BRIAN
L. MERRILL
Brigham Young University--Idaho •
Rexburg, ID 83460-1525
Education
1995
- 1998 University of Texas at Austin
Ph.D. (Philosophy) 1998
Dissertation: “Melissus of
Samos: A Commentary on the Sources and Fragments”
Advisor: A.P.D. Mourelatos
1989
- 1992 University of Texas at Austin
M.A. (Philosophy) 1992
M.A. Thesis: “Melissus’
Being: An Analysis of the Fragments”
Advisor: A.P.D. Mourelatos
1987
- 1988 Balliol College, Oxford
University
No degree (
1983
- 1987 Brigham Young University
Cum laude, University
Honors Program
Honors
Thesis: “A Descriptive Catalogue of Four of the Phillipps
Greek Manuscripts Housed at the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young
University.”
1980
- 1981 Ricks College
A.A.S. (English) 1981
With honors, College
Honors Program
Teaching
Experience
1998-present Ricks College / Brigham Young
University-Idaho
Professor of Humanities
& Philosophy
1995
- 1998 Ricks College
Professor of English
1988
- 1995 Ricks College
Assistant Professor of
English
1989
- 1991 University of Texas at Austin
Teacher’s Assistant,
Department of Philosophy (part time)
1986
- 1987 Brigham Young University Provo, Utah, USA
Instructor,
Department of Humanities, Classics, and Comparative Literature (part time)
Courses Taught
Upper Division Courses
Ethics; Philosophy of
Religion; Aesthetics
Lower Division Courses
Introduction to
Philosophy; Ancient and Medieval Philosophy; Modern & Contemporary
Philosophy; Logic; Classical Civilization; Western Humanities I & II;
Western Civilization I & II; Ancient Greek I & II; Latin I & II;
Critical Thinking and Writing; Introduction to Poetry; Introduction to
Literature; English Composition
Publications
Articles
“Grace
and Perseverance.” Perspectives
7.1 (2007): 1-4.
“The Examined Life: The
Socratic Method as a Model for Critical Thinking and Teaching.” New Perspectives 13.1 (1996): 13-19.
Books
Athanasius Kircher
(1602-1680): Jesuit Scholar.
Provo, Utah: Friends of the Brigham Young University Library, 1989.
Conferences
“A Response to Patricia
Curd’s ‘Eleatic Arguments’,” 24th Annual Workshop on Ancient
Philosophy, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, 1995
Awards
Earhart Fellowship
1989-1992
Seminars
& Workshops
International Conference
on Critical Thinking, Sonoma State University, Rhonert
Park, California, 2001, 2002
Summer School on the Neoplatonic Commentators on Aristotle, Institute of
Classical Studies, University of London School of Advanced Study, 1997
National Academy for
Critical Thinking, Foundation for Critical Thinking, Santa Rosa, California,
1994
Professional
Competencies
Areas of
Specialization: Ancient Philosophy
Areas of Competence: Early Modern Philosophy, Philosophy of
Religion, Epistemology, Ethics, Logic
Languages
Fluency: Spanish
Reading knowledge: Greek,
Latin, French, German, Italian, Biblical Hebrew, Anglo-Saxon
NON-CAREER
INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES
Member of the Board of
Directors,
After my family, which is
my highest interest and priority, and my religion, my interests are boundless.
Mathematics, the natural and social sciences, art, music, history,
literature–they are all immensely absorbing. Yet all of these one might
consider career interests, along with philosophy. For it is my greatest
pleasure to be a teacher of students, and the richer one’s understanding, the
richer is one’s teaching.