Stephen Maitzen

Education
M.A., Ph.D., Cornell University
Yale Law School
B.A. with Highest Distinction, Northwestern University

Current positions
W. G. Clark Professor of Philosophy, Acadia University
Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Graduate Studies, Dalhousie University

Book
Determinism, Death, and Meaning (Routledge, 2022)
Reviewed in The Review of Metaphysics and The Australasian Journal of Philosophy

Articles
There Must Have Been a First Generation, Think: Philosophy for Everyone, volume 18, issue 53 (2019), 7-13

Normative Objections to Theism, A Companion to Atheism and Philosophy, ed. Graham Oppy (Wiley Blackwell, 2019), 204-215

The Problem of Magic, in Does God Matter? Essays on the Axiological Consequences of Theism, ed. Klaas J. Kraay (Routledge, 2018), 132-146

Substantial Change: Continuous, Consistent, Objective
, The Journal of Philosophy 114:10 (2017), 551-562

Naturalism and the Fundamental Question, Free Inquiry 37:5 (August/September 2017), 30-33

Against Ultimacy, in Renewing Philosophy of Religion: Exploratory Essays, ed. Paul Draper and J. L. Schellenberg (Oxford University Press, 2017), 48-62

Perfection, Evil, and Morality, in Ethics and the Problem of Evil, ed. James P. Sterba (Indiana University Press, 2017), 141-154

Agnosticism, Skeptical Theism, and Moral Obligation, in Skeptical Theism: New Essays, ed. Trent Dougherty and Justin P. McBrayer (Oxford University Press, 2014), 277-292

How Not to Argue from Science to Skepticism, International Journal for the Study of Skepticism 4:1 (2014): 21-35.

Questioning the Question, in The Puzzle of Existence: Why is There Something Rather than Nothing?, ed. Tyron Goldschmidt (Routledge, 2013), 252-271

Atheism and the Basis of Morality, in What Makes Us Moral?, ed. A. W. Musschenga and Anton van Harskamp (Springer, 2013), 257-269

The Moral Skepticism Objection to Skeptical Theism, in The Blackwell Companion to the Problem of Evil, ed. Justin P. McBrayer and Daniel Howard-Snyder (Wiley-Blackwell, 2013), 444-457

Stop Asking Why There's Anything
, Erkenntnis 77:1 (2012), 51-63

On God and Our Ultimate Purpose
, Free Inquiry 31:2 (February/March 2011), 35-37

Does God Destroy Our Duty of Compassion?
Free Inquiry 30:6 (October/November 2010), 52-53

Reply to Pigden and Schurz
, in Hume on Is and Ought, ed. Charles R. Pigden (Palgrave Macmillan, 2010), 320-324

Moral Conclusions from Nonmoral Premises
, in Hume on Is and Ought, ed. Charles R. Pigden (Palgrave Macmillan, 2010), 290-309

On Gellman's Attempted Rescue, European Journal for Philosophy of Religion 2:1 (2010), 193-198

A Dilemma for Skeptics, Teorema 29:1 (2010), 23-34

Ordinary Morality Implies Atheism, European Journal for Philosophy of Religion 1:2 (2009), 107-126

Skeptical Theism and Moral Obligation
, International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 65 (2009), 93-103

Anti-Autonomism Defended: A Reply to Hill
, Philosophia 36:4 (2008), 567-574

Does Molinism Explain the Demographics of Theism?
Religious Studies 44:4 (2008), 473-477

Skeptical Theism and God's Commands
, Sophia 46:3 (2007), 235-241

CORNEA and Closure
(with Andrew Graham), Faith and Philosophy 24:1 (2007), 83-86

God, Schmod, and Karma
, The Athenaeum, Acadia University, October 19, 2006, p. 7

The Impossibility of Local Skepticism
, Philosophia 34:4 (2006), 453-464

Divine Hiddenness and the Demographics of Theism
, Religious Studies 42:2 (2006), 177-191

