Associate Professor of Philosophy
Philosophy Program Director
Richardson 301
One Brennan Circle
Poultney, VT 05764-1199
Email Address: keithh@greenmtn.edu
(802) 287-8065; Fax: (802) 287-8080
Dr. Heather Keith’s passions include many genres of philosophy, especially Asian philosophy, feminism, and ethics; and she directs the college’s Progressive Program. She has traveled in Asia and Europe, and wishes she had studied more languages in college. A true “flatlander” from the great plains of Nebraska, she is especially interested in how cultural traditions in various parts of the country and world affect our views of nature and place, and in integrating those perspectives into a cohesive and rich community. When not immersed in a good book or thinking through social and logical problems with students, Heather enjoys horseback riding, hiking, playing music, skiing, and the company of her family.
Education
Postgraduate: Sasakawa Foundation Grant, Japan Studies Institute; San Diego, CA, June 1-29, 2003 (American Association of State Colleges and Universities)
Postgraduate: Summer Institute in American Philosophy; Burlington, VT, July 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002; Eugene, OR, July 2004
Ph.D., 1997, Philosophy, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Dissertation: “Relocating the Self: Pragmatism, Feminism, and Social Ecology” M.A., 1995, Philosophy, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
B. A., 1993, Philosophy, Nebraska Wesleyan University, summa cum laude
Sample Courses Taught
Asian Philosophy, A Delicate Balance, 19th-21st Century Philosophy, Logic, Feminist Philosophy, Images of Nature, Philosophic Reflections on our Cultural Environment, Social-Political Philosophy: Peace, War, and Justice, and Ancient Philosophy
Academic Appointments
Green Mountain College, Professor of Philosophy, 2005-present
Lyndon State College, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, 1999-2005
Green Mountain College, Adjunct Instructor in Philosophy, Spring 2003
Dartmouth College, Visiting Scholar, 2001-2002
East Tennessee State University, Instructor, 1996-1999
Areas of Specialization
Ethics/History of Moral Theory (applied and theoretical); East-West Comparative Philosophy; Gender Theory; American Philosophy
Areas of Competence
Asian Philosophy; Environmental Ethics; Critical Thinking/Logic; Philosophy of Social Sciences; Social/Political Philosophy; Ancient Philosophy; Aesthetics; History of Western Philosophy; Medical Ethics
Selected Publications
"Transforming Ren: The De of George Herbert Mead's Social Self," The Journal of Chinese Philosophy, 2009
"The Second-Coming of Kahless: Lieutenant Worf's 'Will to Believe,'" Star Trek and Philosophy (Open Court), 2009
"Living in 'My Hometown': Local Philosophies for Troubled Times" Bruce Springsteen and Philosophy (Open Court), January 2008
"The Ethics of Care," Encyclopedia of American Philosophy (Routledge), 2007
"Leighton, Joseph Alezander (1870-1954)," Biographical Encyclopedia of British Idealism (Thommes/Continuum Press), 2007, co-authored
"Our Place in the Cosmos: Faith and Belief in Contact," Movies and the Meaning of Life (Thoemmes Press), 2005, co-authored
Multiple entries, The Dictionary of Modern American Philosophers (Thoemmes Press), 2005, co-authored
"Habits of Happiness: Positive Psychology and the Philosophy of William James," Streams of William James, Special Issue on Positive Psychology, Fall 2004, co-authored
"Pornography Contextualized: A Test Case for a Feminist-Pragmatist Ethics," The Journal of Speculative Philosophy, Summer 2001
"Feminism and Pragmatism: George Herbert Mead's Ethics of Care," The Transactions of the Charles S. Peirce Society, Spring 1999
"An Interview with Martha Nussbaum," Kinesis, Spring 1997
Book in Preparation
Consequences of Reason: Philosophical Roots of Dehumanization
This manuscript in process deals with the history of discrimination against people with mental retardation from the point of view of historical moral theories in philosophy and religion, and the consequent effects for contemporary society. This project is co-authored with a psychologist.
