Philosophy and the Good Life

A little bit about me: I took my first Philosophy course as a college freshman many years ago, and quickly fell in love with the discipline. There is something incredibly beautiful about being able to construct, analyze, evaluate and articulate a complex argument. After college I realized my dream of studying in Paris, France for a year on a Fulbright scholarship, after which I returned to Dallas and began working on my Ph.D, which I completed in 2008 at the Institute of Philosophic Studies, University of Dallas. I have been teaching Philosophy full time at North Lake College (in the Dallas, TX area) since the fall of 2005. Perhaps I am just a little biased, but I happen to believe that teaching is one of the greatest professions there is, as it allows one to satisfy two of humankind's deepest and most fulfilling desires: the desire for intellectual and creative stimulation, on the one hand, and the desire to help others succeed, on the other.

My hobbies include reading and traveling. I mostly read philosophy and fiction books but am branching out into historical and political works as well. I also travel whenever I can (usually during the summers). So far, I have been to 36 countries! My favorite foreign countries are France and Italy (mainly for the food, the art, and architecture), through which I have traveled extensively (I love visiting Aix-en-Provence and Florence). I love to spend hours in the cafés, reading, thinking, sipping good coffee, and daydreaming. That’s pretty much it for me in the “good times” department!

It has been a fantastic journey so far, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds. I hope you enjoy the book!

--Dr. A