Robert O'Connor, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Philosophy | Wheaton College

Wheaton, IL, UNITED STATES

Dr. O'Connor's research interests lie at the intersection of the sciences and religious belief.

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Biography

My personal moments are largely, and happily, consumed by the various activities of my four children, from soccer, gymnastics and track, to band, orchestra and jazz ensemble. I remain very active with my church; I love to pique adult interests in deep issues of the faith, especially those requiring a modicum of philosophical analysis. As for personal time, I occasionally get a chance to play a round of golf with my father-in-law, and recently fulfilled a life-long dream by purchasing an old, beat-up, 16' Hobie Cat. That would be me, flying the hull of my Hobie off the shore of Lake Michigan.

Education (3)

University of Notre Dame: Ph.D., Philosophy 1989

Dissertation: Abductive Inference to Theological Realism; Director: Philip Quinn

Western Kentucky University: M.A., Humanities 1983

Thesis: "The Relation of Theory to Evidence in the Epistemology of W. V. Quine"

Wheaton College: B.A., Philosophy/Biblical Studies 1979

Areas of Expertise and Research Interests (6)

Philosophy of Science

Contemporary American Philosophy

Philosophy of Religion

Philosophy of Mind

Metaphysics

Philosophy of Language

Professional Affiliations (3)

American Philosophical Association
Philosophy of Science Association
Society of Christian Philosophers

Media Appearances (2)

Among Theistic Evolutionists, Still No Consensus on What's Wrong with Stephen Meyer's Argument

Evolution News and Views online

2014-11-05

Bishop's latest review is noteworthy for its concession that Meyer does not in fact make a "God of the gaps" argument. He also acknowledges that Meyer's is not an "argument from ignorance." Along with Wheaton College philosopher Robert O'Connor, Bishop writes that "Meyer deftly dispatches...the misconception that [intelligent design] engages in crude god-of-the-gaps reasoning or presents a simplistic argument from ignorance."

Intelligent Design and Theistic Evolution Go Toe-to-Toe at Wheaton College

Evolution News and Views online

2002-04-02

No bloody noses, no cut lips -- just a frank exchange of views, over two days last week, to a packed house in the Coray Auditorium: most sessions had 500+ people, many from outside Illinois, in the audience. Sponsored by the Wheaton College Biology and Science Departments (as well as other Wheaton programs), the conference featured -- on the ID side -- Mike Behe, Fuz Rana, Jack Collins, Paul Nelson, and Rick Sternberg, and on the BioLogos side, Kathryn Applegate, Darrel Falk, and Jeff Schloss. Alvin Plantinga led off with a session on "science and theology as ways of knowing," with commentary from Wheaton faculty Bob O'Connor and Robert Bishop (both from the Philosophy Department) and Pattle Pun (Biology).

Presentations and Event Appearances (7)

Adam: First Person Singular. Creating the "I"

Humanities Brown Bag Seminar Wheaton College

2013-12-06

C.S. Peirce on the Origins of Self-Consciousness, or Why Darwin Doesn't Matter

Evangelical Philosophical Society, Eastern Regional Meeting Nyack College, NY

2013-03-02

Design's Debt to Value

Symposium on Science & Religion Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI

2012-04-04

One Long Stroll

Religion Department Lecture Series: "Searching the Sacred" Hope College, Holland, MI

Life is Beautiful

Philosophy Major Chapel Address Wheaton College

2003-10-01

Intelligent Design

Presentation, Wheaton College Board of Visitors Wheaton College

2002-03-01

The Philosophy of Science and the Integration of Faith with Learning

Presentations, Faculty Faith and Learning Seminar Wheaton College

2002-01-01

Academics and Published Research (2)

Courses Taught

- Philosophy of Science - Science and Christian Belief - Postmodernism - Pragmatism - Contemporary Metaphysics - Philosophy of Language - Contemporary Analytic Philosophy - Contemporary American Philosophy - Pragmatism - Nature of Persons - Introduction to the Cognitive and Neurosciences (team taught) - Introduction to Logic - Symbolic Logic - Ethics, Law, and Society/Contemporary Moral Problems - Issues and Worldviews in Philosophy - Freshman Experience - Independent Studies/Honors Theses (numerous)

Research

My research interests lie at the intersection of the sciences with religious belief. In particular, I'm struck by the extent to which insights into the methods of scientific research shed light on the epistemic status of our religious beliefs. In particular, I find that the types of arguments on offer for scientific realism provide a very useful template for a form of theological realism. This project requires comparing the relevant criteria of assessment in each domain, as well as the availability of evidence for each. The discussion of the relation between science and religion has also lead me to consider the specific claims of the "intelligent design" argument. I have been a long-time "friendly critic" of intelligent design and look to contribute further clarity to that discussion.

Select Articles, Chapters, Reviews, and Other Publications (4)

What Are the Philosophical Implications of Christianity for the Natural Sciences?

Not Just Science: Questions Where Christian Faith and Natural Science Intersect

E. David Cook and Robert C. O'Connor

(Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005): 48-60.

The Design Inference: Old Wine in New Wineskins

God and Design

Neil Manson (ed.)

(London and New York: Routledge, 2003): 66-87.

Criteria of Success in Science and Theology

Science and Christian Belief

Robert C. O'Connor

10.1 (April, 1998): 21-40.

Science on Trial: Exploring the Rationality of Methodological Naturalism

Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, The Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation