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Draft:John Tomasi

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John Tomasi (born 1961) is an American political philosopher. He is the inaugural President of the non-partisan Heterodox Academy, a non-profit advocacy group of academics working to counteract a lack of viewpoint diversity on college campuses.[1][2] Previously, he served as the 1843 Romeo Elton Professor of Natural Philosophy and Professor of Political Science at Brown University,[3][4] where he founded and directed the Political Theory Project.https://upriseri.com/peder-schaefer-koch-at-brown/[5][6] He is the author of the influential Free Market Fairness and numerous other works on libertarianism, economics, and public policy.[7]

Born in New Hampshire, Tomasi grew up in the small town of Underhill, Vermont.[8]

Tomasi attended the St. John's College Annapolis program in Classics in 1982 and graduated from Colby College (magna cum laude) in 1987, followed by a Master of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Arizona in 1989.[3] He furthered his studies at Oxford University, obtaining a Bachelor of Philosophy with a distinction for his thesis in 1991, and a Doctor of Philosophy in 1993.[4]

Career

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John Tomasi has established a notable career as a political philosopher, with particular expertise at the crossroads of economics, ethics, and public policy.

His academic career began after earning his PhD from the University of Oxford, followed by appointments at Princeton University as the Visiting Research Scholar at The University Center for Human Values, and Visiting Assistant Professor at the Program in Ethics in Society at Stanford University.[3] He went on to obtain appointments at The Social Philosophy & Policy Center of Bowling Green State University, the University of Arizona, and Harvard University, before becoming a Professor of Political Science at Brown University, where he was ultimately endowed the Romeo Elton Professorship of Natural Philosophy and recognized with awards for excellence in teaching.

In 2003, Tomasi founded the think tank and research center Political Theory Project (PTP), where he would serve as director for the remainder of his tenure at Brown University.[5][9][6] The PTP attracted prominent political and economic thinkers and promoting a culture of open inquiry and viewpoint diversity, and grew to encompass a wider range of programing, including seminars and lecture series. Among these is the Janus Forum Lecture Series which featured speakers such as hosted Noam Chomsky, Steven Pinker, Paul Krugman, Jeffrey Sachs, and Glenn Greenwald, among others.[10][11][5] Two student publications, the Brown Political Review and Brown Journal of Philosophy, Politics and Economics were sponsored by the Political Theory Project. The center's stated mission was to "investigate the ideas and institutions that make societies free, prosperous, and fair."[12] According to Tomasi, the PTP focused "on the interplay of democratic and market-based ideals, with a commitment to examining issues from a variety of ideological perspectives."[13]

The PTP gained attention and faced some criticism for its acceptance of gifts from various free-market organizations and foundations, such as Atlas Network, Searle Freedom Trust, and the Charles Koch Foundation.[14][15][16][17] The PTP maintained that it followed a "Programming First" policy wherein donors are not given input regarding the center's activities.[18]

Tomasi is widely recognized for his influential 2012 book Free Market Fairness, a leading text of the movement known as Bleeding Heart Libertarianism, which explores the reconciliation of social justice with free markets.[19] The book was described by economist Tyler Cowen as "one of the very best philosophical treatments of libertarian thought, ever."[20] Philosopher Alan Thomas wrote in Res Publica that Free Market Fairness is "a landmark publication in political philosophy."[21] In the fusionist-inspired project, Tomasi introduces the idea of "market democracy," which he refers to as welding a "thick conception of economic liberty" with "a robust conception of social justice as the ultimate standard of institutional evaluation".[22]

In 2018, invited by the Foundation for Progress and the liberal platform La Otra Mirada,[23] Tomasi traveled to Santiago, Chile to meet with Chilean President Sebastián Pinera to discuss the application of his model of market democracy at the public policy level.[24][25][26][27]

Tomasi left Brown University to assume the presidency of Heterodox Academy (HxA) in 2022.[28][29][30] He also holds memberships and board positions with the American Political Science Association, The Institute for Civil Society, The Institute for Humane Studies,[4] and the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation.[31]

Selected publications

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Books

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  • Zwolinski, Matt; Tomasi, John (2023). The Individualists: Radicals, Reactionaries, and the Struggle for the Soul of Libertarianism. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691155548.
  • Tomasi, John (5 May 2013). Free Market Fairness. Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691158143.
  • Tomasi, John (2001). Liberalism Beyond Justice: Citizens, Society, and the Boundaries of Political Theory. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691049694.

