Education
B.A.: St. Joan Fisher College Rochester, N.Y., 1966 (Philosophy (with high honors))
M.A.: University of Chicago 1967 (Philosophy)
Ph.D.: University of Toronto 1973
Research and Practice Interests
Larry Jost's primary research interests are in the writings of Aristotle, Plato and other Greek philosophers from the Pre-Socratics through the various Hellenistic schools. He has also worked in ethics and social and political philsophy, especially the thought of Karl Marx. His main focus in recent years has been in the study of Aristotle's Eudemian Ethics, a work long eclipsed by the more familiar Nicomachean Ethics; the relationship between the two presents interesting problems for our understanding of Aristotle's philosophical development. But, he continues to do graduate courses and seminars on a variety of subjects, including the metaphysical and epistemological works of Plato, Aristotle, Skeptics and Stoics, their views on art and literature, the philosophy of mind, ethics, etc.. An avid student of Greek literature generally, with special appreciation of Homer, the tragedians and lyric poets, he has good ties with the quite strong Classics Department at the University of Cincinnati, and team-teaches with members of their department from time to time. In ethics he has worked on metaethical topics primarily (e.g. moral realism, naturalism, prescriptivism) as well as normative issues raised by utilitarianism and contemporary virtue theory.
Research Support
2003 Taft Publications Committee Subvention Grant to help defray publication costs of Eudaimonia & Well-Being: Ancient and Modern Conceptions $1000
1993 NEH Grant for the "Wealth and Values" Summer Seminar at UC
1990 -1991 Taft Grant-in-Aid for research expenses while at Oxford University
1989 NEH and Taft Travel to Collection Grant for research on manuscripts of The Eudemian Ethics of Aristotle at the Archiv Aristoteles, Die Freie Universität, Berlin; supplemented by a Taft grant for research.
1988 University of New Hampshire NEH Participant in Six-week Summer Seminar on Aristotle’s Biology, Metaphysics and Ethics
1983 NEH per diem Grant Grant to present paper, Owen's Objection to Logic & Metaphysics in The Eudemian Ethics of Aristotle, and participate in Aristotle Conference at Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
1982 -1983 Center for Hellenic Studies, Washington Junior Fellow
1973 University of Cincinnati Reearch Council and Taft Committee Aristotle's Theory of Practical Reasoning, study in Oxford, England
1969 -1970 Canada Council Doctoral Fellow
1968 -1970 Province of Ontario Graduate Fellow
1966 -1967 Woodrow Wilson College Teaching Fellow
Abbreviated Publications
Encyclopedia Article
(2006). Virtue and Vice. In The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd ed, (Vol. 9, pp. 678, 682).
Peer Reviewed Publications
(2007). Why Marx Left Philosophy for Social Science. Theory and Psychology, 17(2), 297, 322.
Jost, Lawrence J. (2002). Was Polybius a Meta-Ethical Theorist of a Skeptical or Subjectivist Stripe?. Apeiron, XXXV(4), 125-136.
Jost, Lawrence J. (2001). Owen and the 'Single -Science' Argument in the Eudemian Ethics. Southern Journal of Philosophy, 39(2), 207, 218.
(1990). Critical Analysis of The Arguments 'from the Sciences' in Aristotle's Peri Ideon. Ancient Philosophy, 10(2), 312.
(1983). Antigone's Engagement: A Theme Delayed. Liverpool Classical Monthly, 8(9), 134, 136.
Jost, Lawrence J. (1983). Aristotle's Ethics: Have We Been Teaching the Wrong One?. Teaching Philosophy, 6(4), 331, 340.
Jost, Lawrence J. (1979). A "Descriptivist" Reading of Aristotle's Treatment of Virtue--Terms. Apeiron: A Journal for Ancient Philosophy and Science, 13, 41, 48.
(1977). EN 6.1141 b20. Classical Philology, 72, 138, 144.
Jost, Lawrence J. (1976). "Is Aristotle an Ethical Intuitionist?." Apeiron: A Journal for Ancient Philosophy and Science, 10(1), 15, 19.
Jost, L (1976). On a Prescriptivist Dichotomy. Mind: A Quarterly Review of Philosophy, 85(338), 258, 261.
Review
(2004). Critical Review of For the Sake of Argument; Practical Reasoning, Character and the Ethics of Belief.Bryn Mawr Classical Review,
(2004). Notre Dame Philosophical Review, [Review of Critical Review of Facing Death: Epicurus and his Critics ].
(1995). Teaching Philosophy, [Review of Review of A Companion to Aristotle's Politics ] 96, 98.
(1991). Ethics, [Review of Book Note Review of Human Nature and Eudaimonia in Aristotle ] 891.
(1987). Environmental Ethics, [Review of Review of The Philosophy of Vegetarianism ] 273, 276.
(1982). Review of Metaphysics, [Review of Review of Ethics, Free Enterprise and Public Policy: Original Essays on Moral Issues in Business ] 445, 446.
(1981). Environmental Ethics, [Review of Review of Matters of Life and Death: New Introductory Essays in Moral Philosophy ] 181, 185.
(1978). Critical Analysis of The Evaluation of Ethical Theories by C.B. Daniels. [Review of Nous ] 73.
(1976). Teaching Philosophy, [Review of Review of Reason and Human Good and The Nicomachean Ethics ] 73, 77.
(1975). Teaching Philosophy, [Review of Review of What Use is Moral Philosophy? ] 178, 179.
