Alan David Fox Associate Professor  Department of Philosophy University of Delaware  Office: (302) 831-8077  Fax: (302) 831-6321  email: AFOX@UDEL.EDU return to Alan Fox Home Page

Educational Background and Degrees

B.A. Psychology, 1977, the Johns Hopkins University

M.A. Religious Studies, 1983, Temple University

Comparative Religion, Religion and Psychology

Ph.D. Religious Studies, 1988, Temple University

Thesis topic: "Elements of Omnicontextual Thought in Chinese Buddhism: Translations of Guifeng Zongmi’s Preface to ‘Collected Writings on the Chan Source’ (ìøÔ´ÖîÚ¹¼¯¶¼Ðò) and Commentary on ‘Meditative Approaches to the Huayan Dharmadhatu’ (¯Ô»ªÑÏ·¨½ç¹ÛÃÅÃÅ )"

dissertation passed with distinction

Comprehensive Examination Areas:

• Chinese Huayan Buddhism
• Daoism
• Indian Madhyamika Buddhism
• Buddhism and Psychoanalysis

Teaching Experience

1. Adjunct Professor of Eastern Religions, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College: (Wyncote, PA) Spring, 1989, Spring 1992, Spring 1996, Spring 1999
2. Postdoc, Temple University, Intellectual Heritage Program, Fall and Spring 1988-89
3. Assistant Professor, Temple University, Intellectual Heritage Program, May 1988 to June 1990
4. Assistant Professor for Asian and Comparative Philosophy and World Religion, University of Delaware, Department of Philosophy: Summer 1990 to 1996.
5. Promoted to Associate Professor with tenure, Spring, 1996

Publications

Book Reviews

• Hsueh-li Cheng's Nagarjuna's Twelve-Gate Treatise, published in the Journal of Chinese Philosophy, 12 (1985), pp. 449-452.
• Hsueh-li Cheng's Empty Logic: Madhyamika Buddhism from Chinese Sources, published in the Journal of Chinese Philosophy, 13 (1986) pp. 361-365.
• Cesare Rizzi's Candrakirti, published in South Asia in Review, Vol. 13, No. 4, July, 1989, p. 6.
• Roger Ames’ The Art of Rulership published in the Journal of Chinese Philosophy 22 (1995), pp.367-370.
• Yuasa Yasuo’s The Body, Self-Cultivation, and Ki-Energy, tr. By Shigenori Nagatomo and Monte S. Hull, New York: SUNY Press, 1993, published in Asian Philosophy Volume 6, Number 3, November 1996, pp. 241-243.
• Janet Gyatso’s The Mirror of Memory, New York: SUNY Press, published in Philosophy East and West, Volume 47, Number 4, October 1997, pp. 616-618.
• Anthony Molino's The Couch and the Tree: Dialogues in Psychoanalysis and Buddhism, New York: North Point Press, 1998, published in The Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Winter 2000 (68/4), pp. 913-915.
• Edward Slingerland's Effortless Action, New York: Oxford University Press, 2003, published in The Journal of Asian Studies, February 2004 (63/1), pp. 172-173.
  

Articles

• Self-reflection in the Sanlun tradition: Madhyamika as the ‘Deconstructive Conscience’ of Buddhism, in the Journal of Chinese Philosophy, Vol.19, No.1, March 1992, pp.1-24.
• "Zhuangzi" zhong de jing yenxing tai: ganying yu fanying (ׯ×ÓÖеľ­ÑéÐÎ̬£º ¸ÐÓ¦Óë·´Ó³: "Modes of Experience in the Zhuangzi"), in: ÖÐ ¹ú ¹Å ´ú ˼ ά ·½ ʽ ̽ Ë÷ (Zhongguo gudai siwei fangshi tansuo: "Ways of Thinking in Ancient China"), Taipei: Zhengzhong Book Company, 1995.
• Reflex and Reflectivity: Wuwei in the Zhuangzi, Asian Philosophy, Volume 6:1 (1996), pp. 59-72.
• Jizang, Fazang, and Zhuangzi, in Great Thinkers of the Eastern World, ed. by Ian P. McGreal, published by HarperCollins Publishers, Inc., pp.21-26, 84-88, and 99-103.
• The Aesthetics of Justice: Harmony and Order in Chinese Thought, in Legal Studies Forum XIX, 1 (1995), pp. 43-56.
• "Yoga" and "Third Eye," articles accepted for publication in the Oxford Companion to the Body,  ed., Colin Blakemore, forthcoming from Oxford University Press.
• "Concrete Ethics in a Comparative Perspective: Zhuangzi meets William James," chapter in Varieties of Ethical Reflection, ed. Michael Barnhart, New York: Lexington Books, 2002, pp. 67-92.
• Reflex and Reflectivity: Wuwei in the Zhuangzi, article previously published in Asian Philosophy, revised and reprinted in Hiding the World in the World, ed. Scott Cook, New York: SUNY Press, 2003, pp. 207-225.
  

