Professor Houston believes everyone can benefit from the study of philosophy. He has experienced the transformative power of philosophy in the lives of others and in his own life.

Professor Houston earned his Ph.D. at Purdue University. During his time at Purdue, he earned a teaching award for excellence as an instructor of philosophy. His doctoral dissertation was nominated for Purdue’s annual Outstanding Dissertation Award. He has taught at the University level for 15 years. He has taught at Purdue University, the University of Indiana at Kokomo, Wabash College in Indiana, and for seven years at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, where he was nominated for the S. Mary Grell & Robert Spaeth Teacher of Distinction Award.

Professor Houston specializes in ethics, the philosophy of human nature, the philosophy of religion, and the history of philosophy. He has taught a variety of courses through the years, including many courses in the philosophy of human nature, the search for meaning, the philosophy of death and dying, ancient philosophy (East and West), medieval philosophy, courses in applied and theoretical ethics, and advanced seminars in ethics. He has also published numerous articles on ancient & medieval philosophy, philosophy of religion, ethics, and theology. Among his publishers are Cambridge University Press and The University of Virginia Press.

Professor Houston loves exploring the wisdom contained in ancient texts East and West while introducing students to some of his best friends, including Plato, Aristotle, the Buddha, Marcus Aurelius, and many others. His most recent research and teaching are focused on the nature of artificial intelligence, the ethics of its deployment, and its social implications. He recognizes its capacity for great benefit as well as profound harm, and he believes we are at a pivotal point in determining its relation to the fate of humanity.

Professor Houston’s courses emphasize examining the conditions necessary for human flourishing at the individual and communal levels. For him, the most important part of philosophy lies in learning how we can best navigate the world by identifying, accepting, and acting in accordance with our responsibilities. Through this, we learn how to be not only good citizens of our immediate social circles but also in the broader contexts of humanity and the cosmos.