Alastair Norcross
(Seen here declaring an end to major combat operations in the
war on kantianism)
Associate Professor of Philosophy
I came to Rice from Southern Methodist University in
Dallas, where I was the Easterwood Professor of Philosophy. Before that, I
taught at Hobart and William Smith
Colleges in Geneva, NY, while finishing my Ph.D. at Syracuse University, home of the
mighty Orangemen. Before that, I received my B.A. in Classics from Oxford University. Before that, you
don’t want to know about (trust me) I spent the 1999-2000 academic year at
the University of Arizona, in
Tucson, which is even hotter than Dallas and Houston. My research, which is
primarily in ethical theory, is focused on the articulation and defense of
consequentialist ethical theories such as utilitarianism. I have published
articles in a wide range of philosophy journals, including The Philosophical
Review,The Journal of Philosophy, Philosophy & Public Affairs,
Philosophical Studies, Analysis, The Australasian Journal of Philosophy,
Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, Social Theory and Practice, and The Pacific Philosophical
Quarterly. I also
work in several areas of applied ethics, such as euthanasia, abortion, and
animal rights. I have edited (with Bonnie Steinbock) an anthology entitled Killing
and Letting Die (Fordham:
1994). I am currently working on a book, in which I argue that consequentialist
ethical theories should not be interpreted as theories of either the rightness
or goodness of actions, but instead as scalar theories that evaluate actions as
better or worse than possible alternatives.
Click to see a curriculumvitae.
(with links to selected papers)
Syllabus for Consequentialism
Syllabus for Advanced Topics in
Value Theory
Spring 2007 Office Hours:
M 11-12, W 2-3, and by appointment