Bio
Dr. Brent Kyle is an Associate Professor in the USAFA Department of Philosophy, and was previously an instructor at the University of New Brunswick (Canada). He completed his Ph.D. from Cornell University in 2011, where he focused on epistemology and ethics. Prior to that, he received a master's degree from Yale University concentrating in the philosophy of religion.
His research has largely focused on value—moral and intellectual. He has engaged in contemporary philosophical debates concerning issues of lasting importance, such as the nature of courage, the objectivity of values, and the nature of knowledge. Recently, he has also focused on particular topics in metaphysics (e.g. personal identity) and the philosophy of religion (e.g. the problem of evil).
Education
Ph.D. Cornell University
Master of Arts in Religion, Yale University
Bachelor of Arts, Tabor College
Professional Experience
Associate Professor of Philosophy, U.S. Air Force Academy (2016-present)
Assistant Professor of Philosophy, U.S. Air Force Academy (2012-2016)
Instructor of Philosophy, University of New Brunswick (2010-2011)
Honors & Awards
Class-of-1958 Fellowship, Stockdale Center for Ethics and Leadership, U.S. Naval Academy, 2018-19
Outstanding Academy Educator Award, U.S. Air Force Academy (2016)
Tabor College Alumni Medallion Award (2013)
Research and Scholarly Interests
Ethics
Epistemology
Philosophy of Religion
Metaphysics
Philosophy of Mind/Language
Publications
“Proof That Knowledge Entails Truth,” The Journal of Philosophy, forthcoming
“Truth and Ignorance,” Synthese, vol. 198, (2020) 7739-7762
“Justice, Thick versus Thin,” Encyclopedia of the Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy, eds. M. Sellers & S. Kirste (2020), Springer, Dordrecht
“The Expansion View of Thick Concepts,” Nous, vol. 54 no. 4 (2020) 914-44
“Courage, Cowardice, and Maher’s Misstep,” Canadian Journal of Philosophy, vol. 47 no. 4 (2017) 564-87
“Hiddenness, Holiness, and Impurity,” Religious Studies, vol. 53 no. 2 (2017) 239-59
“Thick Concepts,” The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2016)
“The New and Old Ignorance Puzzles: How Badly Do We Need Closure?” Synthese, vol. 192 no. 5 (2015) 1495-1525
“Knowledge as a Thick Concept: Explaining Why the Gettier Problem Arises,” Philosophical Studies, vol. 165 no. 1 (2013) 1-27
“How Are Thick Terms Evaluative?” Philosophers’ Imprint, vol. 13 no. 1 (2013) 1-20
“Punishing and Atoning: A New Critique of Penal Substitution,” International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, vol. 74 no. 2 (2013) 201-218