Thomas Slabon

Email: tslabon@usf.edu | Phone: 1-650-686-9616 | Office: FAO 225, USF Tampa Campus
https://thomas-slabon.weebly.com/

Areas of Specialization & Competence

Area of Specialization
Ancient Philosophy

Areas of Competence
Chinese Philosophy; Continental Philosophy; Ethics; Political Philosophy; Philosophy and
Literature; Philosophy of Religion

Employment

University of South Florida, Department of Philosophy (2023-ongoing)

Assistant Professor (Tenure Track)

University of Toronto, St. Michael’s College (2022-23)

Gilson Seminar Post-Doctoral Fellow

Education

Stanford University, Department of Philosophy (2016-23)

Ph.D. in Philosophy
Joint Program in Ancient Philosophy
Ph.D. Minor in Philosophy and Literature

Dissertation: An Outline of Outlines: Typological Reasoning in Plato and Aristotle

Dissertation Committee: Alan Code (Chair), Christopher Bobonich, Andrea Nightingale

Stanford University, Department of Classics (2019-20)

M.A. in Classical Languages and Literatures
Degree Advisor: Anastasia-Erasmia Peponi

University of Toronto, Department of Classics (2015-16)

M.A. in Classics
Thesis: Formal Identity: A Study in Aristotelean Theology
Thesis Supervisor: James Allen

University of Toronto (2011-15)

B.A., Philosophy Specialist, Classics Major
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Other Training

Princeton University, Global Greek Paleography Workshop (1/2021)

Weeklong intensive introduction to Greek paleography

American School of Classical Studies in Athens, Summer Program (7-8/2019)

6-week introduction to classical history, art, and archeology

Sinological Development Charitable Foundation, Summer Program (7-8/2018)

6-week introduction to classical Chinese philosophy and religion

Publications

Journal Articles
1. “Philosophical Breakdowns and Divine Intervention: Securing necessary motivational conditions
for philosophy in Plato,” Ancient Philosophy 43:1, 89-118 (2023)
Book/Special Edition Chapters
1. “Et cum sit unus, pluribus nominibus cietur: Apuleius’ Latin Additions to Greek Theology” – in George
Boys-Stones (ed.), Apuleius: On the Cosmos, Oxford University Press (forthcoming)
2. “Introduction to Studies on Plato’s Statesman” – in Julie Piering, George Rudebusch, and Thomas
Slabon (eds.), Studies on Plato’s Statesman: Archai Special Issue (forthcoming)
3. “Not Outside the Bounds of Justice: ΝΟΜΟΙ as ΤΥΠΟΙ in Plato” – in Ancient Philosophy of Law:
Polis Special Issue (volume in preparation)
4. “Nous by Any Other Name: Does Epicurus Have a Concept of Nous?” – in Ilaria Ramelli and
Christopher Bobonich (eds.), Nous from Plato to the Renaissance, Brill (volume in preparation)
5. “Reason’s Revelation and Revelation’s Reason: Reading Apuleius’ De Deo Socratis and Augustine’s
De Civitate Dei through the Lens of Novak’s Athens and Jerusalem” – in Matthew Levering and Tom
Angier (eds.), The Achievement of David Novak: A Catholic-Jewish Dialogue, Wipf and Stock, 2021.
Reviews and Translations
1. Translations of Juncus and Sopator – in Christopher Moore (ed.), Stobaeus’ Anthology (volume in
preparation)
2. Review of P. Gregorić and G. Karamanolis, Pseudo-Aristotle: De Mundo (On the Cosmos): A
Commentary (Cambridge University Press, 2020) – in Ancient Philosophy 42(1): 317-322, 2022.
Edited Volumes
1. Studies on Plato’s Statesman, Archai Special Issue – Editor with George Rudebusch and Julie Piering
(forthcoming)
2. Nous from Plato to the Renaissance, Brill – Associate Editor with Ilaria Ramelli and Christopher
Bobonich (eds.) and Robert Roreitner (associate ed.) (volume in preparation)
3. Athenagoras: De Resurrectione, Oxford University Press’ Library of Early Christian Philosophy series –
Editor with George Boys-Stones (volume in preparation)
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Teaching
(* Graduate or Mixed Graduate/Undergraduate Course)
Primary Instructor at the University of South Florida
* PHI6908 – Directed Reading: Aristotle’s Psychology, Spring 2024
PHI1600 – Introduction to Ethics: Ancient Tragedy, Modern Ethics, Fall 2023
* PHI4930/6150 – Axiological Metaphysics Ancient and Modern, Fall 2023
Primary Instructor at the University of Toronto, Mississauga Campus
PHL103 – Introduction to Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality, Winter 2023
Primary Instructor at Stanford University
* PHIL114/214 – Aristotle’s Ethics (co-instructor with Terence Irwin), Winter 2022
PHIL77 – Introduction to Philosophy of Religion, Summer 2021
PHIL24B – The Problem of Evil: Theodicies Old and New, Winter 2019
Teaching Assistant at Stanford University
PHIL 172 – History of Modern Moral Philosophy (for David Hills), Fall 2021
PHIL175 – Philosophy and Law (for Michael Bratman), Spring 2020
PHIL171P/POLISCI130 – 20th Century Political Theory: Liberalism and its Critics
(for Brian Coyne), Winter 2020
PHIL100 – Ancient Greek Philosophy (for Christopher Bobonich), Fall 2019
PHIL193/COMPLIT154 – Philosophy and Film
(for Jorah Dannenberg and Joshua Landy), Winter 2019
CLASSICS 112 – Introduction to Greek Tragedy (for Marsh McCall) Winter 2019
PHIL171/POLISCI103 – Justice (for Brian Coyne), Fall 2018
PHIL80 – Mind, Matter, and Meaning (for Mark Crimmins), Fall 2017
Teaching Assistant at the University of Toronto
SMC189 —The Gilson Seminar in Faith and Rome (for Randy Boyagoda), Winter 2022
SMC188 -- Gilson Seminar in Faith and Ideas (for Randy Boyagoda), Fall 2022
PHL100 – Intro to Philosophy (for Ronald de Sousa), AY 2014-15
High School Teaching at Stanford
The Greeks and Beyond, Stanford Summer Humanities Institute (for Christopher Bobonich),
Summer 2020, 2022
Pedagogical Instructor at Stanford
Teaching Methods for Graduate Students (Academic Year 2019-2020)

