Matthew Pianalto

MATTHEW PIANALTO
Department of Philosophy & Religion | Eastern Kentucky University

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Welcome. Current (or prospective) students looking for information about classes I'm teaching should see the Classes page.

Prior to joining the Department of Philosophy & Religion at EKU, I taught philosophy courses at the University of Arkansas (where I received my Ph.D. in Philosophy in May 2008), Northwest Arkansas Community College, and Truman State University.

My interests are in ethical theory. Recently, I've turned my attention to the nature and value of moral conviction(s), and the relation of moral convictions to issues including integrity, moral disagreement, toleration, and compromise. I've also done some work on the nature of happiness and well-being. The writings of Wittgenstein greatly interest (and inspire) me. You will find papers reflecting some of my recent lines of thought on my Research page, and germs of ideas in progress at The HEP Spot.

My office is located in Case Annex, Room 259. My fall office hours (starting August 24) are:

- Monday - Thursday, 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
- and by appointment

Recent news:

I will be presenting a paper tentatively entitled "Moral Conviction and Disagreement: Getting Beyond (Negative) Toleration" at the 2009 Concerned Philosophers for Peace Conference, hosted by the University of Dayton (Ohio), in November. A working draft is here.
I recently presented "Moral Conviction and Character" at the 2nd Annual Rocky Mountain Ethics Congress (RoME), hosted by the University of Colorado at Boulder, in August. A copy of the paper is available here. (I'm now revising it in light of the helpful comments and discussion.)