Chapters in Books

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  • "Economic Liberties and Human Rights" Are Markets Moral?,[32] University of Pennsylvania Press with contribution by John Tomasi, Richard Epstein, Robert P. George, Gurcharan Das, Deirdre McCloskey, Fonna Forman, Andrew Bibby, Peter Lawler, Steven Lukes, Peter McNamara, and Ian Shapiro, 2018.[33]
  • "Economic Liberty" with Jeppe von Platz. The Cambridge Companion to Liberalism,[34] ed. Chandran Kukathas and Steven Wall, 2014.[35]
  • "The Moral Case for Economic Liberty" Index of Economic Freedom – The Heritage Foundation,[36] Wall Street Journal and Heritage Foundation, 2014.[37]
  • "Democratic Legitimacy and Economic Liberty" New Essays in Moral and Political Philosophy[38] ed. Ellen Frankel Paul, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2012.[39]
  • "Classical Liberalism" with Jason Brennan. The Oxford Handbook of Political Philosophy,[40] ed. David Estlund, New York: Oxford University Press, 2012.[41]
  • "Can Feminism Be Liberated from Governmentalism?", Toward a Humanist Justice: The Political Philosophy of Susan Moller Okin,[42] eds. Robert Reich and Debra Satz, New York: Oxford University Press, 2009.[43]
  • "Should Political Liberals Be Compassionate Conservatives?: Philosophical Foundations of the Faith-Based Initiative" Morality and Politics[44] ed. Jeffrey Paul, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2004.[45]
  • "Sovereignty, Commerce and Cosmopolitanism: Lessons from Early America for the Future of the World" After Socialism,[46] ed. Ellen Frankel Paul, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2003.[47]
  • "Justice", The Oxford Companion to American Law,[48] eds. K. Hall, J. Elly, J. Grossman, N. Hull, New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.[49]
  • "Governance Beyond the Nation State: James Madison on Foreign Policy and 'Universal Peace'", James Madison and the Future of Limited Government,[50] ed. John Samples, Washington: The Cato Institute, 2002.[51]

Journal Articles

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  • "Market Democracy and Meaningful Work: A Reply to Critics", in Res Publica, Volume 21, Number 4, November 2015.[52]
  • With Dan D'Amico "The Politics of Precarity, A Discussion of Sanford Schram's The Return of Ordinary Capitalism: Neoliberalism, Precarity, Occupy" Perspectives on Politics, Vol. 14, Number 2, June 2016.[53]
  • "Democratic Capitalism: Reply to Critics," Critical Review, 26 3-4, 2014.[54]
  • "Social Justice, Free Market Style" Juncture[55] (Institute for Public Policy Research, London) 19/1, May 2012.[56]
  • "Democratic Legitimacy and Economic Liberty" Social Philosophy & Policy,[57] 29/1, Winter 2012.[58]

[59]

  • "Liberal Theocracy and the Justificatory Dance" (Symposium on Lucas Swaine The Liberal Conscience), Philosophy & Public Policy Quarterly,[60] Summer 2009.[61]
  • "Should Political Liberals be Compassionate Conservatives?: Philosophical Foundations of the Faith-Based Initiative" Social Philosophy & Policy,[62] 21/1, January 2004.[63]
  • "Sovereignty, Commerce and Cosmopolitanism: Lessons from Early America for the Future of the World" Social Philosophy & Policy,[64] 20/1: 223–46, January 2003.[65]
  • "Civic Education and Ethical Subservience: From Mozert to Santa Fe and Beyond", NOMOS XLIII: Moral and Political Education: Special Issue,[66] eds. Stephen Macedo and Yael Tamir, New York: New York University Press, 2002.[67]
  • "The Key to Locke's Proviso" British Journal for the History of Philosophy, 6/3, October 1998.[68]
  • "Liberalism, Sanctity and the Prohibition of Abortion" The Journal of Philosophy, XCIV/10, October 1997.[69]
  • "Kymlicka, Liberalism and Respect for Cultural Minorities" Ethics, 105/2. April 1995.[70]
  • "Community in the Minimal State" Critical Review: Special Issue on Communitarianism[71] (with contributions by Charles Taylor, Ronald Beiner, Will Kymlicka, and Brenda Almond) Fall 1994.[72]
  • "Individual Rights and Community Virtues" Ethics, (101)3, April 1991.[73]
  • "Plato's Statesman Story: The Birth of Fiction Reconceived" Philosophy and Literature, 14/2, Fall 1990.[74]
  • "The Power Principle" Criminal Justice Ethics,[75] Summer/Fall 1989.[76]