Presentations and Discussions

Before Professional Organizations

• "Jizang and Commentary: Madhyamika as the Deconstructive Conscience of Buddhism" - paper presented at the Annual National Meeting of the American Academy of Religion, New Orleans, November 18, 1990.
• "Finding the Fit: Non-normative Ethics in the Zhuangzi," paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Middle Atlantic Region of the Association for Asian Studies, November 1, 1992.
• "The Hinge of Dao: Reflex and Reflectivity in the Zhuangzi," presented to the Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy at the Annual Meeting of the American Philosophical Association, December, 1992.
• "Modes of Experience in Zhuangzi," paper delivered at the Conference on Modes of Thinking in China, Taipei, Taiwan, May 2, 1993
• "Modes of Experience in Zhuangzi : Reflex and Reflectivity," paper presented as part of Columbia University’s Series of Seminars on Traditional China, Columbia University, May 11, 1993.
• "The Aesthetics of Justice: Harmony and Order in Chinese Thought," paper presented to the 7th East-West Philosophers Conference in Hawaii, January, 1995.
• "Confucius and Plato on the notion of the Autonomous Individual", paper presented to the Comparative Religion section of the National Meeting of the American Academy of Religion, 11/20/95
• "Wuwei in Early Philosophical Daoism," paper presented to the International Society of Chinese Philosophy under the auspices of the American Philosophical Association’s Eastern Divisional Meeting, 12/29/1995
• "Guarding What is Essential: Critiques of Material Culture in Yangzi and Thoreau," paper presented to the Third Annual Meeting of the International Association for Asian Philosophy and Religion, Taipei, Taiwan, 5/31/96
• "Teaching Philosophical Daoism Through Chapter 1 of the Dao De Jing," presented to the Teaching Asia Workshop under the auspices of the Middle Atlantic Region of the Association for Asian Studies, 10/26/97
• "Healing and Destiny in Laozi and Confucius", presented to the Middle Atlantic Region of the Association for Asian Studies, 10/24/98
• "The Cyber Net of Indra: State of the Art in English Language Huayan Studies," presented to the International Society for Chinese Philosophy, Taibei, Taiwan, 7/27/99
• "Chapter 1 of the Dao De Jing: An Exposition of Daoism," invited presentation to the Asian Studies Round Table at Towson University, March 1999.
  
• Presented paper on Daoism as part of the Greater Philadelphia Philosophy Consortium's Tutorial on East Asian Thought, West Chester University, April 2000
• "Phenomenology and Ontology in Chapter 1 of the Dao De Jing," invited paper presented to the Faculty-Student Colloquium, Salisbury University, November 20, 2000.
  
• "Teaching Asian Philosophy as Philosophy," paper presented as part of panel on Teaching Asian Philosophy at the 2001 Eastern APA Meeting, under the auspices of the APA Committee on the Status of Asian and Asian-American Philosophers and Philosophies, December 2001.
• "Daoist Phenomenology," paper presented to the International Society for Chinese Philosophy at the 2002 Eastern Divisional Meeting of the APA, December 2002.
• "Phenomenological Approaches to Daoism," presented to the International Society for the Comparative Study of Chinese and Western Philosophy, at the 2003 Eastern Division Meeting of the APA, December 2003.
  

Before Local and Campus Groups (examples)

• "Making Connections: Teaching the Hebrew Scriptures in an Interdisciplinary Context," invited paper delivered to Temple University's Intellectual Heritage Program, November 5, 1990, as part of their Faculty Development Seminars.
• "Essence and Emptiness: An East-West Encounter" - a talk delivered to the 2nd Baptist Church of Wilmington, February 3, 1991.
• "Institutional Trappings: Religion and Dis-religion in a ‘One-Size-Fits-All’ World," a talk delivered to the Brandywine Rotary Club, Wilmington Sheraton, August 8, 1991.
• Numerous talks on meditation delivered to Student Dorms, 1991 - present
• "World Religions," talk delivered as part of the Morris Library’s Religious Diversity Program, 5/5/94.
• "World Religions Mini-course," four week session taught at Newark Senior Center, October 1994.
• "The Emperor’s New Clothes: the Buddhist Critique of Abstract Metaphysics," paper read as part of a lecture series at Wesley College, Dover, March 27, 1995.
• "The Philosophical Roots of the Chinese Martial Arts," presented to the University of Delaware Chinese Martial Arts Club, 3/23/95
• "Death and Dying in the World’s Religions," talk delivered as part of the Morris Library’s Religious Diversity Program, 10/95.
• "Similarities Between Hindu and Jewish Culture," talk presented to Temple Beth El, Newark, March 22, 1996.
• "Major Belief Systems," videotaped talk to DuPont’s Human Resources Division, to be used as part of an ongoing multicultural awareness workshop.
• Sexuality and Tradition, delivered to Russell Fellows and Russell Lounge 11/18/96
• Magic and Tradition, delivered to Kent Dorm 11/25/96

Faculty Service

Department

• Advisor to Student Philosophy Society
• Ran Chinese Philosophy Reading Group,
• Member of Various Hiring Committees
• Served on Departmental Undergraduate Committee, 1992 - 1994, 2002-2005
• Served as Computer Enhancement Person for Department
• Served as member of Departmental Advisory Committee 1998-2001
• Co-chair, Convocation Committee, 1996, 1997
• Department Web Page Administrator 
• Departmental Representative to University Senate, 2000-2004.
  

