Michael Sohn
12505 Edgewater Drive, Apt. 201
Lakewood, OH, 44107
E-mail:
Ph: (216) 526-6819
EDUCATION:
École des hautes études en sciences sociales and Institut protestant de théologie, Paris, France
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, La Bourse Oratoire-Ricoeur, 2012-2013
University of Chicago, Chicago, U.S.A.
Ph.D. in Religious Ethics, August 2012
Qualifying Examinations:
Modern Religious Thought
Philosophical Ethics
Theological Ethics
Ethics and Political Life
Dissertation:
“The Good of Recognition: Phenomenology, Ethics, and Religion in the Thought of Levinas and Ricoeur”
(Advisor: William Schweiker; Readers: Jean-Luc Marion and Paul Mendes-Flohr)
M.A. in Religious Studies, June 2005
McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
Honors B.A. with distinction in History and Religious Studies, May 2001
TEACHING COMPETENCIES AND INTERESTS:
Ethics (Philosophical, Religious/Theological, Political, Applied)
Modern Religious Thought (Jewish, Christian, Islamic)
Philosophy of Religion (17th – 21st century)
Contemporary Continental Philosophy
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Visiting Assistant Professor:
Cleveland State University; Cleveland, OH; August 2013-Present
Understanding Religion (with full course design)
Introduction to Ethics (with full course design)
Morals and Rights (with full course design)
Health Care Ethics (with full course design)
Lecturer:
Morton College; Cicero, IL; August 2005 – May 2006
Introduction to World Religions (with full course design)
Introduction to Philosophy (with full course design)
Introduction to Ethics (with full course design)
Benedictine University; Lisle, IL; August 2005 – May 2006
General Ethics: Theory and Application (for business students)
Waubonsee Community College; Sugar Grove, IL; August 2005 – December 2005
Introduction to Philosophy
Teaching Assistant:
University of Toronto, Knox College; Toronto, ON; September 2011 – December 2011
Hermeneutic Theory
University of Chicago; Chicago, IL; January 2007 – March 2007
Introduction to Medical Ethics
ADDITIONAL TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
English Language Instructor:
Hansung Technical College, Seoul, South Korea, January 2003-June 2003
Conversational English
Taegu University, IISP (Institute of International Studies Program), Taegu, South Korea, March 2002-August 2002
Conversational English
SISA English Language Institute, Seoul, South Korea, June 2001-March 2002
Conversational English
PUBLICATIONS:
Books:
The Good of Recognition: Phenomenology, Ethics, and Religion in the Thought of Levinas and
Ricoeur (under contract with Baylor University Press and forthcoming September 2014)
Refereed Articles:
“Emmanuel Levinas and the New Science of Judaism,” Journal of Religious Ethics (accepted and
forthcoming December 2013).
“Paul Tillich and Paul Ricoeur on the Meaning of ‘Philosophical Theology,” Bulletin of North
American Paul Tillich Society (accepted and forthcoming Fall 2013).
“The Paris Debate: Ricoeur’s Public Intervention and Private Reflections on the Status and
Meaning of Christian Philosophy in the 1930s,” Études Ricoeuriennes/Ricoeur Studies 4, n.1 (2013): 159-169.
“The Concept of Recognition in Levinas’s Thought,” Philosophy Today 55, n.3 (Fall 2011):
298-306.
“Between Event and Process: Paul Ricoeur and the Hermeneutics of Christian Tradition,” (work in
progress).
Non-Refereed Articles:
“La tradition dans l’herméneutique biblique de Gadamer,” Bulletin de l’Oratoire n. 795 (2013): 13-
15.
“The Politics of Religion and Regionalism on the Supreme Courts,” Sightings (December 22, 2011).
“Religion and Education in Ontario,” Sightings (September 27, 2007).
Reviews:
Review of Ethical Theory and Responsibility Ethics: A Metaethical Study of Niebuhr and Levinas.
Kevin Jung. The Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics (forthcoming).
Review of God and the Other: Ethics and Politics after the Theological Turn. J. Aaron Simmons.
The Journal of Religion 92, n.3 (2012): 441-442.
Review of A Covenant of Creatures: Levinas’s Philosophy of Judaism. Michael Fagenblat. Studies
in Religion/Sciences religieuses 40, n.4 (2011): 561-563.
Review of Reification: A New Look at an Old Idea. Axel Honneth. Political Theology 12, n.4
(2011): 631-634.
Review of Hermeneutics: An Introduction. Anthony C. Thistelton. The Journal of Religion 91, n.1
(2011): 122-124.
Review of A History of Catholic Moral Theology in the Twentieth Century: From Confessing Sins to
Liberating Consciences. James F. Keenan. Religious Studies Review 36, n.4 (2010): 287.
Translations:
Translation of “Paul Ricoeur et le langage de la communauté ecclesiale.” Olivier Abel (forthcoming)
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS:
Presenter, “Event, Process, Structure: Paul Ricoeur and the Hermeneutics of Christian Tradition,”
Annual Meeting of Society of Christian Ethics (SCE); Seattle, Washington, January 2014.
Presenter, “From Christian Philosophy to the Christian Philosopher: Ricoeur’s Post-War Engagement
with Existentialism and Barthianism,” Society for Ricoeur Studies, Annual Conference at the Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy (SPEP); Eugene, Oregon, November 2013.
