UA Philosophy Professor Receives Prestigious 2007 Templeton Enterprise Award

TUSCALOOSA, Ala – A University of Alabama philosophy professor has received the $50,000 Templeton Enterprise Award for 2007.

Dr. James Otteson, professor in UA’s department of philosophy, received first place in the 2007 Templeton Enterprise Awards for his book, “Actual Ethics.” Otteson received the award Oct.30 at a ceremony at the University Club of New York City.

The Templeton Enterprise Awards are part of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute’s Culture of Enterprise Initiative, which presents yearly book, article and student essay awards for the purpose of publicizing superior writings that promote ordered liberty around the world. The Intercollegiate Studies Institute is a non-profit educational organization in Wilmington, Del., whose mission is to help college students attain a better understanding of the values and institutions that uphold a free and virtuous society.

“Actual Ethics” employs the concept of human personhood and the classical liberal political state to addresses issues such as poverty and famine relief, affirmative action, public education, euthanasia, homosexual marriage, and human happiness.

The Templeton Awards are some of the most prestigious in the publishing industry, giving away almost $100,000 in prizes. First place winners in the book division receive $50,000, while first place winners in the article division receive $25,000.

Otteson began teaching at UA in 1997 and served as chairman of the philosophy department from 2005 until Aug. 15 of this year.

Otteson’s other books include “Adam Smith’s Marketplace of Life,” which was named Outstanding Academic Title in 2003 by the American Library Association and “Adam Smith,” a systematic overview of all of Smith’s work. His research articles have appeared in publications including Journal of Social Philosophy and Public Affairs Quarterly. He is a member of several professional organizations including the American Philosophical Association and the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies.

Otteson received his doctoral degree in philosophy from the University of Chicago in 1997 and his artium magister at the University of Chicago in 1994. He completed his master’s degree in philosophy at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1992 and his bachelor’s degree in liberal studies at the University of Notre Dame in 1990.

The Culture of Enterprise Initiative is funded by the John Templeton Foundation, which was founded in 1987 by the well-known philanthropist and businessman. Its mission has been to serve as a philanthropic catalyst for scientific research on subjects ranging from laws of nature and the universe to questions on the nature of love, gratitude, forgiveness and creativity. At age 94, Templeton continues to support rigorous scientific research and progressive scholarship on a wide range of issues

UA’s department of philosophy is part of the College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the “USA Today” Academic All American Teams.