UIS Home Page Search the UIS Website

UIS Philosophy ProgramPhotos of Students and Faculty

faculty research - dr. peter boltuc

Dr. Peter Boltuc
Associate Professor of Philosophy; Chair, Philosophy ProgramPeter Boltuc

Email:   boltuc.peter@uis.edu
Phone: (217) 206-7422
Office:  UHB 4026

Area of Specialization : Moral and Political Philosophy
Area of Expertise: e-Education
Areas of Competence: Philosophy of Mind, Social Capital Theory

Two Doctorates in Philosophy

  • Ph.D. in Moral and Political Philosophy, June 1998, Bowling Green State University
    Dissertation: Morality and Particularity. Advisor: R. G. Frey. Available at Bell & Howell Company, UMI Dissertation Services, Ann Arbor, MI 1998.

  • Doctor of Philosophy and Sociology, January 1991, Warsaw University, Poland
    Dissertation: The Problem of Subject and Object in English and American Philosophy After Peter Strawson. Advisor: Janusz Kuczynski.

Other Graduate Education

  • Visiting Graduate Student, January 2001-January 2002, Princeton University
    Advisor: Bas van Fraassen.

  • Master of PHilosophy, June 1986, Warsaw University, Poland
    Sub-discipline: Ancient Philosophy (Plato).
    Thesis: Paradox of Openness in Plato's Metaphysics.

Main Grants and Fellowships

Classes Taken:

Academic Positions

Professional Affiliations

Professional Boards:

  • Member, Committee on Philosophy and Computers of the American Philosophical Association, May 2004-present
  • Co-Editor, H-Net for Online Education in the Humanities, 2004-present
  • International Co-Editor, Dialogue and Universalism, 2001-present
  • Editorial Board Member, E-Mentor, Warsaw School of Economics, 2004-present
  • Editorial Board Member, Filosofia i Egzystencja, University of Szczecin, 2005-present
  • Board Member, Community Technology Centers, State Grant, Lincoln Land Community College, 2001-2004
  • President of the International Association of Young Philosophers, elected at the World Congress of Philosophy in Brighton, 1998 until the World Congress on Violence in Montreal, 1993.
  • Editor of Polrocznik Filozoficzny Mlodych, 1986-1988

Other Functions:

Honors and Fellowships

Fulbright Fellowship Batory Visiting Scholar, St. John's College Award of the Minister of Higher Education, UNESCO, Visiting Fellow, Paris:

