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I am an Associate Professor of Philosophy at The College of Staten Island/CUNY. My research interests include metaethics, free will, and moral psychology. I have authored or co-authored several published articles in journals such as Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, Philosophy of Science, and Erkenntnis. In 2008 I received a Distinguished Professor Award with distinction in Scholarship/Creative Activity from Missouri Western State University. I received Missouri Western State University’s James V. Mehl Outstanding Faculty Scholarship Award in 2009. My first book, Science and the End of Ethics, was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2015. My second book, Moral Damages: The Case for Abolishing Morality, was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2025.

In terms of my personal background, I think it’s fair to say that the path that led me to a career in philosophy was rather atypical. As an undergraduate at the University of Florida, I majored in advertising since I was initially drawn to the promise of a career that could be both lucrative and creatively stimulating. As I began to take more of an interest in social issues toward my senior year, however, the prospect of working full-time in advertising began to lose its luster. After graduating, I decided to pursue music, which had always been one of my main interests (and still is!). I ended up joining a rock band in my hometown of Miami as a drummer. Though the band would eventually go on to sign a record deal with Sony, I lost interest in the musical direction the band was heading—which would be classified as Nü Metal (not my thing)—and left to join another local Miami band. After moving to New York and doing some touring, the band broke up and I returned to Miami where I would contemplate the next phase of my life.

At that point I began to consider some possible career paths that could mesh well with my burgeoning interest in philosophy and sociopolitical issues. I even briefly considered a career in some religious capacity during this period, though I realized in short order that this probably wouldn’t be a great choice given that I don’t subscribe to any organized religion! After taking a semester of philosophy classes at Florida International University, I decided that philosophy was the field that best suited me, and I made a commitment to become a philosophy professor. After enrolling as a grad student at Florida State University, I took some early lumps. In fact, I wasn’t even considered an official grad student at first, having been given the pejorative-sounding designation of “special student.” However, I eventually found my footing and thanks to the guidance of some wonderful mentors—including Michael Ruse and Al Mele—I was able achieve my PhD as well as a very rewarding career in philosophy.