This document provides a summary of Peter A. Pagán Aguiar's education and professional experience. It outlines his areas of specialization as ethics, natural law theory, philosophical theology, and philosophical anthropology. It details his educational background, including a PhD in Philosophy from Fordham University. It lists his professional roles, including positions as an assistant and associate professor at several universities where he taught courses in philosophy, ethics, and related subjects. It also provides information on committees, organizations, awards, publications, and presentations.

1. Peter A. Pagán Aguiar, Ph.D.
Home: ppagan@catholicweb.com Phone: 615-679-1155
Work: peter.pagan@volstate.edu Nashville, TN
Areas of Specialization
Ethics/Natural Law Theory, Philosophical Theology, Philosophical Anthropology
Areas of Competence
Logic, Epistemology, Metaphysics, Applied Ethics, Philosophy of Nature
Languages: English (primary), Spanish (secondary), French (reading), Latin (reading)
EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT
1993-1996 Fordham University Bronx, NY
Doctor of Philosophy, Philosophy (conferred Feb. 1998)
Dissertation: A Thomistic Defense of Perfect Natural Beatitude
1989-1993 Fordham University Bronx, NY
Master of Arts, Philosophy
1986-1989 University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, CA
Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2015-Present Assistant Professor of Philosophy
Volunteer State Community College
Gallatin, TN
Courses Taught:
Ethics; Introduction to Philosophy
2003-2014 Associate Professor of Philosophy
Aquinas College
Nashville, TN
Courses Taught:
Reasoning and Argumentation; Introduction to Philosophy; Ethics; History of
Philosophy I & II; Philosophy of Nature & Philosophy of Man; Business Ethics;
Health Care Ethics: Biotechnological Issues; Health Care Ethics: End-of-Life
Issues; Metaphysics; Philosophy of Knowledge; Philosophy of Law; Metaphysics;
Philosophical Theology; Philosophy of Love & Friendship
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2. 1996-2003 Assistant Professor of Philosophy (tenured, 2003)
Wheeling Jesuit University
Wheeling, West Virginia
Courses Taught:
Logic and Language; Logic and Knowledge; Philosophy of Human Nature;
Ethics; Philosophy of Law; Faith and Philosophy; Metaphysics; Reason and Faith;
Philosophy of Religion; Faith and Science; Ancient Political Thought; Medieval
Political Thought; Political and Economic Philosophy Seminar
COMMITTEE / INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Aquinas College
Residential Life, Sub-committee on Liturgy (2011)
Curriculum Committee (2009-Present)
Library Committee (2006-2011)
Curriculum Committee Sub-committee on Grades (2009-2010)
Faculty Development Committee (2003-2005)
Grade-Inflation Task Force (2005) (Chair)
Faculty Review Committee (2003-2004)
Student Review Committee (2003-2005)
Faculty Advisor (2004-2014)
Wheeling Jesuit University
Moderator, WJU Philosophy Series (2002-2003)
Catholic Studies Committee (2001-2003)
Faculty Moderator, Phi Sigma Tau - WV Alpha (2001-2003)
Academic Policy Committee (2000-2003; Chair, 2001-02)
Faculty Advisor (1997-2003)
Health Pre-Professional Advisory Committee (1998-2000)
Arrupe Scholar Faculty Supervisor (1997-99)
Faculty Secretary (1997-98)
Faculty Morale Committee (1996-97)
Professional Organization: American Maritain Association
Executive Committee (2004-2006; by general election)
Program Committee (2002-2006; by invitation)
Local Chair, American Maritain Association 2006 Conference, Nashville, TN
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3. Program Chair, 30th International Meeting of the American Maritain Association,
Aquinas College, Nashville, TN. October 2006.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Aleteia Board of Experts http://www.aleteia.org/en. Member by Invitation. April,
2013 - Present.
Council Member, Center for the Study of Human Dignity and Ethics in Health
Care. Member by Invitation. Dec. 2012 - June 2014.