Main Publications

  • “Non-Homogenous Moral Space” in: Ethics and Modernity” (A. Kozakiewicz ed.) Poznan University Press [2005]
  • “Ethics versus Partiality” in: Analiza and Egzystencja (Analysis and Existence) issue 2, Szczenin University [2005]
  • “Trends in Academic eLearning” in: Rozwój e-edukacji w ekonomicznym szkolnictwie wyzszym, FPAKE, (ed. M. Dabrowski i M. Zajac) [2005]
  • “Is There an Inherent Moral Value in the Second-Person Relationships?” in: Abbarno, John (ed.) Inherent and Instrumental Value, University Press of America [2005]
  • “Another Take on Game-Based Learning” (with N. Boltuc) E-Mentor, SGH, April 2004
  • “Education Without Distance” (pol.) E-Mentor, SGH, October 2003, pp. 8-14; available in print and online
  • “Moral Neighborhoods” Dialogue and Universalism 5/2001 pp. 117-133.
  • "Why Russia is Needed for Regional Stability; an Application of Institutional Economics for Security Issues." in: Roger E. Kanet (ed.)
  • "Post-Communist States in the World Community," Macmillan 1998 pp.62-83
  • “Reductionism and Qualia” in: Epistemologia. 4/1998 pp.111-130
  • “Why Emeralds are Not Grue A Case for Pragmatic Simplicity” in: Eidos  6/1998 pp.7-36
  • “Qualia, Robots and Complementarity of Subject and Object” World Congress of Philosophy, Boston 1988
  • “Emergent Properties of Choice” World Congress of Philosophy, Boston 1998
  • "Does Equality Have an Independent Moral Value?", Dialogue and Universalism, 10/1995 pp. 123-155
  • "Understanding Action" with Edward McClennen (book review of Schick, Frederick: "Understanding Action") Economics and Philosophy vol. 11/2/1995
  • Translation of: Jaki, Stanley: God and the Cosmologists (published in Wroclaw, Poland) 1995
  • "Person as a Locus of Permanence: Towards Albert Shalom’s Metaphysics", Dialectics and Humanism,  2/1990  pp. 213-234
  • "Problems of theory of Knowledge Seen by Social Philosophy" ("Problemy teorii wiedzy w perspektywie filozofii i socjologii spolecznej") Ruch Filozoficzny 1/1989
  • "In the Beginning was a Contradiction: Selected Problems of Philosophy of Subject and Object
    "Dialectics and  Humanism,  3-4/1988 pp. 177-185
  • "Le Sujet et la Religion" (The Self and Religion) The International Congress of French Language Philosophy,
     Hammamet, Tunisia, 1991 (proceedings) /indexed by the Philosophers Index/“For the New Ethos of Being” The Young Philosopher’s International Review 1988
  • "Reification of the Subject in the Modern Philosophy." (Uprzedmiotowienie podmiotu w filozofii nowozytnej)  Humanistyka, 1/1988
  • “Three Worlds of Christian-Marxist Encounter” (rev.) Dialectics and Humanism,  1/1987
  • "Contribuire alla sviluppo della personalita." Interview by Mario Castellano, Uomini e libri, Milano, Italy, 10-11/1987
  • “Some Axiological Consequences of the Carthesian Ontology.” (O pewnych aksjologicznych konsekwencjach ontologii Kartezjusza) Humanistyka 1987
  • "Introduction to the Complementary Philosophy." (Wprowadzenie do filozofii komplementarnej), Colloquia Communia,  4/1987
  • "In Quest of Openness."  (W poszukiwaniu otwartosci), Colloquia Communia, 3-6/1985 pp. 303-306
  • "Mysticism and Praxis."   (Mistyka i praxis) Colloquia Communia, 1/1985 p.199-211
  • “Ideas of the Complementary Philosophy” (Idee filozoff komplementarnej) Przypis 1/1984
  • "‘Parmenides’, Introduction to Plato’s Dialectics." ('Parmenides' jako wprowadzenie do dialektyki Platona),  Studia Filozoficzne,  10/1984

Papers Presented (A Selection)

