                                   Philosophy of Mind                   

Epistemology Seminar                                        Philosophy of Religion                                       

Ethics                                                               Symbolic Logic

Publications

I. Books

 Moral Theory and Motion Pictures: An Introduction to Ethics (forthcoming, Roman & Littlefield)

 The Philosophy of The X-Files: Induction, Deduction, and Abduction  (University Press of Kentucky: 2007)

 Classic Questions & Contemporary Film: An Introduction to Philosophy (McGraw-Hill: 2004)

II. Journal Articles (Refereed)

“Some Friendly Molinist Amendments,” Philosophy and Theology (Vol. 15, No. 2: 2003)

“On Behalf of a Suarezian Middle Knowledge,” Philosophia Christi (Vol. 5, No. 1: 2003)

“Kielkopf’s Compromise,” Philosophia Christi (Vol. 5, No. 1: 2003)

“Validity, Analogy and the Holy Grail,” [with Thomas Riley] Teaching Philosophy (Vol. 26, No. 1: 2003)

III. Book Chapters or Anthologized Articles

 “The Introduction:  Mulder, Scully, Plato, Aristotle, and Dawkins,” The Philosophy of The X-Files (UPK: 2007)

 “Some Philosophical Reflections on ‘Trust No One’,” [with R. Edwards] The Philosophy of The X-Files (UPK: 2007)

 “Pessimism & Hope: The Two Tales of ‘Jose Chung’,” [with S. E. Kreider] The Philosophy of The X-Files (UPK: 2007)

 “’Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose’ Reprised,” The Philosophy of The X-Files (UPK: 2007)

 “GoodFellas, Gyges, and the Good Life,” The Philosophy of Martin Scorsese, ed. Mark Conard (UPK: 2007)

 “The New Millennium Bond and Yin-Yang Chinese Cosmology,” James Bond and Philosophy, ed. James South (Open Court Press: 2006)

“The Doctrine of Divine Perfection,” Philosophy of Human Nature [revised edition], ed. T. Riley (Thales Press: 2004)

“Some Cartesian Rejoinders,” Classic Questions & Contemporary Film (McGraw-Hill: 2004)

“Omniscience and a Theist’s World-View,” Philosophy of Human Nature, ed. T. Riley (Thales Press: 2002)

IV. Book Reviews

 “Jules Brady’s New Approaches to God,” The Thomist (October 2000)

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS (Refereed)

“Alstonian Divinity: God’s Goodness and Sovereignty” Society of Christian Philosophers; March 2007

“Alston’s ‘Evaluative Particularism’ and Euthyphro’s Dilemma,” American Philosophical Association Central; April 2006

“Alston on Divine Command Theory,” SCP; September 2005

“On Behalf of a Suarezian Middle Knowledge,” APA Central; April 2003

“Middle Knowledge from Suarez to Today,” SCP; September 2002

“Middle Knowledge and the Celestial City,” APA Eastern; Dec. 2001

“Revisiting Adams’ Middle Knowledge Objection,” APA Central; May 2001

“Validity, Soundness and the Holy Grail,” APA Central; May 2001

“Middle Knowledge and the Celestial City,” SCP; March 2001

“Aquinas’ Freedom & Foreknowledge Solution,” Iowa Philosophical Association; October 2000

“A Friendly Molinist Amendment,” SCP; September 2000

“The Logic of Monty Python: A Light-Hearted Approach to Learning Validity & Soundness,” American Association of Philosophy Teachers 13th International Workshop; August 2000

 “The Focused-Topic Introduction to Philosophy,” AAPT Tutorial, APA Central Division; May 1999

“Providence, Middle Knowledge & Adams’ Objection,” IPA, Simpson College; November 1998

V. Invited Scholarly Presentations

“Divine Power and Religious Believers,” Ripon College, December 2004

“Alston’s Way Out for Euthyphro,” Phi Sigma Tau Keynote, Ball State University, April 2003

“God’s Power and Knowledge,” Ball State University, November 2002

“Reconciling Omniscience & Human Freedom,” McBride Lecture, U. of Indianapolis; Oct. 2002

“Time, Knowledge and Aquinas,” Clarke College, September 2000

“Puzzles of a Free-Will Theodicy,” Beloit College; September 1997

VI. Other Professional Activities

Session Chair, APA Pacific Meeting, March 2006

External Reviewer, Clarke College Philosophy Senior Seminar Program; Decembers 2006-2003, 2001

Paper Commentator, APA Central Meeting, May 2003

Manuscript Referee, Philosophia Christi, September 2002

Inaugural Faculty Sponsor, Socrates Society, (U. of Indianapolis’ Philosophy Club); Sept. 2002

Session Chair, Society of Christian Philosophers; March 2001

Submission Referee, AAPT 13^th International Workshop; August 2000

VII.  Awards and Grants

UW-Colleges Summer Research Grant 2005

UW-Madison/UW-Colleges Summer Research Grant Program 2004

William Tyree Prize in Philosophy, Ripon College 1992

VIII. Professional Memberships

American Philosophical Association

American Association of Philosophy Teachers

Society of Christian Philosophers