Dr. Bradley L. Sickler Assistant Professor of Philosophy sicklerb@obu.edu 870.245.5523

I'm a human first (whatever that is - a rational animal at least, but maybe Aristotle's alternative definition of humans as featherless bipeds is more apt for some of us).  For that reason, here's some stuff about me qua human: I grew up in Minnesota, as did my wife.  The implicature there is that I'm married - I have been since 1995.  We have two kids, Abby (born in 2002) and Ben (born in 2004).  We also have a dog named Baili, a snake named Grendel (a.k.a. Rover), and two fish: Goldy and Baseball Guy (named by our kids).  I serve at Fellowship Church as a co-pastor as well.  Secondly, I'm a philosopher...

Education

Ph.D., Purdue University (Philosophy): 2006.  Dissertation title: “Causation, Forces, and Laws of Nature: Some Implications of Kant’s Second Analogy” J.A. Cover, Director.

M.A., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Philosophy of Religion): 2002.  Thesis title: “Does the Universe Require a Cause?” Keith E. Yandell, Chair.

B.S., University of Minnesota - Duluth (Physics): 1995.  Research areas: Solid state physics and geophysics.

Areas of Specialization

Philosophy of Religion, History of Modern Philosophy, Philosophy of Science

Publications

• “Science and Religion” Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, http://www.iep.utm.edu

• Review of Erik Wielenberg, Value and Virtue in a Godless Universe, Cambridge University Press, 2005.  In International Journal for Philosophy of Religion (2006) 59:179-182.

Presentations

• “Kant and Newton on Forces and the Nature of Matter" American Philosophical Association Central Division Meeting, Chicago, April 2008 (upcoming)

• “Hume and the Miraculous Beginning of the Universe”, Ouachita Baptist University Faculty Colloquium Series, April 2007

• “Religious Diversity, Infernal Voluntarism, and the False Hope of Universalism”                Society of Christian Philosophers session at the American Philosophical Association Eastern Division meeting, Washington D.C., December 2006

• “Kant and the Relata of Causation”, Bethel University Philosophy Department, St. Paul MN, March 2006

• “Down and Up and Back Down Again: Alexander Bird and the Necessity of Natural Laws”, American Philosophical Association Central Division Meeting, Chicago, April 2005

• “The Christian Inclusivism of C.S. Lewis: A Philosophical Analysis”, Society of Christian Philosophers Central Regional Meeting, Lincoln IL, April 2005

• Invited Panelist, “Forum on Religious Inclusivism”, Lincoln Christian College, Lincoln IL, April 2005

• “A Failed Proposal for a Self-Caused Universe”, Society of Christian Philosophers Eastern Regional Meeting, Williamsburg KY, Dec. 2004

• “Could a Better God Have Made a Better World? A Reply to William Rowe”, Evangelical Philosophical Society National Meeting, Atlanta, Nov. 2003

• “Berkeley as Christian Apologist”, Session Chair, Society of Christian Philosophers Eastern Regional Meeting, Wilmore KY, Dec. 2003

• “Comments on ‘Every Cell is Sacred’”, Indiana Philosophical Association, Muncie IN, Oct. 2003