College

• Designated Advisor for Interdisciplinary Religious Studies Minor Program
• Member of East Asian Studies Committee
• Member of Educational Affairs Committee of the College of Arts and Sciences, 1992 - 1995
• Member of Search Committee for Philosophy Department Chair, 1993, 1996
• Chair of Educational Affairs Committee of the College of Arts and Sciences, 1995 - 1998
• address College Orientation for Undeclared students
• Served on ad hoc Dean's Scholar committee, 1996, 1998
• member, Art & Science General Education Reform Committee1997-1999
• elected Chair of College Senate Committee on Committees and Nominations, 2002-2003
• member, College Senate Committee on Committees and Nominations, 2003-2004
• Member, BALS review committee, 2002-2004
  

University

• Advisor to several Student Organizations
• Interviewer for the University’s Medical Scholars Program
• Participant in New Student Orientation
• delivered dozens of talks and workshops to student groups on campus
• Member of Search Committee for Education Department
• Member of General Education Task Force of the University Senate
• Panelist for Promotion and Tenure Workshop
• Member of Undergraduate Studies Committee of the University Senate
• Chair of Faculty Senate Undergraduate Studies Committee 1998
• Member of the University of Delaware Summer College Advisory Committee
• Member of Eugene duPont Scholarship Selection Committee
• Member of Alison Scholars Mentoring Board
• Member of Center for Teaching Effectiveness Faculty Advisory Board
• Chair of the Educational Programs and Curriculum Committee of the Middle States Accreditation Task Force, 2002
• Panelist, "Why Teaching is Important", during New Faculty Orientation 2002
• Member, University Faulty Senate Coordinating Committee on Education, 2001-2003
• member of Honors Affiliated Faculty
• Give Seminars to prospective students and parents for Admissions Office, 2002, 2003
  

Community

• serve on Medical Center of Delaware's Institutional Review Board
• have served as substitute chair when needed
  
• served as consultant to DuPont Company, Human Resources Division, for religious diversity awareness program
• Member, Delaware Humanities Forum
• Program evaluator for Delaware Humanities Forum
  

Profession

• referee for articles submitted to Asian Philosophy
• referee for articles submitted to Philosophy East and West
• referee for articles submitted to Dao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy
• Served as Co-chair of Local Arrangements Committee, 1998 Middle Atlantic Regional Meeting of the Association for Asian Studies, held at U of D October, 1998
• Served as Coordinator of Teaching Asia Workshop in conjunction with the 1998 MAR/AAS meeting
• Chaired many panels at meetings of the APA, MAR/AAS, MAR/AAR, etc.
• Appointed to two-year term on APA Committee on Asian/Asian American Philosophers and Philosophies, 1999-2001
• served as outside referee for Masters' Degree Thesis from Deakins University, Australia, 2002
• Organized panels for International Society for the Comparative Study of Chinese and Western Philosophy, 2003-2004 

Courses Taught

Temple University

• Remedial English Composition, Fall 1981
• Death and Dying, Spring 1982
• Religion and Human Experience, Spring and Summer 1985, Spring 1988
• Intellectual Heritage, Fall 1988 - Summer 1990

Glassboro State College

• Introduction to Religion, Fall 1987

Reconstructionist Rabbinical College

• Eastern Religions, Spring 1989, Spring 1992, Spring 1996

University of Delaware

• World Religions
• Chinese Philosophy and Religion
• Indian Philosophy and Religion
• Death and Dying
• Religion and Psychology
• Buddhist Philosophy
• Daoism
  
• Philosophies of Life
• Alison Seminar: Death and Dying
• Honors Tutorial
  

Media Activities

• Participated in WILM Radio Show "Newstalk PM" addressing the issue of Institutional Religions and their effectiveness in meeting the needs of their members.
• Appeared on WHYY TV’s News Focus Program to discuss the implications of the Pope’s visit August 23, 1993.
• UDOnline course, video-taped version of World Religions

Professional Memberships

• American Philosophical Association
• American Academy of Religion
• Middle Atlantic Region, Association for Asian Studies
• International Association for Chinese Philosophy
• Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy
• International Association for Asian Philosophy and Religion

Honors and Awards

• 1973-77: RCA Corp. National Merit Scholar, the Johns Hopkins University
• 1980-85: Russell Conwell Fellow, Temple University
• 1986-87: Fulbright-Hays Scholar, Taiwan, Republic of China
• 1988-89: Temple University Post-Doctoral Teaching Fellow
• 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994: Nominated for Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Delaware
• 1993: Nominated for Excellence in Teaching Award by Alpha Lambda Delta, Honorary society for freshman with GPA above 3.6
• 1995: Received Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Delaware
• 1998: Nominated for Arts and Science Outstanding Teacher Award
• 1999: Received Arts and Science Outstanding Teacher Award
• 2000: named Honors Affiliated Faculty by University of Delaware Honors Program
• 2003: Nominated for University Excellence in Teaching Award (ineligible to win until 2005)