Donald M. Borchert
Professional History
Faculty Positions and Rank
Ohio University, Professor Emeritus, 2006--
Ohio University, Professor, 1975-2006.
Ohio University, Associate Professor, 1971-75.
Ohio University, Assistant Professor, 1967-71.
Juniata College, Assistant Professor, 1966-67.
Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Visiting Lecturer, 1964-65.
Administrative Experience
Ohio University, Institute for Applied and Professional Ethics, Executive Board, 1989-2006.
Ohio University, Chair, Department of Philosophy, 1987-2002.
Ohio University, Associate Dean, College of Arts & Sciences, 1980-86.
Ohio Education Association, Higher Education Council for the State of Ohio, 1974-76; Chairperson 1975-76.
Ohio University, Assistant Chair, Department of Philosophy, 1970-71.
Teaching Experience - Courses Taught
At Ohio University, 1967-2006
Introduction to Philosophy
Introductory Logic
Introduction to Ethics
Medical Ethics for Medical Students
Old Testament
New Testament
Values in Crisis
Philosophy of Religion
Philosophy of Marxism
Philosophy of Sex and Love
Existentialism and Marxism
Philosophy and Technology
Models of Humanness
Humanization in a Technological Era
Stories and the Pursuit of Meaning
Supervised Teaching
History of Religions: S.E. Asia, China and Japan
Ohio University Philosophy Forum Seminar
Assessing World Views
At Juniata College, 1966-67
History of Oriental Thought
Development of the Judaeo-Christian Tradition
Existentialist Currents in Contemporary Culture
Critiques of Christianity
Integration of Art, Knowledge and Conduct
Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1964-65
Philosophy of Religion
Philosophy of Marxism
Existentialism
Contemporary Theological Trends
Education
Princeton Theological Seminary, Ph.D., 1966.
Fields: Philosophy of Religion, Philosophy of Marxism, Ethics, Biblical Studies.
Dissertation: "A Discussion Relating to Humanization: Marx, Koestler and the Christian."
Director: Charles C. West.
Philosophy Mentor: John H. Hick
Honors: Teaching Fellowship in New Testament History, 1960-61.
Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Th.M., 1959.
Fields: Philosophy of Religion, Ethics.
Thesis: "The View of Love in the Major Works of Nels Ferre and Erich Fromm Compared with the Biblical View as Presented by Certain Biblical Exegetes."
Advisers: C.G.Rutenber and G.Claghorn.
Princeton Theological Seminary, B.D., 1958.
Major Field: Philosophy of Religion
Thesis: "The Impact of Christianity Upon the Development of Philosophical Thinking."
Mentor: Emile Cailliet.
Honors: Senior Class Fellowship in Christian Philosophy, 1958.
University of Alberta, A.B., 1955
Major Fields: History, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Law
Honors:
Viscount Bennett Scholarship, 1953-54.
The Scholarship of The Board of Governors of the University of Alberta, 1952-53.
Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire Coronation Bursary, 1952-55.
The University of Alberta Economics Prize, 1953-54.
The University of Alberta History Prize, 1953-54.
Scholarly Activity
Discipline: Philosophy
Subfields: Philosophy of Religion, Philosophy of Marxism, and Ethics
Books Published
Macmillan Interdisciplinary Handbooks: Philosophy, 10 vols. Editor in Chief. Farmington Hills, MI: Macmillan Reference USA, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning, 2016-2017.
(NOTE: The goal of these ten handbooks was to provide discussions of philosophical topics that would be accessible to philosophical novices but also respected by informed scholars. Two colleagues from Ohio University – James Petrik and Arthur Zucker agreed to serve as Associate Editors for the project and ten teacher/scholars agreed to serve as individual volume editors.)
Embracing Epistemic Humility: Confronting Triumphalism in Three Abrahamic Religions. Lanham, Maryland: Lexington Books, a subsidiary of the Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, 2013.
Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Second Edition.10 vols. Editor in Chief. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2006.
(NOTE: The first edition of this Encyclopedia became the standard reference encyclopedia for the discipline. Building on the first edition, the second edition pursued that same level of excellence. Twenty-one distinguished scholars served as subject editors for the various subfields in philosophy. The new 10 volume set contains approximately 3,000 entries signed by the contributing scholars along with bibliographies and a detailed topical index. This Encyclopedia was selected by Choice in 2007 as one of “the most significant print and electronic works reviewed in Choice in the previous calendar year.” The Encyclopedia was also named to Booklist Magazine’s Editors’ Choice elite list as one of the outstanding titles for 2006. The Encyclopedia also received the 2007 Emerald Literati Network Award from Emerald Group Publishing in the U.K. for the best print reference work.)
An Introduction to Modern Philosophy. Seventh Edition. Co-authored with Arthur Zucker. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2001.
Compendium of Philosophy and Ethics. Editor in Chief. New York: Macmillan, 1999.
Philosophy of Sex and Love: A Reader. Co-authored with Robert Trevas and Arthur Zucker. New York: Prentice Hall, 1997.
The Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Supplement. Editor in Chief. New York: Macmillan, 1996.
An Introduction to Modern Philosophy. Sixth Edition. Co-authored with Alburey Castell and Arthur Zucker. New York: Macmillan, 1994.
Medical Ethics. Co-authored with J. David Stewart and Arthur Zucker. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1992.
An Introduction to Modern Philosophy. Fifth Edition. Co-authored with Alburey Castell. New York: Macmillan, 1988.
Exploring Ethics. Co-authored with J. David Stewart. New York: Macmillan, 1986.
An Introduction to Modern Philosophy. Fourth Edition. Co-authored with Alburey Castell. New York: Macmillan, 1983.
The Meaning of Humanness in a Technological Age. Co-edited with J. David Stewart. Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Press, 1979.
Academic Articles
“Arguments for the Existence of God,” Symposia (Boston, MA: Pearson Publishing, 2001).
"Fukuyama's Fatal Flaw," Review Journal of Social Science and Philosophy, Vol. XVII (1992).
"The Closing of the American Mind," National Forum, Vol. LXVIII. No. 2 (Spring, 1988).
"The Closing of the American Mind: A Response," The Ohio University Arts and Sciences Forum, Vol. IV, No. 4 (January, 1988).
"The Role of Theory in Ethics," with J. David Stewart, Listening, Vol. XXII, No. 1 (1987).
"Abortion: Morally Right or Wrong?" with J. Phillip Jones, Listening, Vol. XXII, No. 1 (1987).
"Technology and Alienation: Repossessing our Alien Culture," Listening, Vol. XVI, No. 2 (1981).
"On Being Fair to Marx," Philosophy Today, Vol. 23, No. 2/4 (Summer, 1979).
"Marx and Christ: The Question of Violence," The Christian Century, Vol. XCI, No. 3 (January 23, 1974).
"On Being Human in the Cybernetic Revolution," The Christian Century, Vol. LXXXIX, No. 35 (October 4, 1972).
"Christianity Under Scrutiny in Academe," Baptist Herald, Vol. 50, No. 1 (January, 1972).
"The Future of Religion in a Marxist Society," The Christian Century, Vol. LXXXVIII, No. 39 (September 29, 1971).
"The Influence of Hegel in Contemporary God-is-Dead Theology," Praxis (International Edition), Vol. VIII (pt. 1/2, 1971).
"Utjecaj Hegel a U Savremenoj Bog-Je-Mrtav Teologijj," Praxis (Serbo-Croatian Edition), Vol. VIII (pt. 1, 1971).
"The Marxist Christian Dialogue: A New Openness," Review and Expositor, Vol. LXVIII (Winter, 1971).
"Marx, Social Change and Humanization," Zygon, Vol. IV (June, 1969).
"Why Do Men Suffer?" Christianity Today, Vol. X (April 1, 1966).
"The Challenge of Linguistic Philosophy to Contemporary Theology," Foundations, Vol. VII (1964).
"Beyond Augustine's Answer to Evil," Canadian Journal of Theology, Vol. VIII (1962).
Other Academic Publications
Introduction to Ethics: A Study Guide. Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Independent Study Through Correspondence, 1990.
Co-editor of special edition of Listening on the subject of medical ethics. Vol. XXII, No. 1 (1987).
Study Guide for Ethics. Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Independent Study Through Correspondence, 1970.
Professional Honors
Appointments
Elected to membership in the Cosmos Club of Washington, D.C., 2004.
Ombudsman, Ohio Philosophical Association, 1995.
Distinguished Service Award, Ohio Philosophical Association, 1993.
Chair, The Ohio Humanities Council, 1983-85, Vice-Chair, 1981-83. Member since 1978.
Chair, The Alumni Board of The Ohio Humanities Council, 1985-87.
President, Ohio Philosophical Association, 1985-1990, Vice-President, 1983-85.
Associate of the Danforth Foundation, 1980-86.
Fellow of the National Humanities Institute at the University of Chicago, 1976-77.
Appointed University Professor at Ohio University for excellence in teaching, 1974; reappointed 1989.
Research Institute Fellow at Ohio University, appointed 1972.
Grants
2006 - $10,000 from the Philosophy Department’s Spetnagel Research Fund to support continuing research and writing
2002 - $1,370 from the Philosophy Department’s Spetnagel Research Fund to purchase a Dell Inspiron 2650 laptop computer to support The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Second Edition.
2002 - $1,825 from three sources: the Ohio University Research Committee, the Dean of Arts & Sciences, and the Philosophy Department to upgrade my office computer to facilitate work on The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Second Edition.
2001 - $100,000 from private donor and the Ohio University Office for Research to support the research of philosophy faculty.
1994 to 2001 - $175,000 from private donors and Ohio University to support special lectureships in the Philosophy Department.
1987 to 2001 - $150,000 from private donors to support academic awards for students.
1992 - $8,000 from the 1804 Endowment to support the one volume Supplement to The Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
1991 - $500 from the National Endowment for the Humanities to serve as project adviser for a Younger Scholars Award. Younger Scholar: Elliot Ratzman, Senior at Ohio University. Project title: Liberation Theology: Christian and Jewish.