(1973). Teaching Philosophy, [Review of Review of Moral Philosophy and Moral Education ] 192, 194.
Book
Jost, Lawrence J. & Shiner, Roger A. (edd.) (2003). Eudaimonia and Well-Being: Ancient and Modern Conceptions. Kenowa, B.C., Canada: Academic Printing and Publishing.
Book Chapter
(1991). Aristotle's Ethics: Essays in Ancient Greek Philosophy IV. In J.P. Anton, T. Preus (Eds.), Eudemian Ethical Method (pp. 29). New York: State University of New York Press.
Presentations
Paper Presentations
(2008. ) Aristotle on the Voluntary and the Sculpting of Character in His Ethical Works .Chicago.
(11-2006. ) What Does God have to do with Eudemian Eudaimonia? .Denison University in Granville, OH.
(03-03-2006. ) Aristotle’s Mistaken Take on The Philosophical Potential of History .Bowling Green, OH.
(2006. ) The Metaphysics of Ruthless Reductionism .Charleston, S.C.
(09-28-2005. ) One Easy Way to Miss the Mark: Endoxic Method and Akrasia in Aristotle .Toledo, OH.
(03-2005. ) Aristotelian Eudaimonia: What’s God got to do with it, do with it….? .
(04-08-2004. ) Beyond Eliminative Situationalism in the Study of Moral Character: The Case for Evaluative Integration in Personality .New Orleans, LA.
(11-01-2003. ) Kenny on the Eudemian Ethics, 25 Years Later .Fordham University, New York City.
(04-05-2003. ) Aristotle, Sumner and Objective Theories of Well-Being .
(03-2003. ) Another Look at Plato on False Pleasures: Reply to Matt Evans .Texas A&M University.
(03-31-2001. ) Irwin, Aristotle and Moral Particularism: A Reply to Prof. Gilliland .San Francisco.
(04-2000. ) Virtue Ethics and the Social Psychology of Character: A Critique of Harman's 'Eliminative Situationalism .Atlanta, GA.
(08-1998. ) How Shall We Translate eudaimonia [happiness'? well-being?] in Aristotle's Ethics? .Boston.
(03-26-1998. ) Why does the Poetics lack an historical introduction? A reply to Edward Halper's 'Poetry, History and Dialectic .Pacific Division.
(05-18-1996. ) Polybius as Moral Theorist - A Reply to David Hahm's "From Platonism to Pragmatism" .Cincinnati, OH.
(04-09-1994. ) Theaetetus 147c7-148d7: Reply to Prof. Schuller .
(05-1993. ) Socrates in the Apology .Dayton, OH.
(10-26-1991. ) Isocratean Influences on Aristotle's Ethico-Political Development .Baruch College, CUNY, New York City, NY.
(10-29-1988. ) Aristotle and the Concept of Personhood: Reply to Prof. Back .Baruch College, CUNY, New York City, NY.
(11-07-1987. ) Aristotelian Agency and Moral Luck: Comments on Walter Glannon's "Agency & Luck in Aristotle's Ethics" .University of Dayton.
(10-24-1987. ) Moral Luck in The Eudemian Ethics .Baruch College, CUNY, New York, NY.
(04-30-1987. ) Arete and Archery: Comments on Peter Losin's 'Aristotle's Doctrine of the Mean' .Chicago, IL.
(10-1986. ) The Eudemian Conception of the Relation Between Ethics and Politics .Baruch College-CUNY.
(04-05-1986. ) Professor Hampton on Plato and False Pleasures .Cleveland, OH.
(12-29-1985. ) Eudemian Ethical Method .Eastern Division, American Philosophical Assocation, Washington D.C..
(10-1984. ) Is agathon a pros hen equivocal in Aristotle's Ethics? .Baruch College of The City University of New York.
(03-23-1984. ) Testing Kenny's Hypothesis About the Eudemian Ethics: The Case of Philia .Long Beach.
(12-28-1983. ) Teleology and The Art/Nature Analogy in Aristotle .Boston .
(06-1983. ) Kernberg, Kohut and The Interpretation of Character in Greek Literature .Oxford, OH.
(04-16-1983. ) Aristotle's Critique of Plato's Politics .American University, Washington, D.C..
(04-1983. ) A Platonic Digression? Theatetus 172c-177c .Chicago.
(01-04-1983. ) Owen's Objection to Logic & Metaphysics in the Eudemian Ethics of Aristotle .Tallahassee, Florida.
(11-17-1979. ) Why Marx Left Philosophy .Lousiville, Kentucky.
(04-05-1976. ) Hare, Saydah and the Fanatic .Bowling Green University, Bowling Green, OH.
(05-1975. ) The Concept of Agathon in Aristotle's Ethics .Ohio State University.
(04-05-1975. ) Playing Old Harry with the Harean Primary/Secondary Meaning Dichotomy .
(03-29-1975. ) The Appearance of Intuitionism in Aristotle's Ethics .San Diego, CA.
(04-1974. ) Ontological Approaches to Action-Individuation .Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH.
(04-08-1972. ) Comments on Bernard Murchland's 'The Mythic Structure of Plato's Republic' .Columbus, OH.
(02-1971. ) Recent Naturalistic Analyses of 'Good' .University of Rochester; Rochester, New York.
Keywords
Ethics, theoretical & applied; Greek philosophy; Social/ Political; Marx, Freud; philosophy and literature.