American Gilson Society
American Maritain Association
Dominican Lay Scholars Community
AWARDS / GRANTS / HONORS
2003 Scholar-in-Residence Award, Wheeling Jesuit University
2001 Appalachian College Association Travel Grant
1998 Wheeling Jesuit University Summer Research Grant
1997 Member by Invitation, Phi Sigma Tau National Honor Society
1995 Collegium Fellowship, 1995 Summer Institute on Faith and Intellectual
Life
1994-1995 IMPACT Fellow, Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities
1994 Mortimer J. Adler Graduate Fellowship
1994 Collegium Fellowship, 1994 Summer Institute on Faith and Intellectual
Life
1992 Member by Invitation, Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society
1991-1994 IMPACT Fellow, AJCU
1991 Ford Foundation Minority Fellowship (runner-up)
1989-1991 Presidential Scholarship, Fordham University
1989 Member by Invitation, Golden Key National Honor Society
1986-1988 Academic Scholarship, University of California, Berkeley
PUBLICATIONS
“The Nature of Lying and the Catechism: A Disputed Question.” Forthcoming volume.
Co-edited by Dr. Christopher J. Thompson and Dr. Steven Long.
“The End of Democracy: Authority or Freedom from Truth?” Human Nature,
Contemplation, and the Political Order: Essays Inspired by Jacques Maritain's
Scholasticism and Politics. Ed. Peter Karl Koritansky. American Maritain Association.
Distributed by The Catholic University of America Press. March 2014.
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4. “Faith, Determinism, and Scientific Method.” Distinctions of Being: Philosophical
Approaches to Reality. Ed. Nikolaj Zunic. American Maritain Association. Distributed by
The Catholic University of America Press. June 2013.
“Concerning Faith and Evolutionary Science,” in William R. Marty and Bruce W. Speck,
eds., Faith and Reason in the Academy and The Lost Tools of Learning: Classical
Education in the Post-Modern Academy: Proceedings of the 2005 and 2006 Christianity
in the Academy Conferences (Southern Pines, North Carolina: Carolinas Press, 2011).
June 2011.
The Human Person and a Culture of Freedom. Ed. Peter A. Pagan and Sister Terese
Auer, O.P. American Maritain Association. Distributed by The Catholic University of
America Press. May 2009.
Review of God and Evolution: Fundamental Questions of Christian Evolutionism. The
National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, Vol. 8, No. 2: 403-06. Spring 2008.
“Darwinism’s Deeper Implications: Reflections on the Faith-Reason Synthesis.” The
National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, Vol. 7, No. 4: 683-91. Winter 2007.
“Neo-Darwinism and Catholic Teaching. An Exchange.” The National Catholic
Bioethics Quarterly, Vol. 6, No. 4: 618-25. Winter 2006.
“Darwinian Ideology or Universal Teleology? Science, Causation, and Providence.” The
National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, Vol. 6, No. 2: 295-318. Summer 2006.
“Darwin and Design: Exploring A Debate.” Truth Matters: Essays in Honor of Jacques
Maritain. Ed. John Trapani. American Maritain Association. Distributed by The Catholic
University of America Press. March 2004.
“St. Thomas Aquinas and Human Finality: Paradox or Mysterium Fidei?” The Thomist 64
(2000): 375-99.
“The Angelic Doctor,” Crisis, Vol. 13, No. 6: 44-45. Review of Thomas Aquinas--The
Gifts of the Spirit, tran. B. Ashley and M. Rzeczkowski. June 1995.
OP-EDS / OTHER
Reviewed and commented on chapter published in How Much is Enough?: Money and
the Good Life, by Robert Skidelsky and Edward Skidelsky. Contribution acknowledged
in Preface, p. x. June 2012.
“Adam and Eve: Catholic Doctrine Taken Seriously.” The Tennessee Register. September
2011.
“The Common Good and the Dignity of Labor.” The Tennessee Register. July 2011.
“Life-renewing Truth of Jesus Offers Authentic Liberation.” The Tennessee Register.
May 2011.
“Misunderstanding of Conscience Adds Fuel to Moral Fire.” The Tennessee Register.
February 2009.