Book Reviews
Dewey's Dream: Universities and Democracies in an Age of Education Reform by Lee Benson, Ira Harkavy, and John Puckett, for The Society of the Advancement of American Philosophy Newsletter, 2007
Line Drawings by Cressida Heyes, The Journal of Speculative Philosophy, 2004
Feminist Interpretations of John Dewey edited by Charlene Haddock Seigfried, Journal of Metaphilosophy, 2004
Deep Democracy by Judith Green, The Journal of Speculative Philosophy, Summer 2001
Transforming Experience: John Dewey's Cultural Instrumentalism by Michael Eldridge, The Society of the Advancement of American Philosophy Newsletter, 2000
Articles under Review and in Preparation
“Bathing the River God: Nature Traditions in Japanese Philosophy and American Transcendentalism”
"'The World is My Book': Hartley Burr Alexander, an American Philosopher"
"Symbolizing Earth: The Architecture of H. B. Alexander and Mary Coulter"
"Natural Caring: An Exploration of Feminism, Character, and Nature"
Selected Presentations
“Feminism in the American Tradition.” University of Kobe, Japan, July 2009
“Nature, Ethics, and the Arts.” Conference on Rediscovering Goryo Painting, South Korea, June 2009
"Putting Feminist and Environmental Education to Work: Empowering Natural and Social Communities Through Service-Learning" (co-authored). Vermont Women in Higher Education, November 2007
"Imagining the Cosmos: Empathetic Natural Relationality in the Neighborhood of the Good." New York Pragmatist Forum, New York, NY, May 2007
"Motivating Moral Beauty: Confucianism, American Philosophy, and Subjective Well-Being," Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy, Asilomar, CA, October 2005
"Learned Goodness: Dewey, Optimism, and Moral Beauty ," Sino-American Philosophy Summit, Shanghai, China, May 2005
Invited Plenary Panelist, Coss Interdisciplinary Dialogues, Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy, Bakersfield, CA, March 2005
"American Philosophy, Environmental Ethics, and Ecofeminism," Invited Address at Kwansei Gakuin University's School for Policy Studies, Sanda, Japan, June 2004
"Habits of Happiness: Optimism, Hope, and the Philosophy of William James," Society for the Study of Empirical Ethics, Marlboro College, VT, November 2003
"Love Your Mother: Natural Caring and Feminist Earth Ethics," Women's Studies Symposium, Castleton State College, Castleton, VT, March 2003
"Consequences of Reason: Philosophical Roots of Dehumanization and a Pragmatic Response" Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, March 2002
"Pragmatic Pluralism and a Response to September 11," American Catholic Philosophical Association, Albany, NY, October 2001
"Hartley Burr Alexander: An American Philosopher," Chair, organizer, and panelist, Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy, University of Las Vegas, NV, March 2001
"Senses of the Self: Pragmatism and Individuality," Northern New England Philosophy Association, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, October 2000
"'Empathy as Moral Imagination,' a commentary on A Imagination in Pragmatist Ethics" American Philosophical Association, Central Division, Chicago, IL, April 2000
"American Philosophy and the Widespread Use of Adjunct Faculty: Reports and Proposals," Chair, organizer, and panelist, Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, March 2000
Honors and Awards
Graduate Tuition Scholarships, Southern Illinois University, 1996, 1997
Doctoral Fellowship, Southern Illinois University, 1995-96
Master's Fellowship, Southern Illinois University, 1993-94
Summa cum laude, Nebraska Wesleyan University, 1993
Phi Kappa Phi
Cardinal Key National Honor Society
Grants
Lyndon State College Advance Study Grant, 2004 (for travel and study in Japan)
Burnham Grant, Lyndon State College, 2004 (for a summer philosophy institute)
Sasakawa Foundation Fellowship, 2003 (for a month-long Japan Studies institute)
Lyndon State College Advance Study Grant, 2002 (for travel and study in Japan)
Lyndon Foundation Academic Excellence Grant, 2002 (for a summer philosophy institute)
Lyndon State College Advance Study Grant, 2001 (for book research)
East Tennessee State University Faculty Development Grant, 1998 (to co-organize a workshop on teaching in the core curriculum)
University and College Service
Chair Elect of the Faculty, Lyndon State College, 2003--present
Executive Committee, Lyndon State College, 2000-2002, 2003--present
Honors Program Committee, Lyndon State College, 2003--present
Gender Studies Advisory Committee (co-founder), 2003--present
Quality of Life Focus and Study Group, Green Mountain College, 2003--present
Structure and Welfare Committee, Lyndon State College, 2001--present
General Education Committee, Lyndon State College, 2004
Co-chair, General Education Review Committee, Lyndon State College, 2002-2003
Chair, Social Sciences, History, and Philosophy Department, Lyndon State College, 2002
Vice Chair of the Faculty, Lyndon State College, 2001-2002
Chair, Commencement Committee, Lyndon State College, 2000-2002
Organizer, Humanities Film Series, Lyndon State College, 2000--present
NEASC Committee, Lyndon State College, 2000-2001
Women's Week Planning Committee, Lyndon State College, 2000-2001
Lecture and Arts Committee, Lyndon State College, 2000-2001
Review Committee, Learning Communities Grant, Vermont State Colleges 2000-2001
Center for Scholarship, Teaching, and Research, Lyndon State College, 1999--present
Women's Studies Steering Committee, East Tennessee State University, 1997-1999
Co-organizer and grantee, Summer Faculty Workshop on teaching in the A Identity, Ethics, and Social Responsibility Section of the Core Curriculum, East Tennessee State University, July 1998
Secretary, Graduate Philosophy Union, Southern Illinois University, 1994-95
Committee of the Whole, Department of Philosophy, Southern Illinois University, 1994-95
Committee for Revising General Education, Nebraska Wesleyan University, 1992-93
President's Student Advisory Committee, Nebraska Wesleyan University, 1992-93
Professional Service
Advisory Board Member, the Pragmatism Cybrary, 2000--present
Nominating Committee, Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy, 2001-2004
Reviewer, Transactions of the Charles S. Peirce Society
Program Co-Chair, Intermountain Philosophy Conference, East Tennessee State University, October 1997
Reviewer, Kinesis, Graduate Journal in Philosophy, 1993-1996
Intern, Southern Illinois University Archives, for work on the Open Court Publishing Papers (in philosophy) and the Charles S. Peirce papers, 1995
Membership in Professional Associations
Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy
Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy
Northern New England Philosophy Association
Society for the Study of Empirical Ethics
American Philosophical Association
Society for Women in Philosophy
Languages
French (written and spoken)
German (written)
Japanese (conversational, some written)
