James S. Spiegel (edit name/settings)

Jim earned a B.S. in Biology at Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi (1985). From there he turned his interests to Philosophy, earning two graduate degrees in the field, an M.A. at University of Southern Mississippi (1988) and a Ph.D. at Michigan State University (1993). After teaching for a year at Moorhead State University in Minnesota, he took a tenure-track position at Taylor University where he continues to teach a range of courses in philosophy, including ethics, history of philosophy, aesthetics, epistemology, philosophy of religion, and apologetics. Over the years, Jim has authored numerous books and articles on issues in ethics, aesthetics, philosophy of religion, and popular culture.  Recent titles include: Gum, Geckos, and God and Faith, Film, and Philosophy.  His 2005 book, How to Be Good in a World Gone Bad, was the winner of a Christianity Today Merit Award.  In 2009, Spiegel's first textbook will be published.  Co-Authored with Steven Cowan, The Love of Wisdom: A Christian Introduction to Philosophy is a textbook with a distinct and engaging style that includes humor and copious popular culture illustrations to heighten reader interest and clarify important concepts.

In addition to teaching and writing, Jim speaks at colleges, professional conferences, and churches and is frequently interviewed for radio programs.  You may use his website to book him for an event. Jim is an active member of several professional societies, including the American Philosophical Association, the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics, the Society of Christian Philosophers, and the Evangelical Philosophical Association. He has refereed for numerous philosophical journals and served as editor of the Berkeley Briefs, the newsletter of the International Berkeley Society. To learn more about Jim’s academic achievements and publication history, you may view his full Curriculum Vitae. In addition to his scholarly work, Jim is a music enthusiast. He runs a recording studio out of his basement and has produced and engineered album projects for dozens of artists. He also records his own original music.

Jim Spiegel lives in Fairmount, Indiana with his wife, Amy, and his four children, Bailey, Samuel, Magdalene, and Andrew.