Awards and Honors

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  • Romeo Elton Professor of Natural Philosophy, Brown University, 2013.
  • The Charles G. Koch Prize, George Mason University, 2010.[77]
  • Hayek Lecture Prize, Manhattan Institute, 2009.[78]
  • Undergraduate Council of Students Teaching Prize, Brown University, 2004/5.[79]
  • Henry Merritt Wriston Prize, Brown University, 1996.[9]
  • Stanley J. Bernstein Assistant Professor of Social Science-International Affairs. Named to an endowed Junior Chair in Social Sciences/ International Affairs, July 1994–2000.[9]
  • Miles Clausen Prize for Outstanding Service to the College, Oxford University, 1991.
  • President of Middle Common Room (Elected position with seat on College Governing Body), Corpus Christi College, Oxford University, 1990-1.[9]
  • John M. Olin Foundation Fellowship, Oxford University, 1989–93.[9]

Personal Life

[edit]

John Tomasi lives in Rhode Island with his wife, Amy. They have two children.[31]

References

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  1. ^ "At Brown, a Koch incursion rankles the left https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/2018/02/24/koch-funnels-millions-into-brown-riling-left/14126248007/". The Providence Journal. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  2. ^ "Heterodox Academy: Team". Heterodox Academy.
  3. ^ a b c "Researchers @ Brown: John Tomasi". Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  4. ^ a b c "Ralston College: John Tomasi". Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  5. ^ a b c "Tomasi: The Political Theory Project and the essence of Brown". The Brown Daily Herald. 2018-02-25. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  6. ^ a b "Past Postdoctoral Fellows". Brown University. Center for Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  7. ^ "The Long Afterlife of Libertarianism https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/06/05/the-individualists-radicals-reactionaries-and-the-struggle-for-the-soul-of-libertarianism-book-review-matt-zwolinski-john-tomasi". The New Yorker. {{cite magazine}}: External link in |title= (help)
  8. ^ Tomasi, John. "John Tomasi, Political Theorist". Brown University. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  9. ^ a b c d e Tomasi, John (2021). "John Tomasi: CV" (PDF). Brown University Center for Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Brown University. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  10. ^ Heck, Isobel (2014-04-25). "Chomsky, Ross debate Israel-Palestine peace process". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  11. ^ Truesdale, Jackson (2019-04-03). "Humanity making progress, say Pinker, Krugman". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  12. ^ Husk, Sarah (2008-10-26). "Free-market group gives to Political Theory". Brown University. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  13. ^ Nadirashvili, Alex (May 5, 2012). "Faculty vote in favor of establishing new Center for Philosophy, Politics and Economics". The Brown Daily Herald.
  14. ^ Journal, Alex NunesSpecial to The. "Koch funnels millions into Brown, riling the left". providencejournal.com. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  15. ^ "Analysis | The Daily 202: Koch network warns of 'McCarthyism 2.0' in conservative efforts to harass professors". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  16. ^ Rock, Harry August,Julia (2018-03-05). "August '19, Rock '19: Beware the PTP". Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2021-07-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ Brook, Jack (2018-09-11). "Crossing the Political Divide". www.brownalumnimagazine.com. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  18. ^ "Faculty vote in favor of establishing new Center for Philosophy, Politics and Economics". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
  19. ^ Wolfson, Adam. "Book Review: Free Market Fairness". WSJ.
  20. ^ Ellerman, David (2017). "Listen Libertarians!: A Review of John Tomasi's "Free Market Fairness"". Journal of Economic Issues. 51 (3): 721–747. doi:10.1080/00213624.2017.1359044 (inactive 2024-11-02).{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)
