I am an assistant professor at Carleton College. My primary areas of research are ancient Greek philosophy, especially Aristotle, philosophy of film, and aesthetics. At Carleton I teach courses in these areas and on the topic of personal identity. My current research focuses on two issues related to the broad topic of Aristotle's views on how we acquire knowledge. First, I am interested in Aristotle's view of how we acquire knowledge of what he calls the basic "first principles" of a subject and the role that essences, or a necessary fixed nature of a species or natural kind, plays in our explanation of the properties of the kind. Second, I am interested in Aristotle's view in the Poetics on the role that the emotions play in our learning from drama and tragedy. My recent publications include a co-edited anthology with Tom Wartenberg: Philosophy of Film: Introductory Text and Readings (Blackwell) and essays (one on Bertolt Brecht, another on gender and film, co-authored with my Carleton film colleague, Carol Donelan) for The Routledge Companion to the Philosophy of Film, and I am currently at work on The Routledge Guidebook to Aristotle and the Poetics (in contract).

My office hours for the fall, 2009 term are Monday, 1-3, Fridays 2-3:30 and by appointment. I hope that you will drop by sometime!

Contact Information:

Phone: 507-222-4222
Office: Leighton 311
Email: acurran {at} carleton dot edu
Mailing Address:
Department of Philosophy
Carleton College
Northfield, MN 55057