Williamson, Dan C

Lecturer AY-B, Humanities
Lecturer AY-B, Philosophy

Email

Preferred: dan.williamson@sjsu.edu

Telephone

Preferred: (408) 924-4523

Office Hours

M-Th 10:30-11:30am and by appointment

Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy, in Philosophy at the University of California, Riverside, 1996
  • Masters in Philosophy, San Jose State University 1989
  • BA in Philosophy, University of California at Santa Cruz, 1971

Bio

I began my college career as a Journalism major at L.A. Valley Junior College. Back in the late 60s Journalism majors were told to get a good Humanities education and then go on to Journalism. I chose philosophy since it had many interesting aspects, especially Existentialism. After that, philosophy became a lifelong pursuit. I transferred to UC Santa Cruz, which was then in its heyday. There were some fantastic teachers, including Norman O. Brown. The curriculum inevitably provided a deep humanities education and not one strictly limited to philosophy. The central philosopher studied there was Soren Kierkegaard, my first philosophical love whose thought still guides me. I graduated Santa Cruz with a BA in 1971. Journalism after that simply didn’t appeal like it used to, and neither did Los Angeles! Instead, I pursued another love found at UC Santa Cruz, music, and that mainly for guitar, some piano and a little harp. I studied classical music and composition, jazz, and played rock and blues--of course. I still do play as time permits I returned to philosophy here at San Jose State University in 1984, while working full time in the Silicon Valley. Many more philosophers and I crossed paths, ending with the German Philosopher Martin Heidegger and his encounter with Modern Technology. That was the theme of the M.A. at SJSU, which was received in late Summer 1989. I then went on to doctoral studies at UC at Riverside. There, my interests in Philosophy were broadened and honed. The doctorate focused on the work of Michel Foucault and questions concerning the self and gay identity. This was completed in the late summer of 1996. It was at that time that I was invited back here as an adjunct in Philosophy, a position I still hold. My philosophical and academic interests are very eclectic and include Continental Philosophy, Foucault certainly, ethics, interests in American history and politics, politics as theory as well as intersecting interests with ideas from social theory. The fields from which I draw include literature as well as a continuing interest in Ancient Cultures and their religions—this area influenced by studies began at UC Santa Cruz. Other interests include a life-long passion for photography.

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