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{{short description|American philosopher (born 1962)}}
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'''William O. Stephens''' (born 10 June 1962), a scholar of [[Stoicism]], is Professor of [[Philosophy]] and Classics at [[Creighton University]], [[Omaha, NE]].
{{Infobox person
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Stephens grew up in [[West Lafayette, IN]] where he attended West Lafayette Senior High School and began his study of ancient civilizations and Latin. He studied Philosophy at the [[College of Wooster]] for two years before transferring to [[Earlham College]], where he earned his undergraduate degree. Stephens completed his graduate work at the [[University of Pennsylvania]], studying under Charles H. Kahn, [[Alexander Nehamas]], and [[Martin Ostwald]]. He received his doctorate in Philosophy in May, 1990.
| name = William O. Stephens
| image =
|birth_date = 10 June 1962
|birth_place = [[Lafayette, Indiana]]
|death_date =
|death_place =
| occupation = Philosopher, writer }}


⚫
'''William O. Stephens''' (born 10 June 1962), is an American [[philosopher]] and scholar of [[Stoicism]]. He is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at [[Creighton University]] after retiring from teaching at their Omaha Campus in 2020.
⚫
In August 1990, he joined the faculty at Creighton University where he received the [[Omicron Delta Kappa]] Teaching for Tomorrow award in 2005. During his tenure at Creighton, Stephens has published four books and numerous articles on topics including Stoic ethics, [[Epicureanism]], philosophical [[vegetarianism]], personhood, and sex and love.<ref>{{cite web|author=Avi Solomon at 7:46 am Fri, Nov 4, 2011 |url=http://boingboing.net/2011/11/04/interview-with-a-stoic-william-o-stephens.html |title=Interview with a Stoic: William O. Stephens |publisher=Boing Boing |date=2011-11-04 |accessdate=2014-07-29}}</ref> He has also written on being a Stoic and a [[Chicago Cubs]] fan, and on the similarities the Jedi philosophy in [[Star Wars]] shares with [[Stoicism]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Stephen Hanselman at 9:22 am Wed, July 26, 2017 |url=https://dailystoic.com/willam-o-stephens/ |title=Is There a Connection Between the Jedi and the Stoics? Professor William O. Stephens Has the Answer |publisher=Daily Stoic |date=2017-07-26 |accessdate=2017-11-17}}</ref> He delivered a presentation on phobias, terrorism, and Stoic fearlessness <ref>{{cite web|author=Gregory Sadler at 9:00 am Sat, Oct 28, 2017 |url=http://modernstoicism.com/phobias-terrorism-and-stoic-fearlessness-by-william-o-stephens/ |title=Phobias, Terrorism, and Stoic Fearlessness by William O. Stephens |publisher=Modern Stoicism |date=2017-10-28 |accessdate=2017-11-17}}</ref> at Stoicon in Toronto, Canada, October 14, 2017.


==Books==
==Biography==

⚫
Stephens was born in [[Lafayette, Indiana]] and grew up in [[West Lafayette, Indiana|West Lafayette]] where he attended West Lafayette Senior High School and began his study of ancient civilizations and Latin.<ref name="Biography">[http://williamostephens.com/ "Biography"]. William O. Stephens.</ref> He studied Philosophy at the [[College of Wooster]] for two years before transferring to [[Earlham College]], where he earned his undergraduate degree. Stephens completed his graduate work at the [[University of Pennsylvania]], studying under [[Charles H. Kahn]], [[Alexander Nehamas]], and [[Martin Ostwald]]. He received his doctorate in Philosophy in 1990.<ref name="Biography"/>

