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I'M

Justin McBrayer

PHILOSOPHER
TEACHER
SPEAKER
WRITER
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I'm a philosopher. I work on important human questions that can't be answered by the methods of science. I teach at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Much of my research focuses on helping ordinary individuals and political bodies to think consistently and carefully about the problems they encounter, the values they embrace, and the evidence they've gathered.

SPECIALIZATIONS & COMPETENCIES

History of Philosophy

Metaphysics

Logic

Ethics (Applied and Meta)

Philosophy of Religion

Epistemology 

Philosophy Professor Justin McBrayer has won a Fulbright Scholarship for the second time in his career. As part of the program, McBrayer will spend a term in Italy both conducting research and teaching at the University of Genoa in Italy. 

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BEYOND FAKE NEWS

Finding the TRUTH in a world of misinformation

Why do we face a fake news problem, and what is the solution?  Part of the explanation is improved technology along with mental blindspots. But another part of the story is the fact that others have incentives to deceive us and we ourselves often lack incentives to get to the truth when it comes to topics like politics, religion, and alternative health. But we can do better, both as individuals and as a society. I show how to do both. As consumers of the news, we can trust ourselves on some topics and learn how to identify the experts for others. As a society, there's a lot we can do to clean up our informational environment and limit the damage of fake news.

Justin McBrayer

Channel info

People & Blogs, Education, Film & Animation, Entertainment

The New York Times (Newspaper), God, jordan hampton, christian philosophy, Lecture (Type Of Public Presentation), Problem Of Evil, Springfield, Epistemology (Field Of Study), Gun Control, Evangel, Evangel University (Organization), Gun Law, Student, Assemblies, A/G, School, Justin McBrayer, Evil (Quotation Subject), University, heterodox academy, Philosophy (Field Of Study), EU, Skeptical Theism, 10-14-20, justin mcbrayer, problem of evil, skeptical theism, Justin P. McBrayer, Teacher, Fact Opinion Dichotomy, Guest Lecture, College, Fact (Quotation Subject), Education, Debate, problem of divine hiddenness

Justin McBrayer

Get the FACTS about Facts & Opinions (Dr. Justin McBrayer)

Read more This week's question was, "What are children taught in school about facts and opinions? Is this distinction they are taught correct? Why or Why not?" This question is answered by Dr. Justin McBrayer, a professor of philosophy at Fort Lewis College. To hear more from Dr. McBrayer on this topic, check out his 2015 New York Times article linked below, as well as a lecture he gave on this issue. Article: https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/02/why-our-children-dont-think-there-are-moral-facts/ Lecture: https://youtu.be/jQnYiGTHi_0 To participate in Ask A Scholar, become one of my patrons. Go to https://www.patreon.com/theanalyticchristian For more resources on Christian philosophy & theology, go to https://www.theanalyticchristian.com

Entertainment

The Fake News Marketplace | Justin McBrayer

Read more Concern about fake news and its effects on our personal and corporate lives has probably never been higher. But the fake news epidemic has a lot of moving pieces, and it’s not always easy to see the big picture. In this member spotlight, HxA Member Justin McBrayer offers a unified, interdisciplinary explanation for the fake news epidemic that centers around the idea of an information marketplace. Justin P. McBrayer is Professor of Philosophy at Fort Lewis College, the public liberal arts college for the State of Colorado. His book, Beyond Fake News (Routledge 2021), offers an interdisciplinary explanation for the fake news epidemic and a host of suggestions on how we might be better believers. The chart Justin references at 22:10 can be seen here: adfontesmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Media-Bias-Chart-6.0_Licensed.pdf Learn more about HxA here: https://heterodoxacademy.org/​​​ Follow HxA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HdxAcademy​​​ Follow HxA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heterodoxaca...​ Follow HxA on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hdxacademy/​ #fakenews #philosophy #heterodoxacademy

Education

justin mcbrayer, heterodox academy

Beyond Fake News FLCV

Read more FLC Professor of Philosophy Justin P. McBrayer discusses his new book, "Beyond Fake News," and how to avoid being misled by false information in the digital age.

Film & Animation

10-14-20

Dr. Justin McBrayer: Why The Fact Opinion Dichotomy Is Harmful

Read more Dr. Justin McBrayer, follows up his New York Times op-ed “Why Our Children Don’t Think There are Moral Facts,” with this presentation that argues against the current practice of teaching children a fact-opinion dichotomy in elementary schools. Specifically, McBrayer argues that the dichotomy, as currently taught, is faulty (to be generous, “confusing”). More importantly, the dichotomy is harmful to children and society. McBrayer then offers a possible way forward for teaching children the basic elements of critical thinking. You can read Dr. McBrayer's article here: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/02/why-our-children-dont-think-there-are-moral-facts/?_r=0. Dr. McBrayer is a philosopher and professor at Fort Lewis College in Durango Colorado. This talk is part of the Philosophy Guest Lecture Series at Evangel University. For more about philosophy at Evangel, visit evangel.edu This talk was funded, in part, by support from the Kern Family foundation.