Anselmian Atheism
, Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 70:1 (2005), 225-239

A Semantic Attack on Divine-Command Metaethics, Sophia 43:2 (2004), 15-28

Newcomb's Hidden Regress
(with Garnett Wilson), Theory and Decision 54:2 (2003), 151-162

Abortion in the Original Position
, The Personalist Forum 15:2 (2003), 373-388

Academic Freedom and the Ethics of Research, AUFA Communicator (February 2002), pp. 2-4

Testing Debate Rages, Halifax Sunday Herald, March 28, 1999, p. C2

Closing the 'Is'-'Ought' Gap, Canadian Journal of Philosophy 28:3 (1998), 349-366

The Deal on Education, Halifax Sunday Herald, November 29, 1998, p. C2

The Knower Paradox and Epistemic Closure
, Synthese 114:2 (1998), 337-354

Tennant, Frederick Robert, Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Volume 9, pp. 301-303 (1998)

Diversity in the Classroom
, Studies in Philosophy and Education 16:3 (1997), 293-302

Should Philosophers Do the Continental?
The Watch (University of King's College), March 1997

Our Errant Epistemic Aim, Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 55:4 (1995), 869-876

God and Other Theoretical Entities
, Topoi 14:2 (1995), 123-134

Two Views of Religious Certitude
, Religious Studies 28:1 (1992), 65-74

Swinburne on Credal Belief
, International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 29:3 (1991), 143-157

The Ethics of Statistical Discrimination
, Social Theory and Practice 17:1 (1991), 23-45

Can Philosophers Communicate with Other Humanists?
Proceedings of the Mellon Fellows Conference in the Humanities, Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, 1991

Book reviews
Paul K. Moser, The Elusive God: Reorienting Religious Epistemology, Sophia 49:1 (2010), 149-151

Michael Martin (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Atheism, in Social Theory and Practice 34:2 (2008), 293-299

Kai Nielsen, Naturalism and Religion, in Philosophy in Review 22:5 (2002), 311-313

C. Stephen Evans, Faith Beyond Reason, in Philosophy in Review 20:2 (2000), 98-99

Paul Helm, Belief Policies, in the Philosophical Review 106:3 (1997), 448-450

Linda Martín Alcoff, Real Knowing: New Versions of the Coherence Theory, in Philosophy in Review 16:6 (1996), 385-387

J. L. Schellenberg, Divine Hiddenness and Human Reason, in the Philosophical Review 104:1 (1995), 153-156

William P. Alston, Perceiving God: The Epistemology of Religious Experience, in the Philosophical Review 102:3 (1993), 430-432

Conference papers and presentations
Necessitarianism Under Fire, Hofstra University, 2023

Some Moral Costs of Theism, St. Mary's University, 2016

Theism and the Problem of Magic, Ryerson University, 2015

On God and Our Ultimate Purpose, Acadia University, 2012

God vs. Morality, Amherst College, 2011 (audio here)

On God and Our Ultimate Purpose, Dalhousie University, 2011

What Makes Us Moral? Vrije Universiteit (VU University) Amsterdam, 2011

From Morality to Atheism, Boston University, 2010

Does God Threaten Morality?: A Debate, Acadia University, 2010

Why Is There Anything? Western Michigan University, 2009

Issues in Human Subjects Research Ethics, Western Michigan University, 2009

Why Is There Anything? Dalhousie University, 2009

God, Evil, and Morality: A Debate, Acadia University, 2008

Skeptical Theism and Moral Obligation, American Philosophical Association Eastern Division Meeting, 2007

Skeptical Theism and Moral Obligation, Atlantic Region Philosophers Association Annual Conference, 2007

A Dilemma for Skeptics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2007

Anselmian Atheism Revisited, Boston University, 2007

Divine Hiddenness and the Demographics of Theism, Boston University, 2007

Ordinary Morality Implies Atheism, American Philosophical Association Eastern Division Meeting, 2006

