Associate Professor; Convener of the M.A. program
Stokes Hall North 351
Telephone: 617-552-3866
Email: daniel.mckaughan@bc.edu
ORCID
New Scientific Visions (Perspectives IV)
Rationality and Religious Commitment
Epistemology
Philosophy of Science
Science, Values, and Metaphysics
Science and Religion
Philosophy of Religion (Nature, Value and Rationality of Faith)
Epistemology
History and Philosophy of Science
M/FÌý 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. and by appointment
Professor McKaughan joined the faculty in 2008. His research and teaching focuses on the history and philosophy of science, epistemology, and philosophy of religion. He has published more than fifty journal articles, book chapters, and encyclopedia entries in venues such as Philosophy of Science, Isis, Biology and Philosophy, Religious Studies, Faith and Philosophy, Canadian Journal of Philosophy, Science, the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Philosophy of Religion, Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of Humility, and Cambridge Handbook of Religious Epistemology on a wide range of topics in the philosophy of science, philosophy of biology, epistemology, philosophy of language, philosophy of religion, science and values, American pragmatism, and the historical foundations of molecular biology. He has served as a guest editor for special issues of Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, and Religious Studies. He is co-editor, with Holly Vande Wall, of History and Philosophy of Science: A Reader (Bloomsbury, 2018) and of a three-volume series, History and Philosophy of Western Science: From Antiquity to the 19th Century, forthcoming with Bloomsbury. He is currently writing a book on Faith and Faithfulness (co-authored with Daniel Howard-Snyder), which is under contract with Oxford University Press. Prior to joining the Boston College faculty in 2008, Professor McKaughan was at the University of Notre Dame, where he was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and, subsequently, a Sorin Postdoctoral Fellow.
History and Philosophy of Science: A Reader (co-edited with Holly Vande Wall, Boston College). London: ÌýBloomsbury Academic, 2018.
Guest co-editor (with Rebekah L. H. Rice and Daniel Howard-Snyder). Special double issue of International Journal for Philosophy of Religion on “Approaches to Faith,� Volume 81, Issues 1-2, April 2017, 1-227.
Guest co-editor (with Kevin C. Elliott). Special issue of Studies in History and Philosophy of Science on “Cognitive Attitudes and Values in Science�. Volume 53, October 2015, 57-95.
Ìý“The Influence of Niels Bohr on Max Delbrück: Revisiting the Hopes Inspired by ‘Light and Life’,â€�Ìý±õ²õ¾±²õ,ÌýDecember 2005, Volume 96 Number 4:507-529.
“From Ugly Duckling to Swan: C. S. Peirce, Abduction, and the Pursuit of Scientific Theories,â€�ÌýTransactions of the Charles S. Peirce Society,ÌýVol. 44, Issue No. 3, 2008, 446-468. (2007 Charles S. Peirce Society Essay Contest Winner)
“How Values in Scientific Discovery and Pursuit Alter Theory Appraisalâ€� (with Kevin C. Elliott, University of South Carolina)ÌýPhilosophy of Science,ÌýVol. 76, No. 5, December 2009, 598-611.
“Was Delbrück a Reductionist?â€� Chapter 6 inÌýCreating a Physical Biology: The Three Man Paper and Early Molecular Biology,ÌýPhillip R. Sloan and Brandon Fogel, eds. (Chicago:Ìý University of Chicago Press, 2011).
“Speech Acts, Attitudes, and Scientific Practice: Can Searle Handle Assuming for the Sake of Hypothesis?â€�ÌýPragmatics and Cognition, 20:1 (2012), 88-106.
Ìý“Voles, Vasopressin, and Infidelity: A Molecular Basis for Monogamy, a Platform for Ethics, and More?â€�ÌýBiology and Philosophy, Volume 27, Issue 4 (2012), 521-543.
“Representing Vague Opinionâ€� (with John Drake, University of Georgia)ÌýPrincipia: An International Journal of Epistemology, Volume 16, Issue 2 (2012), 341-344.
“Voles, Vasopressin, and the Ethics of Framingâ€� (with Kevin C. Elliott, University of South Carolina)ÌýScienceÌýVol. 338, No. 6112, 1285.Ìý December 7, 2012.
“Authentic Faith and Acknowledged Risk: Dissolving the Problem of Faith and Reasonâ€�ÌýReligious Studies:Ìý An International Journal for the Philosophy of Religion, Volume 49, Issue 1 (March 2013), 101-124.
“Backtracking and the Ethics of Framing:Ìý Lessons from Voles and Vasopressinâ€� (with Kevin C. Elliott, University of South Carolina)ÌýAccountability in Research,Ìý20:3 (2013), 206-226.
“Non-Epistemic Values and the Multiple Goals of Scienceâ€�Ìý(with Kevin C. Elliott, Michigan State University)ÌýPhilosophy of Science,ÌýVol. 81, No. 1, January 2014, 1-21.