Presenter, “Paul Tillich et Paul Ricoeur sur le sens de «théologie philosophique»,” Research Seminar
at Le Fonds Ricoeur; Paris, France, December 2012.
Presenter, “Paul Tillich and Paul Ricoeur on the Meaning of ‘Philosophical Theology’,” Annual
Meeting of the American Academy of Religion (AAR); Chicago, Illinois, November 2012.
Presenter, “Paul Ricoeur and the Hermeneutics of Christian Tradition,” Society for Ricoeur Studies,
Annual Conference at the Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy (SPEP); Rochester, New York, November 2012.
Presenter, “Paul Ricoeur and the Renewal of Christian Tradition,” Religion and Ethics Workshop,
University of Chicago; Chicago, Illinois, March 2012.
Moderator, “French Theory in Translation: The Question of the Archive,” International Symposium,
Chicago, Illinois, November 2011.
Presenter, “Paul Ricoeur on the Nature and Task of Theology,” Faculty Colloquium, Knox College,
University of Toronto; Toronto, Canada, October 2011.
Presenter, “Paul Ricoeur’s Existential Phenomenology and the Origins of Recognition,” Society for
Ricoeur Studies, Annual Conference at the Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy (SPEP); Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 2011.
Presenter, “Levinas’ Ethics of Recognition,” Annual Meeting of Society of Christian Ethics (SCE);
New Orleans, Louisiana, January 2011.
Presenter, “Levinas’ Creative Appropriation of the Hegelian Concept of Recognition,” International
Conference of Société Internationale de Recherche Emmanuel Levinas (SIREL) in conjunction with the North American Levinas Society (NALS); Toulouse, France, July 2010.
Presenter, “Levinas and Sensation,” University of Chicago Theology Workshop; Chicago, Illinois,
May 2010.
Presenter, “From Particular Universalism to Universal Particularism: Levinas on the Question of
Religion,” Annual Meeting of American Academy of Religion (AAR), Eastern International Region; Ottawa, Ontario, May 2010.
Panelist, “Ricoeur’s Philosophical Theology/Theological Philosophy,” Society for Ricoeur
Studies, Annual Conference at the Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy (SPEP); Arlington, Virginia, November 2009.
Presenter, “Mortality and Morality: Different Senses of Death in Levinas’ Thought and its
Implications for Conceiving the Limits and Possibilities of the Human,” Annual Meeting of the Canadian Theological Society at the Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences; Vancouver, British Columbia, June 2008.
Presenter, “The Influence of Williams James on the Historical Theology of Ernst Troeltsch,” Annual
Meeting of the Canadian Theological Society at the Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences; Vancouver, British Columbia, June 2008.
HONORS AND AWARDS:
La Bourse Oratoire-Ricoeur, Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship, Paris, France, 2012-2013
Sponsored by École des hautes études en sciences sociales.
Funded by L’Institut protestant de théologie and La Fondation de l’Oratoire du Louvre.
Martin Marty Center Dissertation Fellowship, 2011-2012
François Furet Travel Grant, France Chicago Center, Summer 2011, Summer 2010
University of Chicago Divinity School Fellowship, 2003-2005, 2006-2010
Norman M. Perrin Memorial Prize, January 2011, November 2009, May 2008
Doolittle-Harrison Travel Fellowship, May 2008
Chicago Forum on Pedagogy and the Study of Religion Fellow, 2007
Fellowship for Paris Center Conference on the Self, 2007
ACADEMIC SERVICE:
Edited and proofread Alison Scott-Baumann, Ricoeur and the Negation of Happiness (Continuum
2013).
Event Planner and Support Staff, Le Centenaire Ricoeur (1913-2013), Le Fonds Ricoeur; Paris,
France, February 27, 2013.
Help Desk, Le Fonds Ricoeur; Paris, France, October 2012-August 2013.
Edited and proofread Bradley McLean, Biblical Interpretation and Philosophical Hermeneutics
(Cambridge 2012).
Panel Chair, ‘Religion and Ethics Session’, Canadian Society for the Study of Religion (CSSR) at the
Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences; Montreal, Quebec, May 2010.
Sessional Chair and Commentator, Society for Existential and Phenomenological Theory and Culture
at the Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences; Montreal, Quebec, May 2010.
President of University of Chicago Divinity School Ethics Club, 2007-2008
LANGUAGES:
Fluent in English
Fluent in French
Fluent in Korean
Reading knowledge of German
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:
American Academy of Religion (AAR)
Society of Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy (SPEP)
North American Levinas Society
Society for Ricoeur Studies
Society of Christian Ethics (SCE)
REFERENCES:
William Schweiker, Director of the Martin Marty Center and Edward L. Ryerson Distinguished Service Professor of Theological Ethics, University of Chicago Divinity School (Dissertation Supervisor)
Ph: 773-702-8246
E-mail:
Mary Ellen Waithe, Chair and Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Comparative Religion, Cleveland State University
Ph: 216-687-9262, 216-687-4675
E-mail:
Paul Mendes-Flohr, Professor of Modern Jewish Thought, University of Chicago Divinity School (Dissertation Reader)
Ph: 773-702-5084
E-mail:
Bradley McLean, Professor of New Testament Language and Literature, University of Toronto
Ph: 416-978-2788
E-mail:
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