Dreaming Gets the Skeptic Nowhere, American Philosophical Association Eastern Division Meeting, 2006

Commentary on Andrew Spear, The Coherence of Rationalism, American Philosophical Association Central Division Meeting, 2006

God: Enemy of Morality? Acadia University, 2006

Ordinary Morality Implies Atheism, Dalhousie University, 2006

Skeptical Theism and Ordinary Morality, University of Dundee, 2006

How Not to Argue from Science to Skepticism, University of Edinburgh, 2006

How Not to Argue from Science to Skepticism, University of Glasgow, 2006

The Impossibility of Local Skepticism, University of Stirling, 2006

How Not to Argue from Science to Skepticism, Dalhousie University, 2006

Divine Hiddenness and the Demographics of Theism, Atlantic Region Philosophers Association Annual Conference, 2004

Anselmian Atheism, Canadian Philosophical Association Congress, 2003

Commentary on Bernard D. Katz, On the Limits of Divine Power, Canadian Philosophical Association Congress, 2003

Local Skepticism, Atlantic Region Philosophers Association Annual Conference, 2002

A Semantic Attack on Divine-Command Metaethics, Canadian Philosophical Association Congress, 2002

Newcomb's Hidden Regress (with Garnett Wilson), Canadian Philosophical Association Congress, 2002

Newcomb's Hidden Regress (with Garnett Wilson), American Philosophical Association Central Division Meeting, 2002

Commentary on Paul Schollmeier, Accidental Deities, Canadian Philosophical Association Congress, 2001

Newcomb's Hidden Regress (with Garnett Wilson), Atlantic Region Philosophers Association Annual Conference, 2000

Newcomb's Hidden Regress (with Garnett Wilson), Dalhousie University, 2000

Anselmian Atheism, Gifford Bequest International Conference, Scotland, 2000

The End of Theology? Atlantic Region Philosophers Association Annual Conference, 1999

Abortion in the Original Position, Fifth International Conference on Persons, New Mexico, U.S.A., 1999

Abortion in the Original Position, Dalhousie University, 1999

Can We Think About God? Acadia University, 1999

Anselm's Antinomy, Dalhousie University, 1999

Moral Skepticism Totters, Canadian Philosophical Association Congress, 1998

The Knower Paradox and Epistemic Closure, American Philosophical Association Central Division Meeting, 1998

A Semantic Attack on Divine Command Metaethics, Dalhousie University, 1998

The Knower Paradox and Epistemic Closure, Canadian Philosophical Association Congress, 1997

"Ought" from "Is" Once More: Moral Conclusions from Nonmoral Premises, American Philosophical Association Central Division Meeting, 1997

Sokal's Hoax: Postmodern Critiques of Science, University of King's College, 1997

Diversity in the Classroom, Atlantic Region Philosophers Association Annual Conference, 1996

Modality in Plantinga's Free Will Defense, Mid-South Philosophy Conference, Tennessee, U.S.A., 1996

The Knower Paradox and Epistemic Closure, Dalhousie University, 1996

Moral Conclusions from Nonmoral Premises, Acadia University, 1996

"Ought" from "Is" Once and for All, Dalhousie University, 1996

The Instability of Moral Skepticism, Dalhousie University, 1995

The Instability of Moral Skepticism, New York State Philosophical Association Annual Conference, 1995

The Instability of Moral Skepticism, Central States Philosophical Association, Tennessee, U.S.A., 1994

The Real Epistemic Aim, New York State Philosophical Association Annual Conference, 1992

Can Philosophers Communicate with Other Humanists? Conference of Mellon Fellows in the Humanities, Bryn Mawr College, 1991

Commentary on Michael Brown, Idolatry, Skepticism, and the Extent of Doxastic Reliability, Conference on the Epistemology of Religious Belief, Santa Clara University, 1991

Grants, awards, distinctions
Acadia University Research Fund Grant, 2007

Nominated for the Distinguished Teacher Award, Association of Atlantic Universities, 2006