  • “Cztery Filary Amerykanskiej Filozofii Polityki” (UW), Warsaw, December 2004
  • “Strategia Nauczania Online,”  Unwersytet Szczecinski, December 2004
  • "Ontology of the subject” Unwersytet Szczecinski, December 2004
  • “Wspolczesne Modele E-learningu Akademickiego. Szkic Strategii Eksportowej,” (SGH/AGH), Katowice, November 2004
  • “Etyka a Stronniczosc” (UAM), Poznan, November 2004
  • “Thin Social Capital” CIPG, Jacksonville, IL, April 2004
  • “Public Service and Social Philosophy” Intern. Society on Value Inquiry, Washington DC, December 2003
  • “Bentham on Propinquity ”Conference on Value Inquiry, Grand Forks ND, April 2003
  • “Equality Without Egalitarianism in Healthcare” Values in Healthcare: Past, Present and Future, Milwaukee WI, April 2003
  • “Universal Dialogue” International Society for Value Inquiry, APA Chicago, December 2001
  • “Emergence of an E-civilization -- Utopia or Unavoidable Reality?" Keynote Address, International Summer School of Political Science, Pultusk College of the Humanities, June 2001
  • “Moral Neighborhoods” Central Illinois Philosophy Discussion Group, Jacksonville IL, February 2001
  • “Three Philosophies of a Unified Europe” 6th Annual Spring Conference of The Foreign Language and International Studies Consortium Global Community: Dis/Integration. Springfield College, Springfield, April 2001
  • “Liberalism and Communitarianism” Center for Dialogue, Warsaw University, Department of Philosophy, January 2001
  • “Three Models of European Integration”, International Summer School of Political Science, Pultusk College of the Humanities, June 2000
  • “Violence Beyond Brutality” The Society for Social and Political Philosophy, 22nd Annual Meeting, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield MO, May 2000
  • “Morality and Partiality” 27-th. Congress of Value Inquiry, Central Missouri State University, Warresburg MI, 1999
  • “Will the U.S. Remain the Only Super-power in the 21st Century?” College of Public Communication and Journalism, Warsaw, Poland, November 1999
  •  “Morality – the Concetric Circles” University of Illinois, Springfield, 1999
  • "Emergent Properties of Choice" - 20th World Congress of Philosophy - Philosophy of Economics, Boston University, 1998
  • "Qualia, Robots and Complementarity of Subject and Object" - 20th World Congress of Philosophy - Philosophy of Mind, Boston University, 1998
  • “Propinquity and the Shape of Moral Space” International Society for Value Inquiry (plenary session), with the World Congress of Philosophy, 1998
  • “Moral Space and Moral Luck” International Society for Value Inquiry, with the World Congress of Philosophy, 1998
  • “Jonathan Dancy’s Moral Particularism” (commentator on keynote paper) III World Congress of Universalism,
     Babson College, Velsley, MA, 1998
  • “Some Environmental Concerns for Global Policy” III World Congress of Universalism, Babson College, Velsley, MA, 1998
  • “How to Solve Heinz’s Dilemma” The Voices of Care and Justice, the 1997 Conference of the Association for Moral Education, Emory University, Atlanta GA Nov. 21 [not delivered], 1997
  • “Moral Luck” Minnesota Philosophical Society, Carlton College, 1997
  • “Is Whistleblowing Ever Justifiable?” The Conference on Values in Business, Appalachian University, Boone NC, 1997
  • "A Defense of Prima Facie Moral Reasons" St. Olaf's College, Northfield MN, 1996
  • "The Second Person Perspective as a Source of Value", The Conference on Value Inquiry, D'Youville NY, 1996
  • "Is It Sometimes Required Morally to Be Partial", (table session) American Philosophical Association (APA), Pacific Division, Seattle, 1996
  • "A Short Defence of Prima Facie Moral Reasons", Bowling Green State University, Philosophy Graduate Club, 1995
  • Is Russia Needed for Regional Stability?", The World Congress of Central and East European Studies, Warsaw, 1995
  • "Equality without Egalitarianism", Bowling Green State University,  Philosophy Graduate Club, 1993
  • "Non-Brutal Forms of Violence."  Congres Mondiale sur la Violence, Montreal, 1992
  • "What Is the Future of Philosophy?" Babson College, Boston, 1991
  • "Society and Philosophy in Eastern Europe", APA, Chicago, 1991
  • "The Relationship Between Subjective and Objective Perspectives in Modern Epistemology," Princeton University, Philosophy Graduate Club, 1991
  • "Le Sujet et la Religion," Congress Internationale de la Philosophie de Langue Francaise, Hammamet, 1990
  • "Person as a  Physical and Social Being,"  Summer School, Srodborow, 1990
  • "New Trends in the Philosophy of Mind," Lwow University, Lwow, 1990
  • "A Secret of Young Socrates"  World Congress of Philosophy,  Brighton, 1988
  • Chair (opening presentation), Round Table "For a New Ethos", XIV World Congress of Philosophy, Brighton, UK (published in For a New Ethos 1988), 1988

E-Classes Developed

  • Ethics and Moral Philosophy, University of Illinois Online, 2004-2005
  • Ethics Toolbox, University of Illinois Online, 2003
  • Contemporary American Political Philosophy, University of Illinois Online, 2000
  • Person, Identity and Dignity, University of Illinois Online, 1999

Book Translation

  • Translation of: Jaki, Stanley: God and the Cosmologists (published in Wroclaw, Poland), 1995

