Brian J. Collins, Ph.D.

About

I received my Ph.D. and M.A. in Philosophy from The University of Iowa and my B.A. from St. Olaf College. My primary research interests are in Ethics and Political Philosophy with an emphasis on ‘political obligation’ and the intersection of ethical and political philosophical theories. This interest in Ethics and Political Philosophy also bleeds into my interests in the History of Early Modern and Ancient Philosophy. Within these areas I am particularly interested in the way which historical figures (e.g. Plato, Aristotle, Bentham, Spinoza, Hume, Locke, Kant, etc.) have developed their ethical and political theories in accord with one another.

My teaching interests are as varied as my research interests, ranging over topics in Ethics and Political Philosophy, History (primarily Early Modern and Ancient), Applied Ethics (particularly Business, Environmental Ethics, and Restorative Justice), Existentialism, and Pre-College Philosophy.

When I am not focusing on my academic endeavors (teaching, writing, researching, etc.) I try to spend as much time as possible with my family enjoying activities outdoors (surfing, hiking, biking, camping, skiing, etc.), music, and food.

Education

The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

Degree: Ph.D. (July 2014); M.A. (2012) 

Dissertation Title: A Utilitarian Account of Political Obligation

Committee: Diane Jeske (Advisor), Richard Fumerton (Advisor), Jovana Davidovic, Ali Hasan, David Cunning

California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA

Degree: Elementary and Middle School Teaching Certificate (2007)

St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN

Degree: B.A. (2006)

Majors: Philosophy, Psychology

Expertise

My formal philosophical training focused on Ethics & Political Philosophy (including Value Theory and Philosophy of Law).

In addition, my expertise and interests include: History of Early Modern Philosophy & Ancient Philosophy, Philosophy of Law, Applied Ethics, Metaphilosophy, Philosophy Pedagogy, Pre-College Philosophy, and “Public” Philosophy. If you are interested in collaborating or would like to discuss consulting work (ethics, politics, education, etc.), a lecture or panel, or organizing a workshop, please reach out via email (briancollins@callutheran.edu) or submit an interest/request form.

Publications

“SoCal Philosophy Academy - Corrupting the Youth Since 2017,” PLATO Blog - Wondering Aloud: Philosophy with Young People, https://www.plato-philosophy.org/wondering-aloud/, October 2024. (public philosophy)

“A Critique of Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens,” Philosophy Now, Issue 154, February/March 2023.
(book review/critique)(“public philosophy”)

“Can Utilitarianism Make Sense of Political Obligation?,” Southwest Philosophy Review, Volume 39, Number 1, January 2023.

“The Social Media Commons: Public Sphere, Agonism, and Algorithmic Obligation,” Journal of Information Technology and Politics, 2020. (coauthored with Jose Marichal & Richard Neve)

“The Broad Nature and Importance of Public Philosophy,” Precollege Philosophy and Public Practice, 2020.

“‘The National Anthem’ and Weighing Moral Obligations: Is It Ever OK to F*ck a Pig?” Black Mirror and Philosophy, David Kyle Johnson (ed.), 2020. (“public philosophy”)

“The Value of Philosophy at Any Age!” Ventura County Reporter, July 2019 (“public philosophy”)
https://www.vcreporter.com/2019/07/the-value-of-philosophy-at-any-age/

“A Political Interpretation of Aristotle’s Ethics,” Aristotle’s Practical Philosophy: On the Relationship between the Ethics and Politics, Cohen de Lara and Brouwer (eds.), 2017. 

“Obligations, Responsibility, and Whistleblowing: A Case Study of Jeffrey Wigand and Brown & Williamson,” Business in Ethical Focus (2nd Edition), Allhoff, Sager, and Vaidya (eds.), 2017.
(also reprinted in Business Cases in Ethical Focus, Allhoff and Sager [eds.], 2019)

“Adding Substance to the Debate: Descartes on Freedom of the Will,” Essays In Philosophy, Volume 14, Issue 2, July 2013. (special issue on Cartesian Virtue and Freedom)

“A Unique Metaphysical Problem for Moral Realism,” Southwest Philosophy Review, Volume 29, Number 1, January 2013.

“What Does Spinoza Prescribe?” Proceedings of the Southeast Philosophy Congress, Volume 4, 2011.

Grant Funding

The SoCal Philosophy Academy has received generous funding support from:

• PLATO (Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization) Grant (to help fund the annual SoCal Philosophy Academy’s Summer Institute)
  2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

• Mellon Foundation Grant - Administered through the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC)
  New Currents in Teaching Philosophy program, November 2022

• The Graves Award in the Humanities - Administered by Pomona College under the auspices of the American Council of Learned Societies
  February 2020

• CLU Community Leaders Association Grant (to help fund the annual SoCal Philosophy Academy’s Summer Institute)
  2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

My travel seminars and other experiential learning activities have received funding support from:

• CLU CoAS Dean's Experiential Learning Mini-Grant
  September 2015, April 2023 (travel seminar to Greece), March 2025 (travel seminar to Egypt)

• CLU Community Leaders Association Grant (to help fund the Experiential & Service Learning trips to Hollywood & LA)
  2018, 2019, 2020

My research has received funding support from:

• Sabbatical funding from California Lutheran University
  Fall 2021

• Hewlett Grant (for conference travel)
  2016, 2017, 2018, 2025