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5. “Examining a Nation’s Collective Conscience.” The Tennessee Register. January 2009.
“Man’s Yearning for God is a Natural Desire.” The Tennessee Register. October 2008.
“Letters: Quantifying Quantum.” First Things. June 2007.
Co-authored report on February 2006 lecture on faith and evolutionary science. Aquinas
Magazine, 25-26. Spring 2007.
“Cardinal Schonborn’s column highlights crucial debate on evolution.” The Tennessee
Register. December 2005.
“Does Reason Need God?” The National Catholic Register. November 2005.
PUBLIC LECTURES / PRESENTATIONS
Diversity Week Panel Discussion on Religion. Volunteer State Community College,
Gallatin, TN. October 2015.
“Man, Freedom, the Good, and Catholic Social Teaching.” Aquinas College, Nashville,
TN. April 2014.
“Freedom From or For Happiness?” Intervarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship, GCF
chapter. http://www.gcfvanderbilt.org/. April 2013.
“On Friendship.” Aquinas College, Nashville, TN. December 2012.
“Concerning Pope Benedict XVI’s Regensburg Lecture.” Dominican Third Order
Monthly Meeting, Nashville, TN. November 2012.
“A Universe of Reason, Faith, and the Question of God.” St. Thomas Aquinas Forum,
Nashville, TN. February 2012.
“The Nature of Lying and the Catechism: A Disputed Question.” Invited paper delivered
at “Nature as Norm” conference held at The St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity,
University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN. June, 2011.
“On Virtue and Truthfulness.” Third Order Dominican Monthly Meeting, Nashville, TN.
February, 2011.
“The End of Democracy: Authority or Freedom from Truth?” 34th International Meeting
of the American Maritain Association, Walsh University, Canton, OH. October 2010.
“Is Homicide Ever Morally Justifiable?” Aquinas College, Nashville, TN. October 2010.
“Goodness, Privation, and the Limits of Theodicy.” 33rd International Meeting of the
American Maritain Association, University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX. October 2009.
“Newman’s The Idea of a University: Is Theology Academically Indispensable?” 15th
Annual National Conference of Association of Core Texts and Courses. Memphis, TN.
March 2009.
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6. “Catholic Teaching on Human Sexuality and the Family.” Church of the Assumption,
Nashville, TN. January, 2009.
“Why Politics Needs Religion: An Appreciation and Critical Appraisal.” Invited paper.
32nd International Meeting of the American Maritain Association, Boston College,
Boston, MA. October 2008.
Position paper on Newman’s The Idea of a University, First Discourse. Newman Study
Group, Aquinas College, Nashville, TN. September 2008.
“Politics, the University, and Public Theology.” Aquinas College, Nashville, TN. March,
2008.
“Why Politics Needs Religion.” Church of the Assumption, Nashville, TN. February,
2008.
“Faith, Physical Determinism, and Scientific Method.” 31st International Meeting of the
American Maritain Association, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN. October
2007.
“Darwinism’s Theological Implications and the Integration of Faith and Reason.” 13th
Annual National Conference of Association of Core Texts and Courses, Hampden-
Sydney College, Williamsburg, VA. March 2007.
“Three Conceptions of Man: The Point of Human Existence.” Aquinas College,
Nashville, TN. November 2006.
“Darwin, Design, and Cardinal Schonborn’s Admonition.” Plenary session. 30th
International Meeting of the American Maritain Association, Aquinas College, Nashville,
TN. October 2006.
“Concerning Faith and Evolutionary Science.” Christianity in the Academy Conference,
University of Memphis, Memphis, TN. March 2006.
“Faith and Evolutionary Science: Conflict or Concord?” Aquinas Lecture Series, Aquinas
College, Nashville, TN. February 2006.
“Grade inflation.” Adult Studies Program, Aquinas College, Nashville, TN. September
2005.
“Nature & Grace: Intrinsicism vs. Extrinsicism.” 27th International Meeting of the
American Maritain Association, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. October 2003.
