Sydney Penner

"Nam et legentibus euenit et mihi saepissime ut perlecta pagina uel epistula nesciam quid legerim et repetam." - Augustinus, De Trinitate XI.15

Pdf version here. An html version of the moderate CV follows, but the pdf version really is nicer to the eyes. In cases of difference, the pdf version is the more recently updated version as well.

Education

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
Ph.D., Philosophy, expected 2010
M.A. in Philosophy, August 2008

Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
B.A. in History and Philosophy, May 2005
History thesis: 'Sixteenth-Century Anabaptists and the Miraculous'
Advisor: Carlos M. N. Eire
Philosophy thesis: 'Kant on the Emotions'
Advisor: Michael Weber

Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada
History and Philosophy, 2001–03

Rosedale Bible College, Irwin, OH, USA
A.A. in Biblical Studies, May 2001

Areas of Specialization

Medieval, History of Ethics

Areas of Competence

Early Modern, Ancient, Moral Psychology, Ethics, Philosophy of Religion

Honours and Awards

• Andrew D. White Prize (for best senior essay in European history), 2005
• Mellon Research Grant, 2004
• Honours Summer Research Award, 2003
• E. Blanche Thomas History Prize, 2002
• Kirkconnell Scholarship, 2002
• Traditio (Pew Younger Scholars), 2002

Presentations

• 'Termini and Final Causation', Discussion Club, Cornell University, December 2009
• 'Free and Rational: Suarez on the Will', Cornell Summer Colloquium in Medieval Philosophy, May 2009
• Commentary on Stephen Zylstra's 'Ockham's Teleology in Silhouette', Canadian Philosophical Association 53rd Annual Congress, Carleton University, May 2009
• 'Suarez on Intellect and Will', Canadian Philosophical Association 53rd Annual Congress, Carleton University, May 2009
• 'Scotus's Two Affections of the Will in the Early Modern Period', North Sea Early Modern Philosophy Workshop, Leiden, February 2009
• 'Scotus's Two Affections of the Will in the Early Modern Period', Department Workshop, Cornell University, February 2009
• Commentary on James Gordley's 'Suarez and Natural Law', Francisco Suarez, S.J. (1548-1617): Last Medieval or First Early Modern?, University of Western Ontario, September 2008
• 'A Dualism of Theoretical Reason?', Department Workshop, Cornell University, April 2008
• 'Disagreement, Reasonableness, and Epistemic Values', Department Workshop, Cornell University, March 2007
• Commentary on Andrew Bailey's 'Classical Theism and Supervenience', Rutgers Philosophy of Religion Conference, January 2007

Teaching Experience

Cornell University

Instructor (responsible for all aspects of course design and instruction)

• PHIL 1112 The Good Life, Fall 2009

Teaching Assistant (responsible for leading weekly discussion sections and grading)

• PHIL 2200 Ancient Philosophy, Fall 2008
• PHIL 101 Introduction to Philosophy, Fall 2007
• PHIL 101 Introduction to Philosophy, Spring 2007
• PHIL 217 19th and 20th Century European Thought, Fall 2006

Grader (responsible for grading papers)

• PHIL 315 Medieval Philosophy, Fall 2007
• PHIL 312 Modern Empiricism, Spring 2006

Dissertation Abstract

In my dissertation I explore the ethical views of Francisco Suarez (1548--1617), a philosopher who, although widely seen as one of the primary conduits between medieval scholasticism and early modern philosophy and once highly-regarded, has been strangely ignored in recent scholarship. I argue that, contrary to some recent suggestions, Suarez fits into the tradition of Aristotelian eudaemonism, although he develops the view in response to challenges raised by his predecessors.

Non-philosophy Publications

• 'Swiss Anabaptists and the Miraculous', Mennonite Quarterly Review 80 (2006): 207-28

Service

• Co-ordinator and co-founder of Cornell's Graduate Student Visiting Philosopher Series, 2007-2009

Languages

German, Latin

References

Scott MacDonald
The Sage School of Philosophy
Cornell University
218 Goldwin Smith Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853

Andrew Chignell
The Sage School of Philosophy
Cornell University
218 Goldwin Smith Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853

Terence Irwin
Keble College
Oxford
OX1 3PG
UK

Sukjae Lee
Department of Philosophy
The Ohio State University
350 University Hall, 230 N. Oval Mall
Columbus, OH 43210

Teaching Reference

Tad Brennan
The Sage School of Philosophy
Cornell University
218 Goldwin Smith Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853