Academic Advising
Dissertation Committee Member
• Jeffrey Diamond (University of South Florida)
• Jackson Garcia (University of South Florida)
• Steve Lasse (University of South Florida)
Graduate Academic Advisor
• Samuel (Cole) Busby (University of South Florida)
• Bridget Erickson (University of South Florida)
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Presentations

Talks (*Invited)

“Justin Martyr on Godlikeness and the Value of Rationality”

• 2024 Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society of Patristic Studies (05/2024)

“Et cum sit unus, pluribus nominibus cietur: Apuleius’ Roman Additions to Greek Theology”
• 23rd Ancient Philosophy Society Conference, Toronto Metropolitan University (04/2024)
With comments by Boris Hennig
• * Apuleius and the Aristotelian De Mundo Workshop, University of Toronto (12/2021)

“The Value Question in Ancient Metaphysics”

• * Colloquium: University of Tennessee, Knoxville (04/2024)
• * Stanford Fifth Annual Conference in Metaphysics and Epistemology (02/2024)

“Whole-Seeing and Holiness: On the Virtue of Synopsis in Plato (and Aristotle)”

• *Workshop on Plato’s Virtues, Pennsylvania State University (03/2024)

“You Are Gods: The Democratization of Deification in Early Christian Philosophy”

• * Theory and Practice in Roman Mediterranean Philosophy Workshop, University of
Toronto (12/2023)

“Aristotle’s Typological Account of the Human Function”

• Canadian Aristotle Society 3rd Annual Conference (10/2023)

“Plato's Typological Method: Models of Ideal and Non-Ideal Inquiry in the Cratylus”
• * Plato on Inquiry Workshop at the University of Uppsala (05/2023)
• * University of Turin (05/2023)

“Aristotle’s Typological Method: On the First Stage of Aristotelian Inquiry”

• * University of South Florida (01/2023)
• * St. Louis University (02/2023)