Poetry Book

  • Nieprawda, ze fiolet (in Polish), Czytelnik, Warsaw (poems), 1986

Sample Teaching Topics:

  • Special Moral Obligations, UIS, 2004
  • Social Capital, UIS, 2002-2004
  • Business Ethics, UIS, 2001
  • Person, Identity and Dignity, UIS, 2000-2003
  • Contemporary American Political Philosophy, UIS, 2001-2003
  • Perspectives on Human Nature, UIS, 2000
  • Moral Dilemmas in Health Care, UIS, 1999
  • Human Nature and Personal Identity, UIS/Illinois Online, 1999
  • Seminar in Medical Ethics, UIS and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, 1999
  • Modern British Philosophy, UIS, 1999
  • Senior Liberal Studies Seminar, UIS, 1999
  • Polish Language and Culture, UIS, 1999
  • Critical Thinking, UIS, 1998-2001
  • Self-Directed Learning, UIS, 1998-2000
  • Biomedical Ethics, UIS, St. Olaf, 1998-1999
  • Aesthetics, St. Olaf, 1998
  • Senior Seminar for Majors in Philosophy, St. Olaf, 1998
  • Environmental Ethics, St. Olaf, 1998
  • Applied Ethics [255], St. Olaf, 1998
  • Ethics and a Good Life [252], St. Olaf, 1996-1998
  • The Making of the Modern Mind [118], St.Olaf, 1996-1998
  • Business Ethics [320], Bowling Green, 1996
  • Introduction to Philosophy of Mind  [216], Bowling Green, 1995
  • Introduction to Ethics [102], Bowling Green, 1995

Non-Teaching Positions

  • Director, COPC Grant, Community Outreach Partnership Center, University of Illinois at Springfield 2003 - 2004
  • Associate Director, COPC Grant, Institute of Public Affairs, Department of Political Science, University of Illinois at Springfield 2001 - 2003
  • Research Fellow, Department of History, research project on social change, Bowling Green State University 1993/1994
  • Research Fellow, Department  of Philosophy, research project on social capital Bowling Green State University 1993, 1995
  • Assistant to Richard Lineback, Director of The Philosophy Documentation Center Bowling Green State University 1991
  • Senior Assistant, Program PHILOSOPHY OF UNIVERSALISM (and The World Society of Universalism), Institute of Philosophy, Warsaw University, Warsaw 1989/1991
  • Research Assistant, Institute of Philosophy, Warsaw University, Division of the History of Contemporary Philosophy, Warsaw 1986/1989

Professional Reviewer

  • Internal Reviewer, Houghton Mifflin, College Division, 2001
  • Internal Reviewer of Federal New Directions Grants, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Washington D.C. June 2000

Professional Societies

  • Member, Philosophy and Computers, Community of the American Philosophical Association 2005-2007
  • Co-President, International Association of Young Philosophers  1988-93
  • American Philosophical Association
    Polish Philosophical Society

Service Activities

Service to the Profession:

  • Member, American Philosophical Association, 1995-present.
  • President of the International Association of Young Philosophers, elected at the World Congress of Philosophy in Brighton 1988 - till the World Congress on Violence, Montreal 1993
  • President of the Polish Society of Young Philosophers 1985-9.
  • Editor of Polrocznik Filozoficzny Mlodych 1986-1988

Service to the Community:

  • Board Member, Community Technology Centers, State Grant, LLCC, 2004
  • Member, Committee on Ethics and Human Values at the Memorial Medical Center, Springfield Illinois 1999-2002
  • Campus Senate Member, University of Illinois at Springfield, 2000-2002
  • HUD Best Practice "Local" Award, Community Partnership Program (award as a part of a team) University of Illinois Springfield 2000
  • Adviser to the Chief Advisor of Lech Walesa during his first presidential campaign (1990), responsible for the portfolio of culture and the arts

Linguistic Competence

Lectures given in:

  • English
  • Polish
  • Russian
  • French