“God and Science: Conflict or Concord?” 25th International Meeting of the American
Maritain Association, Boca Raton, FL. October 2001.
“Embryonic Stem-Cell Research: Ethical Considerations.” 2001-2002 Philosophy Series,
Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling, WV. September 2001.
“St. Thomas Aquinas: Philosophic and Theological Modes of Inquiry.” 24th International
Meeting of the American Maritain Association, University of Notre Dame, South Bend,
IN. October 2000.
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7. Invited panelist. Mortimer J. Adler Forum: “Can Catholics be Nominalists?” 24th
International Meeting of the American Maritain Association, University of Notre Dame,
South Bend, IN. October 2000.
“Aquinas and Human Finality.” 23rd International Meeting of the American Maritain
Association, Berkeley, CA. October 1999.
“Initial On-line Course: Lessons Learned.” Regional West Virginia T3 Conference: “The
Edge: Educational Technology for the Next Millennium.” Wheeling Jesuit University,
Wheeling, WV. May 1999.
“Perfect Natural Happiness: An Oxymoron?” 1998 Regional Meeting of the West
Virginia Philosophical Society, Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling, WV. October
1998.
“Thomas Aquinas and the desiderium naturale ad veritatem: Interpretations and
Philosophical Implications.” Graduate Student Philosophy Series, inaugural paper.
Fordham University, Bronx, NY. October 1994.
PANELS / OTHER
Concluding Session Chair. St. Thomas Aquinas Forum. St. Cecilia Academy, Nashville,
TN. February 2013.
Organizer and chair of book session, Steven Long’s Analogia Entis. 36th Annual
International Meeting of the American Maritain Association, La Salle University,
Philadelphia, PA. October 2012.
Chair of session on “Drama, Poetry and History.” 36th Annual International Meeting of
the American Maritain Association, La Salle University, Philadelphia, PA. October 2012.
Organizer and chair, Fr. Nicanor Austriaco, O.P., “What Human Genomics Can Tell Us
about Adam and Eve: a Catholic Perspective.” Spring Lecture Series, Aquinas College,
Nashville, TN. March 2012.
Organizer and chair of book session, Natura Pura: On the Recovery of Nature in the
Doctrine of Grace. 35th International Meeting of the American Maritain Association, St.
Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN. October 2011.
Organizer and moderator of faculty panel, “Secular Science and Sacred Scripture.”
Aquinas College, Nashville, TN. September, 2011.
Fides et Ratio Seminar Participant. Wyoming Catholic College, Lander, WY. July 2010.
Organizer and chair of panel on “Economics, Moral Evil, and Theological Anthropology:
Distributivism, Capitalism, and Caritas in Veritate.” 33rd International Meeting of the
American Maritain Association, University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX. October 2009.
Chair of panel on “Evolution and Human Dignity: Differences in Kind vs. Differences in
Degree, and the Problem of Evil” 33rd International Meeting of the American Maritain
Association, University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX. October 2009.
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8. Organizer and chair of panel on “The Natural Desire for God.” 32nd International
Meeting of the American Maritain Association, Boston College, Boston, MA. October
2008.
Organizer of Lawrence Feingold plenary session. 32nd International Meeting of the
American Maritain Association, Boston College, Boston, MA. October 2008.
Organizer and chair of panel on Prof. David Schindler’s book, Heart of the World,
Center of the Church. 29th International Meeting of the American Maritain Association,
The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. October 2005.
Organizer of plenary session on Kenneth Craycraft’s The American Myth of Religious
Freedom. 27th International Meeting of the American Maritain Association, University
of Chicago, Chicago, IL. October 2003.
Chaired two sessions at the 26th International Meeting of the American Maritain
Association, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ. October 2002.
Chaired two sessions at the 25th International Meeting of the American Maritain
Association, Boca Raton, FL. October 2001.
Chaired session at 24th International Meeting of the American Maritain Association,
University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN. October 2000.
Participant, national professional workshop on philosophical pedagogy. Topic: Peter
Redpath’s How to Read a Difficult Book, Rockhurst University, Kansas City, MO. May
1999.
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