“Moral Molecules and Love Drugs: Objectivity, Understanding, and Backtrackingâ€� (with Kevin C. Elliott, Michigan State University). In Jean Goodwin (ed.)ÌýNormative Aspects of Science Communication: Proceedings of the Iowa State University Symposium on Science Communication,ÌýAmes: Iowa State University Digital Press, 2014.Ìý
Ìý“Character Traits and the Neuroscience of Social Behaviorâ€� inÌýCharacter: New Directions from Philosophy, Psychology, and Theology.ÌýChristian Miller, R. Michael Furr, Angela Knobel, and William Fleeson (eds.). (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015).
Ìý“Religious Violenceâ€� Chapter 24 inÌýThe Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Philosophy of Religion, Graham Oppy, ed. (London:Ìý Routledge, 2015).
“Introduction:Ìý Cognitive Attitudes and Values in Scienceâ€�Ìý(with guest co-editor Kevin C. Elliott, Michigan State University)ÌýStudies in History and Philosophy of Science,Ìýspecial issue on “Cognitive Attitudes and Values in Science,â€� 53 (2015), 57-61.
“Action-Centered Faith, Doubt, and Rationality,â€�ÌýJournal of Philosophical Research, Volume 41, Issue Supplement: Selected Papers in Honor of William P. Alston (June 2016), 71-90.
Ìýâ€Æà²¹°ù·É¾±²Ô’sÌýDescent of ManÌýand the Value of Studying Science from a Liberal Arts Perspectiveâ€�ÌýinÌýThe Quest for Excellence: Liberal Arts, Sciences, and Core Texts. Selected Proceedings from the Seventeenth Annual Conference of the Association for Core Texts and Courses,Ìýedited by Dustin Gish, Christopher Constas, and J. Scott Lee. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2016.
“Science and Stance Refinement From Within a Tradition:Ìý Common Sense Realism, Empiricism, Physicalism, and Undogmatic Faith.â€� In Joseph Famerée & Paulo Rodrigues (eds.)ÌýThe Genesis of Concepts and the Confrontation of RationalitiesÌý(Bibliotheca Ephemeridum Theologicarum Lovaniensium). Leuven: Peeters, 2017.
“Approaches to Faith:Ìý Editorial Prefaceâ€� (co-authored with Rebekah L. H. Rice & Daniel Howard-Snyder).ÌýÌýInternational Journal for Philosophy of Religion, special issue on “Approaches to Faithâ€�. April 2017, Volume 81, Issue 1, 1–6.
Ìý“On the Value of Faith and Faithfulness,â€�ÌýInternational Journal for Philosophy of Religion, special issue on “Approaches to Faith.â€� April 2017, Volume 81, Issue 1, 7–29.
“Faith Through the Dark of Night: What Perseverance Amidst Doubt Can Teach Us About the Nature and Value of Religious Faith,â€�ÌýFaith and Philosophy,ÌýVol. 35, No. 2, 195-218.ÌýApril 2018.
Ìý“Acts of Faith Interiorized Through a Glass Only Darkly: On Teresa Morgan’sÌýRoman Faith and Christian Faith,â€�ÌýReligious Studies:Ìý An International Journal for the Philosophy of Religion.ÌýDecember 2018, Volume 54, Issue 4, 576-585.
“Just the Facts or Expert Opinion?Ìý The Backtracking Approach to Socially Responsible Science Communicationâ€� (with Kevin C. Elliott, Michigan State University).Ìý In:Ìý Susanna Priest, Jean Goodwin, & Michael Dahlstrom (eds.),ÌýEthics and Practice in Science Communication.ÌýChicago: University of Chicago Press. 2018, 197-213.Ìý Winner of the 2018 Award for “Best Edited Collection on Communication Ethicsâ€� from the National Communication Association.
“Judaeo-Christian Faith as Loyalty and Trustâ€� (with Michael Pace)ÌýReligious Studies:Ìý An International Journal for the Philosophy of Religion.ÌýJune 15 2020, Volume 38, 30-60. doi:10.1017/S0034412520000153
Ìý“Faith and Humility: Conflict or Concord?â€� (with Dan Howard-Snyder) Chapter 18 in eds. Mark Alfano, Michael Lynch, and Alessandra Tanesini,ÌýRoutledge Handbook on the Philosophy of Humility.ÌýNew York: Routledge. 2021, 212-224.
Ìý“Theorizing About Faith with Lara Buchakâ€� (with Daniel Howard-Snyder)ÌýReligious Studies:Ìý An International Journal for the Philosophy of Religion.Ìý2022, Volume 58, Issue 2, 297-326]. doi:10.1017/S0034412520000359
“The Fellowship of the Ninth Hour: Christian Reflections on the Nature and Value of Faithâ€� (with Dan Howard-Snyder) inÌýT&T Clark Handbook to Analytic Theology,ÌýJames M. Arcadi and J.T. Turner, eds. London: WÌýT&T Clark, 2021, 69-82.