  21. ^ Res Publica (2013) 12:381–385
  22. ^ Tomasi, John (5 May 2013). Free Market Fairness. Princeton University Press. p. 88. ISBN 9780691158143.
  23. ^ "La Otra Mirada ("The Other Look")". La Otra Mirada.
  24. ^ Kiley, Gillian (September 2018). "Brown professor advising Chilean leadership on new political model". Brown University. News From Brown.
  25. ^ "The day that Piñerismo had lunch with the philosopher who inspired the government program". El Libero. June 2018.
  26. ^ "John Tomasi: 'IHS Encouraged Me to Become a Better Scholar'". Institute for Humane Studies. George Mason University. 15 November 2021.
  27. ^ Bitton, Mathis (July 2020). "Chile and the Perils of Technocracy". National Review.
  28. ^ Barzilay Freund, Mia (2021). "Professor John Tomasi to become president of Heterodox Academy". Brown University. The Brown Daily Herald.
  29. ^ "Keeping It Civil: S3, E12 (John Tomasi, President of HxA)". Arizona PBS. September 8, 2022.
  30. ^ "John Tomasi: President". Heterodox Academy.
  31. ^ a b "Dr. John Tomasi". The Coolidge Foundation. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  32. ^ "Are Markets Moral? 9780812295405".
  33. ^ Melzer, Arthur M.; Kautz, Steven J., eds. (2018). Are Markets Moral?. University of Pennsylvania Press.
  34. ^ "Contributors". The Cambridge Companion to Liberalism. Cambridge Companions to Philosophy. Cambridge University Press. 2015. ISBN 978-1-107-08007-2.
  35. ^ Wall, Steven J., ed. (2015). "Contributors". The Cambridge Companion to Liberalism. Cambridge Companions to Philosophy. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-08007-2.
  36. ^ "Using the Index of Economic Freedom: A Practical Guide".
  37. ^ Miller, Terry and Holmes, Kimberly and Kim, Anthony, 2014 Index of Economic Freedom (January 14, 2014). Institute of Economic Affairs Monographs, SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3915573 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3915573 from: https://www.heritage.org/international-economies/report/using-the-index-economic-freedom-practical-guide
  38. ^ https://www.cambridge.org/us/universitypress/subjects/philosophy/political-philosophy/new-essays-political-and-social-philosophy-volume-29-part-1?format=PB&isbn=9781107604537/
  39. ^ Frankel Paul, Ellen; Miller, Jr, Fred D.; Jeffrey, Paul, eds. (2013). New Essays in Political and Social Philosophy (29 ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107604537.
  40. ^ https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-oxford-handbook-of-political-philosophy-9780195376692?cc=us&lang=en&/
  41. ^ Estlund, David, ed. (2012). "Classical Liberalism". The Oxford Handbook of Political Philosophy Edited. Oxford University Press USA. ISBN 9780195376692.
  42. ^ Satz, Debra; Reich, Rob, eds. (2009). "Toward a Humanist Justice: The Political Philosophy of Susan Moller Okin | Oxford Academic". Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195337396.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-533739-6.
  43. ^ Reich, Robert; Satz, Debra, eds. (2009). Toward a Humanist Justice: The Political Philosophy of Susan Moller Okin. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195337396.001.0001. ISBN 9780195337396.
  44. ^ Paul, Ellen Frankel; Paul, Jeffrey (9 February 2004). Morality and Politics: Volume 21, Part 1. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-54221-0.
  45. ^ Miller, Frank Dycus; Frankel Paul, Ellen; Paul, Jeffrey, eds. (2004). Morality and Politics. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521542210.
  46. ^ https://www.booksamillion.com/p/After-Socialism/Ellen-Frankel-Paul/9780521534987?id=8891988360010/
  47. ^ Paul, Ellen Frankel, Fred D. Miller, Jr, and Jeffrey Paul. After Socialism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003. Print. Social Philosophy and Policy.
  48. ^ https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780195088786.001.0001/acref-9780195088786/
  49. ^ Hall, Kermit L., ed. (2002). The Oxford Companion to American Law. Oxford University Press USA. ISBN 9780195088786.
