Spiegel named Taylor's 2011 Forman Distinguished Faculty Scholar
May 24, 2011
Dr. James Spiegel
Dr. James Spiegel has been named the 2011 Franklin W. and Joan M. Forman Distinguished Faculty Scholar at Taylor University.
Spiegel, a Professor of Philosophy and Religion, joined the Taylor faculty in 1993. The Forman Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award marks Spiegel’s third major faculty award during his tenure: he received the Distinguished Professor award in and the 2007 Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award in 2000.
Spiegel has taught 19 different courses during his tenure. A prolific writer and speaker, he has authored seven books and is currently writing his eighth. In addition, Spiegel has written dozens of book chapters, scholarly articles, book reviews and magazine articles.
His book, How to Be Good in a World Gone Bad: Living a Life of Christian Virtue received a Christianity Today Award of Merit in 2005, and two of his books have been translated into other languages.
Spiegel’s book, The Making of an Atheist, has led to nearly 50 lecture opportunities and numerous syndicated radio interviews. According to Spiegel, the blending of the scholarly and more accessible writing and speaking for popular audiences flows out of his life mission to “fortify souls.”
“In his scholarly work, Jim has made contributions in areas of abiding concern to philosopher, theologians and others, such as metaphysics (especially ontology and the mind-body problem), ethics (especially on the virtues), and aesthetics. Along with others, I have found his work in these and other areas to be lucid, articulate and thorough,” said philosophy colleague Dr. Steven Cowan, head of Apologetics Institute and editor of Areopagus Journal. “His arguments are cogent and demonstrate familiarity with the depth and complexity of the issues.”
Spiegel holds memberships in several philosophical societies and is currently serving as an executive board member of the Evangelical Philosophical Society. He has served as editor of the Berkeley Briefs, the newsletter for the International Berkeley Society. Spiegel has also served on the review committee for the Norton Anthology of Western Philosophy and serves as a referee for the journals, Metaphilosophy, Christian Scholar’s Review, Perspectives on Science and the Christian Faith, and Philosophia Christi.
He holds a B.A. from Belhaven College, an M. A. from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Spiegel served on the faculty at Morehead State University for an academic year prior to coming to Taylor in 1993.
The Forman Award was established to honor a Taylor University academic faculty member who has exhibited significant expertise in original research, writing, or other scholarly or artistic projects, and demonstrates a vital Christian faith.