⚫
In August 1990, he joined the faculty at Creighton University where he received the [[Omicron Delta Kappa]] Teaching for Tomorrow award in 2005. During his tenure at Creighton, Stephens published four books and numerous articles on topics including Stoic ethics, [[Epicureanism]], philosophical [[vegetarianism]], personhood, and sex and love.<ref>{{cite web|author=Solomon|first=Avi|date=2011-11-04|title=Interview with a Stoic: William O. Stephens|url=http://boingboing.net/2011/11/04/interview-with-a-stoic-william-o-stephens.html|access-date=2014-07-29|website=Boing Boing}}</ref> He has also written on being a Stoic and a [[Chicago Cubs]] fan, and on the similarities the Jedi philosophy in [[Star Wars]] shares with [[Stoicism]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Hanselman|first=Stephen|date=2017-07-26|title=Is There a Connection Between the Jedi and the Stoics? Professor William O. Stephens Has the Answer|url=https://dailystoic.com/william-o-stephens/|access-date=2017-11-17|website=Daily Stoic}}</ref> He presented on phobias, terrorism, and Stoic fearlessness<ref>{{cite web|author=Sadler|first=Gregory|date=2017-10-28|title=Phobias, Terrorism, and Stoic Fearlessness by William O. Stephens|url=http://modernstoicism.com/phobias-terrorism-and-stoic-fearlessness-by-william-o-stephens/|access-date=2017-11-17|website=Modern Stoicism}}</ref> at Stoicon in Toronto, Canada, October 14, 2017,<ref>{{Cite web|last=|date=2018-11-06|title=Stoicon 2017: William Stephens on Phobias, Terrorism and Stoic Fearlessness|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWrv67ZtReU|website=Modern Stoicism|via=YouTube}}</ref> and on a Stoic approach to travel and tourism at Stoicon in London, England, September 29, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-11-08|title=Stoicon 2018: William Stephens 'A Stoic Approach to Travel and Tourism'|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-dP71A5pDw|website=Modern Stoicism|via=YouTube}}</ref> He is frequently interviewed about topics in Stoicism.

==Vegetarianism==

Stephens authored an influential paper examining five arguments for vegetarianism.<ref>Sabate, Joan. (2001). ''Vegetarian Nutrition''. CRC Press. p. 478. {{ISBN|0-8493-8508-3}}</ref><ref>Gamlund, Espen. "The Moral Basis of Vegetarianism". In Matthias Kaiser, Marianne Elisabeth Lien. (2006). ''Ethics and the Politics of Food''. Wageningen Academic Publishers. pp. 123–127. {{ISBN|978-90-8686-008-1}}</ref> These were the arguments from distributive justice, environmental harm, sexual politics, moral consideration for animals, and the prudential argument from health. He concluded that compassion, humility, and integrity make working toward a meatless diet virtuous.<ref>Stephens, William O. "Five Arguments for Vegetarianism". In Susan Jean Armstrong, Richard George Botzler. (2003). ''The Animal Ethics Reader''. Routledge. pp. 201–208. {{ISBN|0-415-27588-1}}</ref>

==Selected publications==
'''Books'''