Acadia University Research Fund Grant, 2006

Excellence in Teaching Award, Associated Alumni of Acadia University, 2006

Visiting Fellow of the Knowledge, Mind and Value Project, University of Stirling, Scotland, 2006

Acadia University: Special Institutional Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, 2005

Acadia Students' Union Teaching Recognition Award, 2004-2005

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada: Standard Research Grant for 2002-2005

Acadia University Research Fund Grant, 2002

Acadia University: Special Institutional Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, 2001

Acadia University: Special Institutional Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, 2000

Acadia University: Special Institutional Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, 1999

Nominated for Award for Excellence in Teaching, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Dalhousie University, 1998

Dalhousie University, Faculty of Graduate Studies, Research Development Fund Grant, 1996

Mellon Fellowships in the Humanities (Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation): Dissertation Fellowship, 1991

Mellon Fellowships in the Humanities (Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation): Graduate Fellowship, 1987-1991

Phi Beta Kappa (elected in third year), Northwestern University, 1985

Graduate students
External Reader and Examiner for M.A. Thesis, Must a Good God be Moral? An Exploration of Agatheism, by Michael D. Ashfield (Acadia University, 2009)

Supervisor for M.A. Thesis, The Role of the Imagination in Modal Inquiry: A Critical Examination of Conventionalism, by Margaret Cameron (Dalhousie University, 1997)

Supervisor for M.A. Thesis, The Philosophy of Time Travel, by G. Matthew Gilmore (Dalhousie University, 1997)

Supervisor for M.A. Thesis, An Intuitive Challenge to Naturalized Epistemology, by Travis Hreno (Dalhousie University, 1996)

Supervisor for M.A. Thesis, A Critical Survey of Contextualist Epistemology, by Antonia LoLordo (Dalhousie University, 1996)

Third Reader for M.A. Thesis, An Account of and Response to Externalist Reliabilism, by Andrew Fenton (Dalhousie University, 1995)

Service (at Acadia University)
Chair, University Research Ethics Board, 1999-2024

Head, Department of Philosophy, 2004-2008, 2017-2020

Acting Head, Department of Philosophy, 2003-2004

Secretary to Faculty Council, 2022-2023

Alternate Member, University Review Committee, 2022-2023

AUFA Representative, Budget Advisory Committee, 2022-2024

Member, University Appeals Committee, 2017-2018

Member, Senate Admissions and Academic Standing Committee (Appeals), 2016-2019

Chair, Faculty of Arts Council, 2015-2016, 2019-2020, 2020-2021

Chair, Faculty of Arts Steering Committee, 2015-2016, 2019-2020, 2020-2021

Panelist, AskPhilosophers.org, 2012-

AUFA Representative to ANSUT, 2013-2014, 2017-2020

Chair, Philosophy Department Selection Committee, 2011

Member, Faculty of Arts Strategic Committee, 2010-2012

Mentor, Residential Faculty Mentorship Program, 2008-2024

Member, Arts Faculty Planning Committee, 2003-2005, 2006-2008

Chair, Philosophy Department Selection Committee, 2000-2001, 2002-2003

Member, ASPC Task Force on High-Quality Learning, 2000-2001

Programme Committee, Canadian Philosophical Association, 2001-2002

Member, Senate Academic Discipline Appeals Committee, 2000-2001

AUFA Representative to the Committee to Review the University Sexual Harassment Policy, 2000-2001

Library Representative, Department of Philosophy 1999-2006, 2007-2008

Webmaster, Department of Philosophy, 1999-2024

University representative to the Canadian Philosophical Association, 2001-2003

Referee for Australasian Journal of Philosophy, Canadian Journal of Philosophy, Dialogue: Canadian Philosophical Review, Erkenntnis, Ethics, European Journal for Philosophy of Religion, International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, Journal of Philosophical Research, Philosophia, Philosophical Quarterly, Philosophy & Phenomenological Research, Religious Studies, Sophia, Canadian Philosophical Association, MIT Press