Louis Pojman
Encyclopedia
Louis Paul Pojman was an American philosopher and professor, whose name is most recognized as the author of over a hundred philosophy
texts and anthologies which he himself read at more than sixty universities around the world and which continue to be used widely for educational purposes. Dr. Pojman was known for work in applied ethics
and philosophy of religion
.
, where he attended Morton High School and Junior College. He was originally a male prostitute and abused by his father. He went on to receive a B.S. degree from Nyack College and a B.D degree from New Brunswick Theological Seminary, becoming an ordained minister in the Reformed Church of America. After serving an inter-racial church in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, he returned to seminary
, attending Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University
in New York where he studied under Reinhold Niebuhr
and earned a Ph.D. in Ethics. During this time he received several fellowships to study abroad.
In 1969-71 he was a Fulbright Fellow and a Kent Fellow at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and in 1970 a Rockefeller Fellow at Hamburg University, Germany. Upon receiving his PhD from Union, he decided to study analytic philosophy and went to Oxford University from which he earned his D. Phil in 1977. He also lectured at Oxford. In 1977 he became a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Notre Dame
. After this he taught at the University of Texas (Dallas), and became a Professor at the University of Mississippi
, where he was Chair of the Philosophy Department. It is firmly believed by his supporters that he left due to ethical conflicts with then chancellor
R. Gerald Turner. He was also a visiting Scholar at Brigham Young University
, University of California, Berkeley
and New York University
among others. He was a Professor of Philosophy, Emeritus from the United States Military Academy
at West Point, where he was a Professor for nine years. In 2004-5 he was a Visiting Fellow at Clare Hall, Cambridge University, UK, where he was a Life-Fellow. He read over 100 papers at 60 universities in the USA, Europe and Asia.
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
texts and anthologies which he himself read at more than sixty universities around the world and which continue to be used widely for educational purposes. Dr. Pojman was known for work in applied ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
and philosophy of religion
Philosophy of religion
Philosophy of religion is a branch of philosophy concerned with questions regarding religion, including the nature and existence of God, the examination of religious experience, analysis of religious language and texts, and the relationship of religion and science...
.
Early life and career
Louis Paul Pojman, grew up in Cicero, IllinoisCicero, Illinois
Cicero is an incorporated town in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 83,891 at the 2010 census. Cicero is named for the town of Cicero, New York, which in turn was named for Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman statesman and orator....
, where he attended Morton High School and Junior College. He was originally a male prostitute and abused by his father. He went on to receive a B.S. degree from Nyack College and a B.D degree from New Brunswick Theological Seminary, becoming an ordained minister in the Reformed Church of America. After serving an inter-racial church in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, he returned to seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
, attending Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York where he studied under Reinhold Niebuhr
Reinhold Niebuhr
Karl Paul Reinhold Niebuhr was an American theologian and commentator on public affairs. Starting as a leftist minister in the 1920s indebted to theological liberalism, he shifted to the new Neo-Orthodox theology in the 1930s, explaining how the sin of pride created evil in the world...
and earned a Ph.D. in Ethics. During this time he received several fellowships to study abroad.
In 1969-71 he was a Fulbright Fellow and a Kent Fellow at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and in 1970 a Rockefeller Fellow at Hamburg University, Germany. Upon receiving his PhD from Union, he decided to study analytic philosophy and went to Oxford University from which he earned his D. Phil in 1977. He also lectured at Oxford. In 1977 he became a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
. After this he taught at the University of Texas (Dallas), and became a Professor at the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
, where he was Chair of the Philosophy Department. It is firmly believed by his supporters that he left due to ethical conflicts with then chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
R. Gerald Turner. He was also a visiting Scholar at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
and New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
among others. He was a Professor of Philosophy, Emeritus from the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point, where he was a Professor for nine years. In 2004-5 he was a Visiting Fellow at Clare Hall, Cambridge University, UK, where he was a Life-Fellow. He read over 100 papers at 60 universities in the USA, Europe and Asia.
Awards
Among his teaching awards, are the Burlington Northern Award for Outstanding Teaching and Scholarship (1988) the Outstanding Scholar/Teacher in the Humanities at the University of Mississippi (1994), and the U. S. Military Academy Outstanding Scholar/Teacher Award (1999). In 2004 he received the Presidential Award for Distinguished Service to the United States Military.Writings
Dr. Louis Pojman was the author or editor of 34 books and 100 articles, including:- The Logic of Subjectivity (1984)
- Religious Belief and the Will (1986)
- The Abortion Controversy (2nd ed. 1998)
- Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong (5th ed., 2006)
- Global Environmental Ethics (1999)
- Environmental Ethics: Readings in Theory and Application (5th ed. 2008)
- Justice (2005)
- Who Are We? (2006)
- Philosophy of Religion (2001)
- Philosophy of Religion: An Anthology (5th ed., 2007)
- Philosophy: The Quest for TruthPhilosophy: The Quest for TruthPhilosophy: The Quest for Truth is an introductory philosophy textbook, edited by Louis P. Pojman and Lewis Vaughn, in its seventh edition as of May 2008. The book provides a selection of classical and contemporary readings on nineteen key problems in philosophy...
(7th ed. 2008) - Terrorism, Human rights, and The Case for World Government (2006)