“Faithâ€� (with Dan Howard-Snyder) inÌýWiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Philosophy of Religion,ÌýStewart Goetz and Charles Taliaferro, eds. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. 2021.Ìý
Ìý“Theorizing About Faith and Faithfulness with Jonathan Kvanvigâ€� (with Dan Howard-Snyder)ÌýReligious Studies:Ìý An International Journal for the Philosophy of Religion.Ìý2022, Volume 58, 628–648. doi:10.1017/S0034412521000202
Ìý“Trust in God: An Evaluative Review of the Literature and Research Proposal (with Joshua N. Hook, Daryl R. Van Tongeren, Don E. Davis, Peter C. Hill, M. Elizabeth Lewis Hall, and Daniel Howard-Snyder).ÌýMental Health, Religion, and Culture.Ìý2021, Volume 24, Issue 7, 745-763. doi:10.1080/13674676.2021.1939291
“Faith and Resilienceâ€� (with Dan Howard-Snyder)ÌýInternational Journal for Philosophy of Religion.Ìý2022, Volume 91, 205-241.Ìý
“Perseverance in the Religious Lifeâ€� (with Dan Howard-Snyder) inÌýEndurance and Related Virtues,ÌýNathan King ed. (Oxford Series on The Virtues, Nancy Snow, ed.) Oxford: Oxford University Press. Forthcoming 2023.
“Faith and Faithfulnessâ€� (with Dan Howard-Snyder)ÌýFaith and Philosophy,Ìýforthcoming 2023.
Ìý“The Problem of Faith and Reasonâ€� (with Dan Howard-Snyder). In:ÌýThe Cambridge Handbook of Religious Epistemology,ÌýTyler McNabb, Jonathan Fuqua, and John Greco, eds. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Forthcoming.
“How Does Trust Relate to Faith?â€�Ìý(with Dan Howard-Snyder)ÌýCanadian Journal of Philosophy,Ìý2022, 1-17.Ìý
Ìý“Models, Scientificâ€� inÌýNew Catholic EncyclopediaÌý(Supplement 2012-13: Ethics and Philosophy). Robert Fastiggi, et al. (Detroit: Gale-Cengage Learning and the Catholic University of America Press, 2013).
Ìý“Methodological Naturalismâ€� (with Erik L. Peterson, University of Wisconsin)ÌýinÌýNew Catholic EncyclopediaÌý(Supplement 2012-13: Ethics and Philosophy). Robert Fastiggi, et al. (Detroit: Gale-Cengage Learning and the Catholic University of America Press, 2013).
“Brute Factsâ€� inÌýNew Catholic EncyclopediaÌý(Supplement 2012-13: Ethics and Philosophy). Robert Fastiggi, et al. (Detroit: Gale-Cengage Learning and the Catholic University of America Press, 2013).
Ìý“Ockham’s Razorâ€� inÌýNew Catholic EncyclopediaÌý(Supplement 2012-13: Ethics and Philosophy). Robert Fastiggi, et al. (Detroit: Gale-Cengage Learning and the Catholic University of America Press, 2013).
Ìý“Delbrück, Maxâ€� inÌýThe Oxford Encyclopedia of the History of American Science, Medicine, and TechnologyÌý(Oxford Encyclopedias of American History),ÌýHugh Slotten, ed. (Oxford:Ìý Oxford University Press, 2014).
Ìý“Constructive Empiricismâ€� inÌýThe Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, 3rdÌýed. Robert Audi, ed. (Cambridge:Ìý Cambridge University Press, 2015).
“Empirical Adequacyâ€� inÌýThe Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, 3rdÌýed. Robert Audi, ed. (Cambridge:Ìý Cambridge University Press, 2015).
“Counterintuitiveâ€� inÌýThe Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, 3rdÌýed. Robert Audi, ed. (Cambridge:Ìý Cambridge University Press, 2015).
Ìý“Hopeâ€� inÌýThe Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, 3rdÌýed. Robert Audi, ed. (Cambridge:Ìý Cambridge University Press, 2015).
“What Role Do Values Play in Scientific Inquiry?â€�ÌýBig Questions Online.ÌýFebruary 13, 2017.Ìý
“Review of Losee, John.ÌýThe Golden Age of Philosophy of Science, 1945 to 2000: Logical Reconstruction, Descriptivism, Normative, Naturalism, and Foundationalism.â€�ÌýJournal of the History of Philosophy,ÌýVol. 58, No. 2, 2020, 413-414.
Ìý“Faithâ€� (with John Bishop). In:ÌýThe Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyÌý(Fall 2022 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <>.