Published: November 17, 2010

Brian Johnson, associate professor of philosophy at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC), will take part in an exchange program with The Juilliard School for the first time next semester. Mitchell Aboulafia, professor of philosophy at Juilliard and director of their Liberal Arts program, will take Johnson’s position at Fordham teaching a course entitled “American Philosophy.” Johnson will in turn teach “Ancient Philosophy” at Juilliard.

Aboulafia, who has a bachelor’s degree from Stony Brook University and a doctorate from Boston College, said he is excited about the exchange program.

“I have taught in various types of institutions, from large research universities to Juilliard,” Aboulafia said. “Each has something different to offer.  It’s professionally healthy for professors to teach in a variety of settings and for students to be taught by instructors with different backgrounds.

“The exchange program should also allow Fordham and Juilliard to offer courses by experts that they may not have on their own faculties,” Aboulafia said.

Aboulafia has taught a wide array of philosophical methodologies in different schools throughout his career.

“At Juilliard, I have taught courses in the areas of ethics, metaphysics, social and political philosophy, American philosophy, cosmopolitanism, existentialism and 20th-century philosophy,” Aboulafia said. “I do a good deal of work in social and political philosophy that is closely connected to ethics.

“Some of my writings might be viewed as moral psychology,” he said. “I try to bring figures from the tradition of American pragmatism together with European thinkers.”

His course description for American Philosophy states, “We will explore pragmatism, often considered the most original contribution made by Americans to philosophy, discussing several of the most significant and influential figures in this tradition.”

The course will also “focus on the topics of freedom, self-determination and moral judgment” Aboulafia said.

Johnson, who has a doctorate from the University of Chicago and has taught at FCLC for three years, is currently on sabbatical this semester. “I’m studying the ethics of the Stoic philosopher, Epictetus, [who has been used] throughout history as a source for moral advice,” Johnson said. “Epictetus fell off the map throughout the 20th century, but he has been making a comeback and I hope my work will be a part of that resurgence.

Johnson will be teaching ancient philosophy, but said he will emphasize the “more fun, more literary texts like Plato’s dialogues or the wonderful poem by Lucretius called ‘On the Nature of Things.’”

William Jaworski, professor and head of the philosophy department at FCLC, said, “We have much anticipation for this pilot exchange program.”

“Both schools have resources on campus that are useful to all students,” Jaworski said. “We hope to use this as a springboard to form closer relationships between Fordham and neighboring campuses.”