Matthew H. Homan
Department of Philosophy and Religion
Assistant Professor
McMurran Hall 259B
(757) 594-7085
matthew.homan@cnu.edu
Education
- Ph D in Philosophy, Emory University
- MA in Philosophy, University of Memphis
- BA in Philosophy, University of Richmond
Teaching
Phil 451: Great Philosophers (Descartes, Spinoza); Phil 425: Constitutional Theory; Phil 307: Current Trends in Modern Thought; Phil 304: Ethics/Current Value Questions; Phil 207: Ethical Issues in Business; Phil 205: Anatomy of Thought; Phil 202: Modern Philosophy; Phil 101: Critical Thinking
Research
Early Modern Philosophy; Epistemology; Philosophy of Mind; Ancient Philosophy; Ethics; History of Philosophy
Biography
Most of my research to date has been in early modern philosophy, focusing in particular on the philosophies of the 17th century thinkers, René Descartes and Benedict de Spinoza. I am especially interested in issues of knowledge, mind, freedom, and ethics. I recently published a monograph, entitled Spinoza’s Epistemology through a Geometrical Lens (Palgrave, 2021), which attempts to illuminate a range of longstanding interpretive issues in Spinoza’s epistemology by interpreting it in light of his philosophy of mathematics. I am currently working on a project on resolution and irresolution in Descartes' ethical thought.
Selected Accomplishments
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Book, Scholarly-New
(2021). Spinoza's Epistemology through a Geometrical Lens. Palgrave Macmillan. Pages, 256. -
Journal Article, Academic Journal
(2018). Geometrical Figures in Spinoza's Book of Nature. Journal of the History of Philosophy. Volume, 56. Issue, July. Pages, 455-476. -
Journal Article, Academic Journal
(2018). Memory Aids and the Cartesian Circle. British Journal for the History of Philosophy. -
Journal Article, Academic Journal
(2016). On the Alleged Exceptional Nature of Thought in Spinoza. Journal of Philosophical Research. Volume, 41. Issue, 2016. Pages, 1-16. -
Book, Chapter in Scholarly Book-New
(2015). Rehumanizing Spinoza's Free Man. Rowman and Littlefield. -
Journal Article, Academic Journal
(2015). Spinoza on a Supposed Right to Lie. History of Philosophy Quarterly. Volume, 32. Issue, 3. Pages, 235-252. -
Journal Article, Academic Journal
(2014). Spinoza and the Problem of Mental Representation. International Philosophical Quarterly. Volume, 54. Issue, March 2014. Pages, 75-87.