  50. ^ https://www.cato.org/books/james-madison-future-limited-government/
  51. ^ Samples, John, ed. (2002). James Madison and the Future of Limited Government. Cato Institute. ISBN 1930865228.
  52. ^ Tomasi, J. Market Democracy and Meaningful Work: A Reply to Critics. Res Publica 21, 443–460 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11158-015-9303-0
  53. ^ Tomasi, John; D'Amico, Dan (June 2016). "The Politics of Precarity A Discussion of Sanford Schram's The Return of Ordinary Capitalism: Neoliberalism, Precarity, Occupy" (PDF). Perspectives on Politics. 14 (2). doi:10.1017/S1537592716000189.
  54. ^ John Tomasi (2014) Democratic Capitalism: A Reply to Critics, Critical Review, 26:3–4, 439–471, DOI: 10.1080/08913811.2014.988417
  55. ^ https://www.junctureuom.co.uk/
  56. ^ Tomasi, John (May 2012). "Social Justice, Free Market Style". Juncture. 19 (1): 26–33. doi:10.1111/j.1744-540X.2012.00678.x.
  57. ^ "Social Philosophy and Policy | Cambridge Core".
  58. ^ Tomasi J. DEMOCRATIC LEGITIMACY AND ECONOMIC LIBERTY. Social Philosophy and Policy. 2012;29(1):50–80. doi:10.1017/S0265052511000124
  59. ^ Tomasi, John (2012). "Democratic Legitimacy and Economic Liberty". Social Philosophy and Policy. 29: 50–80. doi:10.1017/S0265052511000124.
  60. ^ "Philosophy and Public Policy Quarterly". hdl:1920/11363.
  61. ^ John Tomasi (2011) Liberal theocracy and the justificatory dance, Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy, 14:4, 517–520, DOI: 10.1080/09692290.2010.517975
  62. ^ "Social Philosophy and Policy | Cambridge Core".
  63. ^ Tomasi J. SHOULD POLITICAL LIBERALS BE COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATIVES? PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE. Social Philosophy and Policy. 2004;21(1):322–345. doi:10.1017/S0265052504211141
  64. ^ "Social Philosophy and Policy | Cambridge Core".
  65. ^ Tomasi, John. "Sovereignty, Commerce, and Cosmopolitanism: Lessons from Early America for the Future of the World." Social Philosophy and Policy (2003): n. pag. Print.
  66. ^ Moral and Political Education: NOMOS XLIII. NYU Press. 2002. ISBN 978-0-8147-6426-8.
  67. ^ TOMASI, JOHN. "CIVIC EDUCATION AND ETHICAL SUBSERVIENCE: FROM MOZERT TO SANTA FE AND BEYOND." Nomos, vol. 43, 2002, pp. 193–220. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24219999.
  68. ^ John Tomasi (1998) The key to locke's proviso 1 , British Journal for the History of Philosophy, 6:3, 447–454, DOI: 10.1080/09608789808571006
  69. ^ Tomasi, John. "Liberalism, Sanctity, and the Prohibition of Abortion." The Journal of Philosophy, vol. 94, no. 10, 1997, pp. 491–513. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2564548. Accessed Mar. 2024.
  70. ^ Tomasi, John. "Kymlicka, Liberalism, and Respect for Cultural Minorities." Ethics, vol. 105, no. 3, 1995, pp. 580–603. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/2382143. Accessed 25 Mar. 2024.
  71. ^ https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rcri20/8/2/
  72. ^ Tomasi, John (1994). "Community in the Minimal State". Critical Review. 8 (2): 285–296. doi:10.1080/08913819408443339.
  73. ^ Tomasi, John. "Individual Rights and Community Virtues." Ethics, vol. 101, no. 3, 1991, pp. 521–36. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/2381467. Accessed Mar. 2024.
  74. ^ Tomasi, John. "Plato's Statesman Story: The Birth of Fiction Reconceived." Philosophy and Literature, vol. 14 no. 2, 1990, p. 348-358. Project MUSE, https://doi.org/10.1353/phl.1990.0020. Retrieved from https://muse.jhu.edu/article/413419/pdf
  75. ^ Tomasi, John (1989). "The Power Principle: Inherent Defects Reconsidered". Criminal Justice Ethics. 8 (2): 56. doi:10.1080/0731129X.1989.9991859.
  76. ^ Tomasi, John (1989). "The power principle: "Inherent defects" reconsidered". Criminal Justice Ethics. 8 (2): 56–60. doi:10.1080/0731129x.1989.9991859.
  77. ^ Schaefer, Peder. "Institutionalizing the Political Theory Project". The College Hill Independent.
  78. ^ "Hayek Book Prize and Lecture". Manhattan Institute.
  79. ^ "Excellence in Teaching Award". Brown University Graduate School. Brown University.
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