1990 - $5,000 from the 1804 Endowment to plan and teach experimentally megasections of introductory philosophy during AY 1990-91 (with John Bender, Algis Mickunas, Robert Trevas and Arthur Zucker).
1989 - $3,000 from the Institute for Applied and Professional Ethics and the Ohio University Provost's Office to support research project: "A Staged-Information Simulated-Decision Model for Enhancing Ethical Reasoning Skills of Medical Decision-Makers" (with Arthur Zucker).
1989 - $95,900 per year for six years with annual inflationary increment from the Ohio Board of Regents to support the Program in Applied and Professional Ethics (with Ralph Izard, John Stinson and Arthur Zucker).
1989 - $4,000 from the GTE Foundation to establish the GTE Lecture Series on "Medical Technology and Moral Puzzles" (with Arthur Zucker).
1986 - $55,000 from the Ohio Board of Regents to support content/pedagogy enhancement for K-12 teachers in southeastern Ohio (with R. Mitias and I. Ungar).
1985 - $8,000 from the 1804 Endowment, Ohio University to support a pilot project in content enrichment for K-12 teachers (with B. Jones, R. Koshel and C.P. Richardson).
1984 - $9,156 from the 1804 Endowment, Ohio University, to support a pilot project in content enrichment for K-12 teachers (with B. Jones, R. Koshel and C.P. Richardson).
1983 - $7,000 from the 1804 Endowment, Ohio University, to support the 1983 Summer Curriculum Seminar to create new General Education courses.
1982 - $7,000 from the 1804 Endowment, Ohio University to support the 1982 Summer Curriculum Seminar to create new General Education courses.
1981 - $190,000 from The National Endowment for the Humanities to conduct a series of Summer Curriculum Seminars at Ohio University to generate new General Education courses. Project Director (with W. Ruchti, N. Dinos and J. Rovner).
1981 - $19,500 from the 1804 Endowment, Ohio University, to support 1981 Summer Curriculum Seminar. Project Director (with W. Ruchti and N. Dinos).
1981 - $7,500 from The National Endowment for the Humanities to support the 1981 Summer Curriculum Seminar (with W. Ruchti).
1979-80 - $600 from the Ohio University Experimental Fund to support experimental course, "Philosophy and Technology."
1978-79 - $20,000 from The National Endowment for the Humanities to generate curriculum interfacing philosophy and technology.
1976-77 - $25,000 from The National Endowment for the Humanities to become a Fellow at the National Humanities Institute at the University of Chicago.
1975 - $5,120 from The Ohio Program in the Humanities to develop the Ohio University Conference on Humanness.
1975 - $3,000 from the Ohio University Experimental Fund to develop the Ohio University Conference on Humanness.
1973-74 - $1,250 from the Ohio University Undergraduate Teaching Fund to develop an experimental course on ethics.
1972-73 - $2,250 from the Ohio University Undergraduate Teaching Fund for development of teacher self-analysis.
1971 - $1,875 from the Ohio University Research Committee for study of Marxist-Christian Dialogue.
1970 - $600 from Ohio University Research Institute for development and presentation of paper at Korcula Institute, Yugoslavia.
Listed in Marquis Who's Who in America every year since 1988.
Received from Who’s Who the “Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2018.
Language Proficiency in addition to English for Scholarly Work
- Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French and German
Miscellaneous Professional Activities
Portrayed Protestant minister in the re-enactment of George Washington’s Funeral on the 200th anniversary of his death, Mount Vernon, Virginia, December 18, 1999, televised
nationally on CSPAN.
Reviewed manuscripts for Harcourt Brace Jovanovich and Yale University Press, 1989, 1990.
Chaired a panel to identify and award for excellence achieved, six humanities projects out of the multitude sponsored by the Ohio Humanities Council during the 15 years since the creation of the Council, March 1987.
Planned a state-wide conference, "Human Values in a High Tech Society," April 1985 supported by the Ohio Humanities Council.
Chaired the 1985 Fellowship Review Panel for the Indiana Committee for the Humanities, Indianapolis, February, 1985, to award fellowships to six Indiana scholars in the humanities.
Invited participant in study tour of the Soviet legal system involving professional meetings in Moscow, Tashkent, Buhkara, Samarkand and Leningrad, April 1984.
Referee for Philosophy Research Archives, 1983--.University of Michigan at Dearborn, April 1980. Invited evaluator of an experimental three-course humanities program funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Assistant Director of study tour of the major archaeological sites in Israel, January 1979.
Invited observer at the deliberations of the Social Ethics Committee of the Baptist World Alliance in Baden, Austria, July-August, 1969.
Leadership Opportunities Outside the Academy
Member of the Board of Governors of The Club at Seabrook Island, South Carolina (a multi-million dollar resort and conference business), 2002 – 2005.
Vice President and Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Atrium Villas Regime at Seabrook Island, South Carolina, 2000 – 2011.