Research

​

 

My current book-length research projects focus on Ancient Greek Philosophy, and Moral and Political Philosophy. Here's a brief summary of my work.

 

 

The Golden Mean in Ancient Greek Thought

​

In this book, I explore how the principle of balance and moderation shaped the cultural, intellectual, and civic life of Greece. Beginning with a section on Greek history, I situate the golden mean within the rise of the polis and the shaping of values that prized harmony between extremes. A section on art and architecture shows how Greek art and architecture embodied ideals of symmetry and order that reflected deeper philosophical questions about beauty, truth, and the human place in the cosmos. A section on drama examines how playwrights like Sophocles and Euripides dramatized the dangers of excess and the need for balance in human action and fate. A section on athletics shows how the Greeks cultivated physical excellence and discipline as a bodily expression of harmony, integrating athletic training with ideals of proportion and balance. A section on politics shows how the golden mean influenced constitutional thought, with thinkers like Aristotle seeking balance between oligarchy and democracy to achieve civic stability. Finally, a section on philosophy traces the golden mean from Pythagorean notions of proportion to Aristotle’s ethical framework, where virtue is understood as the mean between extremes of vice. Together, these chapters illustrate how the golden mean served as a unifying thread across Greek life, embodying an enduring vision of measured excellence.

 

 

Justice and Society

​​

In this book, I trace and critique leading philosophical contributions to the question “What is Justice?” from the ancient Greeks to modern times. Some of the topics explored include Plato’s and Aristotle’s theories of justice, direct vs. representative democracy, freedom of speech, tolerance and its limits, capitalism vs. socialism, utilitarian vs. rights-based ethics, income distribution, corporate social responsibility, our responsibilities toward the environment, human flourishing, and moral motivation, among others.​

 

 

​​​Critical Thinking and the Socratic Method

​​

In this book, I trace how Socrates’ relentless questioning laid the foundation for systematic reasoning, intellectual humility, and the pursuit of truth. I highlight how the Socratic method cultivates critical thinking by exposing assumptions, clarifying concepts, and testing arguments against counterexamples. Chapters integrate conemporary lessons on critical thinking with thematic explorations of his technique: the art of questioning, the recognition of ignorance as the beginning of wisdom, and the dialogical search for definitions. I also examine how Socratic questioning informs pedagogy, democratic deliberation, and ethical decision-making, showing its continued relevance in a world saturated with information and competing claims to truth. Ultimately, the project demonstrates that the Socratic method is not just an ancient practice but a living model for cultivating thoughtful, reflective, and engaged citizens.

​

​