Rate My Professor Amanda Whooley

Amanda Printz Whooley, Ph.D., serves as Associate Professor of Philosophy and Philosophy Program Coordinator at Oglethorpe University. She earned her Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Southern California in 2007, completing a dissertation titled 'The Scope and Significance of George Berkeley’s Language Model of Nature.' She holds a B.A. with honors in Philosophy from Guilford College, awarded in 1995, and studied Judaic Philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem from 1993 to 1994. Additionally, she obtained CRLA Certification from the College Reading and Learning Association in 2004 to teach and tutor students with learning differences.

Whooley's professional career includes her current role at Oglethorpe University, where she previously served as Lecturer in Philosophy from 2013 to 2014 and Adjunct Professor from 2012 to 2013. She was also Adjunct Professor at the University of West Georgia from 2012 to 2013 and Assistant Professor, known as 'Tutor,' at St. John’s College from 2007 to 2012. Her research specializes in the History of Philosophy, with a focus on Early Modern Philosophy and Ancient Philosophy. Areas of competence include Ancient Greek, Philosophy of Mathematics from Euclid through Newton, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Science from Theophrastus through Darwin, 15th- to 18th-century Literature, Feminist Philosophy, Ethics, and Existentialism. She examines connections between philosophers' perspectives on reality, politics, values, and their contemporary relevance, particularly in Existentialism through the works of Kierkegaard. Whooley has taught courses such as Big Questions: An Introduction to Philosophy, Ethics and The Good Life, The Meaning of Life, What’s Love Got to Do With It? The Philosophy of Friendship, Love, Sex, Feminist Philosophy, Plato and the Philosopher Kings, How to Win an Argument, Ancient Greek, Aristotle, Existentialism, Nietzsche, and Kierkegaard. Her distinguished teaching record is evidenced by awards including the Garrett Award for Meritorious Teaching at Oglethorpe University in 2018, induction as faculty member into Omicron Delta Kappa in 2019, ODK Faculty Appreciation Award in 2017, Core Teaching Award in 2016, multiple Excellence in Teaching Awards from USC between 2002 and 2003, the Flewelling Research Award from USC in 2003, and the C. Thomas Powell Award for Excellence in Philosophy from Guilford College in 1999. She has also received various fellowships, such as the Anna Bing Humanities Research Fellowship and multiple Mellon Foundation Summer Study Fellowships.