* ''[https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/epictetuss-encheiridion-9781350009516/ Epictetus's Encheiridion: A New Translation and Guide to Stoic Ethics]'' (with Scott Aikin). London: Bloomsbury, 2023. {{ISBN|978-1-3500-0950-9}}.
* ''[http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/marcus-aurelius-a-guide-for-the-perplexed-9781441125613/ Marcus Aurelius: A Guide for the Perplexed]''. London: Continuum, 2012. {{ISBN|978-1-4411-2561-3}}.
* ''[http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/marcus-aurelius-a-guide-for-the-perplexed-9781441125613/ Marcus Aurelius: A Guide for the Perplexed]''. London: Continuum, 2012. {{ISBN|978-1-4411-2561-3}}.
* ''[http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/stoic-ethics-9780826496089 Stoic Ethics: Epictetus and Happiness as Freedom]''. London: Continuum, 2007. {{ISBN|0-8264-9608-3}}.
* ''[http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/stoic-ethics-9780826496089 Stoic Ethics: Epictetus and Happiness as Freedom]''. London: Continuum, 2007. {{ISBN|0-8264-9608-3}}.
* ''[http://www.pearsonhighered.com/educator/product/Person-The-Readings-in-Human-Nature/9780131848115.page The Person: Readings in Human Nature]''. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2006. {{ISBN|978-0-13-184811-5}}.
* ''[http://www.pearsonhighered.com/educator/product/Person-The-Readings-in-Human-Nature/9780131848115.page The Person: Readings in Human Nature]''. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2006. {{ISBN|978-0-13-184811-5}}.
* ''[https://www.amazon.com/Ethics-Stoic-Epictetus-Revisioning-Philosophy/dp/0820451398 The Ethics of the Stoic Epictetus]'', William O. Stephens trans., New York: Peter Lang, 1996. {{ISBN|0-8204-3027-7}}.
* ''[https://www.peterlang.com/document/1068979/ The Ethics of the Stoic Epictetus, An English Translation, Revised Edition]'', William O. Stephens, New York: Peter Lang, 2021. {{ISBN|978-1-4331-7616-6}}.


'''Papers'''
⚫
== References ==


*[https://www.academia.edu/15773156/Five_Arguments_for_Vegetarianism ''Five Arguments for Vegetarianism''] (''Philosophy in the Contemporary World'', 1994)
{{reflist}}
*[https://williamostephens.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/w.-o.-stephens-stoic-naturalism-rationalism-ecology_enviro-ethics-16-fall-1994.pdf ''Stoic Naturalism, Rationalism, and Ecology''] (''Environmental Ethics'', Fall 1994)
*[https://williamostephens.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/ancient-phil_2014_365-391.pdf ''Epictetus on Fearing Death: Bugbear and Open Door Policy''] (''Ancient Philosophy'', Fall 2014)
*[https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-94-024-1179-9_635 ''Fake Meat''] (''Encyclopedia of Food and Agricultural Ethics'', 2018)
*[https://irispublishers.com/abeb/fulltext/public-health-ethical-vegetarianism-and-the-harms-of-the-animal-food-industry.ID.000529.php ''Public Health, Ethical Vegetarianism, and the Harms of the Animal Food Industry''] (''Archives in Biomedical Engineering & Biotechnology'', 2019)
*[http://symposion.acadiasi.ro/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022.9.1.6.-Stephens-1.pdf ''Stoicism and Food Ethics''] (''Symposion'', May 2022)


==External links==
==See also==
* [[List of animal rights advocates]]
*[http://sentientpotential.com/stoicism-on-transhumanist-an-interview-with-professor-william-o-stephens/ Stoicism on Transhumanism: An Interview with Professor William O. Stephens]
*[https://dailystoic.com/william-o-stephens/ Is There a Connection between the Jedi and the Stoics? Professor William O. Stephens Has the Answer]
*[http://modernstoicism.com/phobias-terrorism-and-stoic-fearlessness-by-william-o-stephens/ Phobias, Terrorism, and Stoic Fearlessness by William O. Stephens]


⚫
== References ==

{{Reflist}}

{{Vegetarianism}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, William O.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, William O.}}

[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American philosophers]]
[[Category:American animal rights scholars]]
[[Category:Creighton University faculty]]
[[Category:21st-century American philosophers]]
[[Category:20th-century American philosophers]]
[[Category:American vegetarianism activists]]
[[Category:College of Wooster alumni]]
[[Category:College of Wooster alumni]]
[[Category:Creighton University faculty]]
[[Category:Earlham College alumni]]
[[Category:Earlham College alumni]]
[[Category:People from Lafayette, Indiana]]
[[Category:University of Pennsylvania alumni]]
[[Category:University of Pennsylvania alumni]]

Latest revision as of 23:26, 16 March 2024

William O. Stephens
Born10 June 1962
Lafayette, Indiana
Occupation(s)Philosopher, writer

William O. Stephens (born 10 June 1962), is an American philosopher and scholar of Stoicism. He is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Creighton University after retiring from teaching at their Omaha Campus in 2020.

