Dr. Holly L. Wilson Dept. of Communication Associate Professor of Philosophy CV e-mail:hwilson@ulm SAPERE AUDE!!!

Holly L. Wilson
Dept. of Communication
University of Louisiana at Monroe
Monroe, Louisiana  71209
Tel. 318-342-1547

I received my B.A. with honors in philosophy from Vanderbilt University, where I wrote my thesis on "Christianity and Hermeneutics". From there I went on to The Pennsylvania State University where I received a M.A. in philosophy with the Thesis "Dilthey in Historical Perspective." Dr. Thomas Seebohm, currently with the Universität Mainz (Germany), advised me and served as my doctoral director. My Ph.D. in philosophy was received in August, 1989 with the dissertation "Kant's Pragmatic Anthropology and its Relationship to Critical Philosophy." Since then I have taught at 2 universities, a college, and at a seminary: Marquette University, Marian College, Mundelein Seminary, and here at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
 

My major research area in philosophy is Immanuel Kant, an 18th century German philosopher. In order to read his writings in the original, I became fluent in German and spent three years in Germany researching and writing my dissertation. The doctoral program at PSU prepared me to do what is called the history of philosophy in philosophical circles. It trained me in all the major philosophers in the history of philosophy. I also acquired a competance in Continental philosophy which especially concerns contemporary German and French philosophers who do work on phenomenology, hermeneutics, and existentialism. My second major specialization is in Ethics.  I have taught more than 35 courses on Theory of Ethics, Contemporary Ethical Problems, and Business Ethics.  I have also published on Kant and Ethics and on issues in Environmental Ethics.  My third major specialization is in Philosophical Anthropology, or Theory of Human Nature.  I publish primarily in this area, particularily on Kant's Theory of Human Nature.  Hermeneutics is my fourth specialization and means the theory of interpretation.   Finally, I have a deep interest in Metaphysical questions and especially in the area of philosophy of God as well as the problem of Freedom.  I teach Religions of the World as an expression of this interest.  Not only do World Religions afford an opportunity to think through the existence of a higher being, but every religion  holds that the believer engage in spiritual disciplines which bring one closer to that higher being.  Each religion believes fundamentally that we are free and there is much within our control that normally one believes is not within one's control.  For Instance, Buddhism believes that one's emotions and desires are within one's control.  One can let one's emotions go, one does not have to act on them.  One can let desires go, and become detached from them.  This presupposes freedom from determinism.
 

I have published a number of articles on Kant, pertaining especially to his work on anthropology, ethics, and theory of nature. I have also translated some of his untranslated works into English. I have been to many Kant conferences, have reviewed several books on Kant, and attempt to contribute to current research on Kant.

My first love, however, is teaching. I love awakening in students capacities for thinking, they didn't know they had. I love exposing them to the
great traditions of wisdom and understanding that we share. I believe that philosophy has much to offer the contemporary student, whether they
take one or many courses in philosophy. Philosophy is concerned with the fundamental questions about the meaning of life, reality, science, morality,
human knowledge, and religion. Philosophy can broaden a student's horizon by exposing one to the great thoughts and arguments of philosophical
traditions in past and present history. Philosophy furthers critical thinking skills which are useful for any academic subject and any professional life.
Regardless of one's major at ULM, philosophy can help the student develop sound habits of thinking.
 

ULM MINOR IN PHILOSOPHY
The minor in philosophy can be acquired by taking PHIL 201, PHIL 203 and 12 additional hours of philosophy courses for a total 18 semester hours.
To help students plan the courses that will be available, these are the courses I have taught and are projected for the near future:

Fall 2001 - Phil 201, Phil 203, Phil 401
Spring 2002 - Phil 201, Phil 203, Phil 400, Phil 300b
Summer 2002 Session 1 - Phil 203; Phil 300A (A Study of Religion)
Fall 2002 - Phil 201, Phil 203, Phil 320 (Relg 320), Phil 403 (Ethics)
Spring 2003 - Phil 201, Phil 203, Phil 300B (Ethics in America), Phil 400 (Intersections of Science and Religion)
Summer  2003  (Session 1) - Phil 203
Summer Session II - Phil 300A (A Study of Religion)
Fall 2003 - Phil 201, Phil 203, Phil 300C (The Examined Life), Phil  407 (Theories of Human Nature)
Spring 2004 - Phil 201, Phil 203, Phil 320 (Religions of the World)
Fall, 2004 - Phil 201, Phil203, Phil 403 (Ethics)
Spring, 2005 - Phil 201, Phil 203, Phil 410 (Environmental Philosophy)
Summer Session I, 2005 - Phil 300A & Relg 300A  (A Study of Religion), Phil 320 (World Religions)
Fall, 2005 - Phil 201, Phil 203, Phil 401 (Ancient and Medieval Philosophy)
Spring 2006 - Phil 201, Phil 203, Phil 404 (Bioethics), Honors 410H (The Ethical, Legal, and Social Significance of the Human Genome)
SSI - Phil 300A (A Study of Religion); Phil 320 (World Religions)
SSII- Phil 321 (World Religions - Buddhism)
Fall, 2006 - Phil 201; Phil 203; Phil 300B (Ethics in America) (Faculty Senate Secretary)
Spring, 2007 - Phil 201; Phil 404 (Controversial Issues in Bioethics)

ULM HONORS PROGRAM

2003 ARTS AND SCIENCES SHOWCASE: STEM CELLS

Dr. Ann Findley; Dr. Ernle Young; Bishop William B. Friend

*PHILOSOPHY RESOURCES*                       More PHILOSOPHY RESOURCES

Philosophy/Religion 320 Syllabus

Daily Schedule

 Philosophy 201 Syllabus
     Daily Schedule
     Study guide 1
     Study guide 2
     Study guide 3
     Study guide 4
     Study guide 6
     Study guide 7
     Study guide 8

Philosophy 203 Syllabus
Daily Schedule 01
Daily Schedule 02
Handout #1
Handout #2
Handout #4
Handout #5

Philosophy 300A Syllabus
Study guide

Study guide Christianity

Philosophy 300B Syllabus
Study guide
Ethical Vocabulary

Philosophy 400 Syllabus                        
Daily Schedule
Study guide 1
Study guide 2
Study guide 3

Philosophy 401 Syllabus

Philosophy 403 Syllabus                         Philosophy 407 Syllabus            Phil 410 Syllabus
Daily Schedule                                        Daily Schedule                          Daily Schedule
Study guide 1                                          Study guide 1
Study guide 2                                          Study guide 2                            Study guide 1
Study Guide 3                                        Study guide 3
Study Guide 4

Environmental Philosophy Study guide #3

The Philosophy Symposium