Education

Evangel, University, Evangel University (Organization), EU, A/G, Assemblies, God, Springfield, College, Student, School, Justin McBrayer, Philosophy (Field Of Study), Fact Opinion Dichotomy, Fact (Quotation Subject), The New York Times (Newspaper), Education, Guest Lecture, Lecture (Type Of Public Presentation), Teacher, Gun Law, Gun Control, Debate

The MOST INFLUENTIAL Arguments For and Against (Dr. Justin McBrayer)

Read more In this interview, I am joined by Dr. Justin McBrayer, a professor of philosophy at Fort Lewis College.Dr. McBrayer summarizes some of the main points in his paper titled "Skeptical Theism" published in Philosophy Compass in 2010. The link to the paper is below. For more information about Dr. McBrayer visit his website, which I've also linked below. Link to Skeptical Theism Paper- https://f597a3f3-d31c-4daa-a64b-3d709ead7b3c.filesusr.com/ugd/08c259_a6e13240d22947cbb8c1927a7b00558c.pdf Link to Dr. McBrayer's Website- https://www.justinmcbrayer.com/

People & Blogs

justin mcbrayer, skeptical theism, christian philosophy, jordan hampton, problem of evil, problem of divine hiddenness

Justin P. McBrayer: The Problem of Evil and Skeptical Theism

Read more Excerpt 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qzf8q9QHfhI Excerpt 2: http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/louis-ck-monologue/2768583 (section 3:47 down to 3:15)

Education

Justin P. McBrayer, Philosophy (Field Of Study), Problem Of Evil, Skeptical Theism, Evil (Quotation Subject), Epistemology (Field Of Study)

AUDIO INTERVIEWS  

STOA CONVERSATIONS with Caleb Ontiveros 

Fake News, Real Stoicism  CLICK TO LISTEN

COUNTERPOINT with Amanda Vanstone

"Diversity is intellectually valuable only when there is a truth to be discovered." CLICK TO LISTEN

LEADERSHIP
Snowy Mountains

leadership

COLLEGE SERVICE

&

Good leadership requires courage, clear-thinking, and fairness. This is especially true in the academy where there are multiple stakeholders, each with their own priorities, and a commitment to shared governance.  It turns out that Plato was right: training in philosophy is training for good leadership!  I bring the skills I have honed as a philosopher to bear on the problems facing the communities I lead. That includes the School of Arts & Sciences at Fort Lewis College and the Society of Christian Philosophers.

2024 - 2025

FULBRIGHT FELLOW

University of Genoa, Italy

2022 - present

MAJOR GIFTS OFFICER

Society of Christian Philosophers

2023 - 2024

PROVOST'S FELLOW

Fort Lewis College

2021 - 2022

WRITING FELLOW

Heterodox Academy

2020 - 2023

ASSOCIATE DEAN

Fort Lewis College

2017 - 2022

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Society of Christian Philosophers

2017 - 2020

CHAIR

Department of Philosophy & Political Science

Fort Lewis College

2016 - 2017

PROJECT LEADER

Explaining Religion Project

John Templeton Foundation

2014 - 2017

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Society of Christian Philosophers

2014 - 2016

BOARD MEMBER

Board of Trustees

Fort Lewis College

2016 - 2017

FULBRIGHT FELLOW

University of Innsbruck, Austria

2012 - 2016

SENATOR

Faculty Senate

Fort Lewis College

2012 - 2015

MEMBER

Vestry

Saint Mark's Episcopal Church

2009 - 2015

DIRECTOR

Religious Studies Program

Fort Lewis College

2012 - 2014

CO-CHAIR

Academic Standards Committee

Fort Lewis College

2009 - 2014

FACULTY-IN-RESIDENCE

Animas Hall
Fort Lewis College

2011

COMMITTEE MEMBER

Organizational Strategic Planning Committee
Fort Lewis College

2009 - 2011

HONORS COUNCIL

Fort Lewis College

CONTACT

CONTACT

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Reach out:
  • With ideas for collaboration

  • With questions and comments about my work

  • With speaking or workshop requests

© 2020 by Anna McBrayer

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