Biography

[edit]

Stephens was born in Lafayette, Indiana and grew up in West Lafayette where he attended West Lafayette Senior High School and began his study of ancient civilizations and Latin.[1] He studied Philosophy at the College of Wooster for two years before transferring to Earlham College, where he earned his undergraduate degree. Stephens completed his graduate work at the University of Pennsylvania, studying under Charles H. Kahn, Alexander Nehamas, and Martin Ostwald. He received his doctorate in Philosophy in 1990.[1]

In August 1990, he joined the faculty at Creighton University where he received the Omicron Delta Kappa Teaching for Tomorrow award in 2005. During his tenure at Creighton, Stephens published four books and numerous articles on topics including Stoic ethics, Epicureanism, philosophical vegetarianism, personhood, and sex and love.[2] He has also written on being a Stoic and a Chicago Cubs fan, and on the similarities the Jedi philosophy in Star Wars shares with Stoicism.[3] He presented on phobias, terrorism, and Stoic fearlessness[4] at Stoicon in Toronto, Canada, October 14, 2017,[5] and on a Stoic approach to travel and tourism at Stoicon in London, England, September 29, 2018.[6] He is frequently interviewed about topics in Stoicism.

Vegetarianism

[edit]

Stephens authored an influential paper examining five arguments for vegetarianism.[7][8] These were the arguments from distributive justice, environmental harm, sexual politics, moral consideration for animals, and the prudential argument from health. He concluded that compassion, humility, and integrity make working toward a meatless diet virtuous.[9]

Selected publications

[edit]

Books

  • Epictetus's Encheiridion: A New Translation and Guide to Stoic Ethics (with Scott Aikin). London: Bloomsbury, 2023. ISBN 978-1-3500-0950-9.
  • Marcus Aurelius: A Guide for the Perplexed. London: Continuum, 2012. ISBN 978-1-4411-2561-3.
  • Stoic Ethics: Epictetus and Happiness as Freedom. London: Continuum, 2007. ISBN 0-8264-9608-3.
  • The Person: Readings in Human Nature. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2006. ISBN 978-0-13-184811-5.
  • The Ethics of the Stoic Epictetus, An English Translation, Revised Edition, William O. Stephens, New York: Peter Lang, 2021. ISBN 978-1-4331-7616-6.

Papers

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Biography". William O. Stephens.
  2. ^ Solomon, Avi (2011-11-04). "Interview with a Stoic: William O. Stephens". Boing Boing. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
  3. ^ Hanselman, Stephen (2017-07-26). "Is There a Connection Between the Jedi and the Stoics? Professor William O. Stephens Has the Answer". Daily Stoic. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
  4. ^ Sadler, Gregory (2017-10-28). "Phobias, Terrorism, and Stoic Fearlessness by William O. Stephens". Modern Stoicism. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
  5. ^ "Stoicon 2017: William Stephens on Phobias, Terrorism and Stoic Fearlessness". Modern Stoicism. 2018-11-06 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ "Stoicon 2018: William Stephens 'A Stoic Approach to Travel and Tourism'". Modern Stoicism. 2018-11-08 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ Sabate, Joan. (2001). Vegetarian Nutrition. CRC Press. p. 478. ISBN 0-8493-8508-3
  8. ^ Gamlund, Espen. "The Moral Basis of Vegetarianism". In Matthias Kaiser, Marianne Elisabeth Lien. (2006). Ethics and the Politics of Food. Wageningen Academic Publishers. pp. 123–127. ISBN 978-90-8686-008-1
  9. ^ Stephens, William O. "Five Arguments for Vegetarianism". In Susan Jean Armstrong, Richard George Botzler. (2003). The Animal Ethics Reader. Routledge. pp. 201–208. ISBN 0-415-27588-1
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