Faculty

Lionel K. McPherson

Contact Info:
Department of Philosophy
Miner Hall, room 221A
Tufts University
Medford, MA 02155

617-627-2346
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Associate Professor
Ethics, Political and Social philosophy

Prof. McPherson co-directs the Certificate Program in Ethics, Law and Society.

Biography

Lionel K. McPherson received his PhD in philosophy from Harvard University and graduated summa cum laude with an AB in philosophy from Princeton University. His research interests include normativity, the basis and extent of obligations, war and terrorism, and race. Between philosophy schoolings, he worked at Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) and wrote arts criticism. His interests outside of philosophy include film, music, and sports.

Education

Ph.D., Harvard University
AB, Princeton University

Selected Publications

"Normativity and the Rejection of Rationalism," Journal of Philosophy 104 (2007): 55-70.
"Is Terrorism Distinctively Wrong?" Ethics 117 (2007): 524-546.
"Prisoner's Mistrust" (with Erin Kelly), Ratio 20 (2007): 57-70.
"Excessive Force in War: A 'Golden Rule' Test," Theoretical Inquiries in Law 7 (2006): 81-95.
"The Limits of the War Convention," Philosophy & Social Criticism 31 (2005): 147-163.
"Blackness and Philosophy: A Reply to Our Critics" (with Tommie Shelby), Symposia on Gender, Race and Philosophy 1 (2005).
"Blackness and Blood: Interpreting African American Identity" (with Tommie Shelby), Philosophy & Public Affairs 32 (2004): 171-192.
"Innocence and Responsibility in War," Canadian Journal of Philosophy 34 (2004): 485-506.
"The Moral Insignificance of 'Bare' Personal Reasons," Philosophical Studies 110 (2002): 29-47.
"On Tolerating the Unreasonable" (with Erin Kelly), The Journal of Political Philosophy 9 (2001): 38-55.