Loren Lomasky
Encyclopedia
Loren Lomasky is an American
philosopher, currently a Professor of Political philosophy, Policy and Law at the University of Virginia
. Lomasky earned his PhD from the University of Connecticut
, and has previously taught at Bowling Green State University
in Ohio
, the University of Minnesota
in Duluth
, and the Australian National University
in Canberra
. He has also been a contributing editor to Reason
magazine.
Lomasky has written principally on ethics
and political philosophy
. His book Persons, Rights, and the Moral Community established his reputation as a leading advocate of a rights-based libertarian
approach to moral and social issues. Besides these, his teaching interests include the philosophy of religion
, medieval philosophy
, and other periods in the history of philosophy.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
philosopher, currently a Professor of Political philosophy, Policy and Law at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. Lomasky earned his PhD from the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
, and has previously taught at Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
in Duluth
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
, and the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
. He has also been a contributing editor to Reason
Reason (magazine)
Reason is a libertarian monthly magazine published by the Reason Foundation. The magazine has a circulation of around 60,000 and was named one of the 50 best magazines in 2003 and 2004 by the Chicago Tribune.- History :...
magazine.
Lomasky has written principally on 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 political philosophy
Political philosophy
Political philosophy is the study of such topics as liberty, justice, property, rights, law, and the enforcement of a legal code by authority: what they are, why they are needed, what, if anything, makes a government legitimate, what rights and freedoms it should protect and why, what form it...
. His book Persons, Rights, and the Moral Community established his reputation as a leading advocate of a rights-based libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
approach to moral and social issues. Besides these, his teaching interests include the 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...
, medieval philosophy
Medieval philosophy
Medieval philosophy is the philosophy in the era now known as medieval or the Middle Ages, the period roughly extending from the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the fifth century AD to the Renaissance in the sixteenth century...
, and other periods in the history of philosophy.
Selected bibliography
- "When Hard Heads Collide: A Philosopher Encounters Public Choice," The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 63 (2004).
- "Liberty and Welfare Goods: Reflection on Clashing Liberalisms," Journal of Ethics 4 (2000).
- "Aid Without Egalitarianism: Assisting Indigent Defendants," in William C. Heffernan & John Kleinig (eds.), From Social Justice to Criminal Justice, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000, ISBN 0-19-512985-7.
- Democracy and Decision: The Pure Theory of Electoral Preference, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993, ISBN 0-521-35043-3 (with Geoffrey BrennanGeoffrey BrennanGeoffrey Brennan is an Australian philosopher. He is currently a professor of philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a professor of political science at Duke University...
). - Politics and Process: New Essays in Democratic Thought, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1989, ISBN 0-521-35043-3 (co-editor, with Geoffrey Brennan).
- Persons, Rights, and the Moral Community, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987, ISBN 0-19-504209-3.
See also
- American philosophyAmerican philosophyAmerican philosophy is the philosophical activity or output of Americans, both within the United States and abroad. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy notes that while American philosophy lacks a "core of defining features, American Philosophy can nevertheless be seen as both reflecting and...
- Libertarian views of rights
- List of American philosophers