Dwight Allman
Associate Professor of Political Science
Education:
Ph.D., University of Chicago
M.A., University of Chicago
B.A., Brigham Young University
Dwight D. Allman studies the history of political philosophy, with research interests in the ancient-medieval, modern, and contemporary traditions of western political thought. His current work concentrates, in particular, on questions of citizenship theory - such as public culture, moral/civic formation, and the cultivation of citizens and statesman - as these have emerged and been addressed by thinkers across the broad history of political philosophy, from Plato and Aristotle to John Locke and John Rawls. He also has a particular investment in modern German social and political thought, especially the works of Kant, Hegel, and Nietzsche. His current book project, Plato's Noble Citizen: Socrates As Gentleman, argues for a civic reading of the trilogy (Euthyphro, Apology, and Crito) concerned with Socrates' trial by focusing on Plato's careful reconstruction in these dialogues of the originally aesthetic ideal of the "noble and good" man [kalos k'agathos]. His most recent article "John Rawls' Historical Turn & the Problem of Liberal Citizenship" explores the historicist presuppositions of the late Rawls' reformulated theory of justice - political liberalism. He has also recently proposed a book, The Fate of the Hero in American Film: From Frank Capra to Christopher Nolan, to the editors of the Lexington Books series on film and politics, which he expects to use in the course he recently developed for the Baylor mini-mester on "The Good Citizen in American Film and Popular Culture."
In 2006, Professor Allman presented the keynote address at the annual Colloquium in Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Trinity University, San Antonio. In 2007, he was a participant in the Oxford Round Table on "The Future of Education: Religious versus Secular" held at Pembroke College, Oxford. His teaching awards include the Mortar Board Circle of Achievement for Excellence in Teaching, which he has been awarded four times. He is a co-founder of and active participant in the Lone Star Chapter of the Conference for the Study of Political Theory and a member of the Association of Political Theory.
Courses at Baylor:
PSC 3353 American Political Thought
An examination of American political and constitutional theory, from its philosophical genesis in the works of major early modern thinkers to the contributions of twentieth-century political and legal theorists. The original writings will be stressed.
PSC 3363 Western Political Thought - Classical and Medieval
The tradition of western political thought from its origins in Greek antiquity through the Christian middle ages, stressing the original writings of great political philosophers.
PSC 3373 Western Political Thought - Modern
Modern political thought from the fifteenth through the nineteenth centuries, stressing the original writings of great political philosophers.
Study of selected major texts in medieval political thought, with an emphasis on either major thinkers(s), or theme(s). Themes may include nature and grace, politics and salvation, theology and practical wisdom. This course may be repeated, for a maximum of nine credit hours, when content differs.
PSC 5373 Contemporary Democratic Theory
Study of themes, issues and debates defining the contemporary conversation about democracy among political theorists. Texts include works of major importance to recent democratic theory.
Concentrated study of major thinkers or texts in the history of political philosophy, particularly focusing on the works of Nietzsche.
Selected Publications:
Suddenly Everything Was Different: German Lives in Upheaval by Olaf Georg Klein. Trans. by Ann McGlashan and ed., with an introduction and annotations by Dwight D. Allman (Camden House Publishers, 2007)
"Sin and the Construction of Carolingian Kingship," in The Seven Deadly Sins: From Communities to Individuals ed. by Richard Newhauser. (Leiden: Brill Publishers, 2007)
Cultivating Citizens: Soulcraft and Citizenship in Contemporary America, ed., with Michael D. Beaty, with an introduction, "Citizenship and Soulcraft in Contemporary America," by Dwight D. Allman (Langham: Lexington Press, 2002)
"History as Psychology/Morality as Pathology: Nietzsche and the Ethical Tradition," in Instilling Ethics, ed. by Norma Thompson. (Lanham: Roman and Littlefield, 2000)
"Ancient Friends, Modern Enemies: Plato and Nietzsche on the Life Most Worth Living," The South Atlantic Quarterly 97:1 (Winter 1998): 113-135.