“Pythagorean and Aristotelian Function Arguments: (Pseudo-)Archytas’ On Wisdom and Aristotle’s

Protrepticus”
• Canadian Aristotle Society 2nd Annual Conference (10/2022)

"Value, Uniqueness, and God-Given Functions: On the Possible Influences of Archytas’ On Wisdom"
• * Projet Pseudopythagorica: stratégies du faire croire dans la philosophie antique (10/2022)

“Nous by Any Other Name: Recovering a Noetic Faculty in Epicurus”

• * Stanford Nous from Plato to the Renaissance Conference (9/2022)
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“Plato on Learning to Be Good: Typological Formation in Republic II-III”

• * Stanford Ethics and Politics Ancient and Modern Workshop (10/2022)
With comments by Voula Tsouna
• * University of Toronto CSAMP Work-in-Progress Talk (9/2022)
• * West Coast Plato Workshop: Republic I-IV (5/2022)
With comments by John Proios

“God-Given Functions and the Choiceworthiness of Wisdom:

Archytas’ On Wisdom and Aristotle’s Protrepticus”
• International Association for Presocratic Studies 7th Biennial Conference (7/2022)

“Divine Exemplarism and Moral τύποι in Republic II and III”

• International Society for Socratic Studies Socratica V Conference (7/2022)

“Axiological Metaphysics: Theophrastus’ Metaphysics and Plato’s Timaeus”

• * University of Kentucky Timaeus Workshop (05/2022)

“Philosophical Breakdowns and Zetetic Norms in Plato’s Dialogues”

• American Philosophical Association – Western Meeting Main Program (4/2022)
With comments by Thomas Blackson

“An Outline of Outlines: Epigraphic ΤΥΠΟΙ in Plato and Aristotle"

• * Stanford Ethics and Politics Ancient and Modern Workshop (3/2022)
With comments by Rhodes Pinto

“Wisdom and Vision: Re-Viewing an Overlooked Analogy in Protrepticus X”

• American Philosophical Association – Central Meeting Main Program (2/2022)
With comments by John Proios

“Wisdom and Vision: Re-Viewing an Overlooked Analogy in Protrepticus X”

• * Stanford Ethics and Politics Ancient and Modern Workshop (11/2021)
With comments by Christopher Bobonich

“Of Sight and Standards: Aristotle on the Practical Roles of Wisdom in Protrepticus X”
• * Workshop on Aristotle on Human and Divine Cognition, University of
Pittsburgh (7/2021)
With comments by Mariska Leunissen and Dan Ferguson

“Plato’s Divine Authority and its Christian Motivations”

• 18th Annual International Society of Neo-Platonic Studies Conference (6/2021)

“Pagan Biography in a Christian Context: On the Literary Justification of Philosophical Authority”

• 3rd Annual Stanford-Duke Philosophy and Literature Conference (9/2020)
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“Confronting the Daoist Challenge: A McDowellian Elaboration of Mencius’ Ethical Naturalism”

• American Philosophical Association – Pacific Meeting Main Program (4/2019)
With comments by Michael Dufresne

“Literature and the Stages of Our Ethical Life: Hopkins’ Instressed Inscape and the Loving Author”
• 2nd Annual Stanford-Duke Philosophy and Literature Conference (4/2019)

“ὁ θεός τε καὶ ἐγὼ: On the Role of God in Socratic Midwifery”

• 24th World Congress of Philosophy (8/2018)

“Literature and Love: The Generation and Structure of Caritas”

• Stanford Philosophy and Literature Research Workshop (1/2017)

Comments

On S. White, “Philosophical traditions in Stobaeus' book openings”

Cincinnati Stobaeus Conference (05/2024)

On P. Sabrier, “The Stoicheia tôn Pantôn at 278d1: Plato’s definition of an internal principle”
16th Annual West Coast Plato Workshop (06/2023)

On C.G. King, “Rules of genus predication in Topics IV”

Annual Toronto Workshop in Ancient Philosophy (03/2023)

On B. McDavid, “The Psychology of Money in Plato’s Republic”

American Philosophical Association Central Meeting (02/2023)

On R. Barney, “Platonic Qua Predication”

Stanford Ancient Metaphysics and Epistemology Conference (02/2023)

On V. Caston, “Aristotle on Illusions, Hallucinations, and Dreams: Is He a Direct Realist?”

Stanford Ancient Philosophy of Mind Seminar (11/2022)

On D. Charles, “Aristotle: the fine and knowledge of the fine”

Stanford Knowledge and Value Conference (4/2022)

On C.D.C. Reeve, “Completeness, Correctness, and Contemplation in Aristotle’s Ethics”

Stanford Ethics and Politics, Ancient and Modern Workshop (3/2022)

On G. Fine, “The Two Worlds Theory in the Philebus”

3rd Annual Stanford Conference on Metaphysics and Epistemology (1/2022)

On R. Sparling, “What’s So Wrong with the Two Worlds?”

Stanford Ethics and Politics Ancient and Modern Workshop (11/2021)
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On K. Kalewold, “The Limits of Non-Domination”

Stanford Political Theory Workshop (10/2021)

On D. Sedley, “Theological Dualism and the Origins of Greek Philosophy”

4th Annual Stanford Ancient Philosophy Conference (4/2021)

On A. Schwartz, “Divine Epiphany and Political Authority in Plato’s Republic”

Stanford Political Theory Workshop (4/2021)

On J. Aufderheide, “Eudoxus’ Eudaimonism”

3rd Annual Stanford Ancient Ethical Psychology Conference (2/2020)

On P. Remes, “Medicines Drenched in Honey”

Stanford Ethics and Politics Ancient and Modern Workshop (1/2020)

On S. Obdrzalek, “Plato on Evaluative Illusion”

12th Annual West Coast Plato Workshop (5/2019)

On J. Ober, “Gyges’ Expectations”

2nd Annual Stanford Ancient Ethical Psychology Conference (3/2019)

On I. Ramelli, “Social Justice and Slavery in Antiquity”

Stanford Ethics and Politics Ancient and Modern Workshop (1/2019)

On D. Frede, “Aristotle and the Master Science of Life”

Stanford Ethics and Politics Ancient and Modern Workshop (2/2018)

On J. Moss, “Dual Systems in 400BC”

Stanford Ethics and Politics Ancient and Modern Workshop (2/2018)

Academic Service Work

Reviewer
Apeiron (2023)
Eirene: Studia Graeca et Latina (2023)
Conference Organizer
Athenagoras: De Resurrectione Conference @ Kylmore Abbey (2024-25)
Stanford Fifth Annual Ancient Metaphysics and Epistemology Conference (2023-24)
West Coast Plato Workshop: Statesman @ Northern Arizona (2022-23)
Stanford Ethics Between Plato and Aristotle Conference (2022-23)
Stanford Fifth Annual Conference in Ancient Philosophy (2022-23)
Stanford Nous from Plato to the Renaissance Conference (2021-22)
Berkeley-Stanford Ancient Philosophy Reading Group (2021-22)
West Coast Plato Workshop: Republic I-IV @ Stanford (2020-21)
Stanford Ancient Philosophy Work-in-Progress Retreat (2018-22)
North American Nietzsche Society Second Biennial Conference (2018)
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Department Service – Stanford

Stanford EPAM (Ethics and Politics Ancient and Modern) Workshop Coordinator (2021-22)
WINGS (Wellness Information Network for Graduate Students) Representative,
Stanford Philosophy Department (2020-21)
Faculty-Student Representative, Stanford Philosophy Department (2019-20)
Admitted Students Visit Coordinator, Stanford Philosophy Department (2018-22)
Co-President, Stanford Philosophy Department Graduate Student Society (2017-18)
Stanford Humanities House Workshop Facilitator (2016-18)
Colloquium Reception Coordinator, Stanford Philosophy Department (2016-17)

Languages

English: Native Language

French: Fluent
Latin: Fluent reading proficiency
Greek: Fluent reading proficiency
German: Intermediate

Other Volunteer Work

Synod on Synodality Leadership Team Coordinator, Catholic Community at Stanford (2021-22)

Racial Justice and the Catholic Church Reading Group Facilitator,

Catholic Community at Stanford (2020-21)

Social Justice Small Group Leader, Catholic Community at Stanford (2018-22)

Occasional Live-In Assistant and Personal Support Worker,

L’Arche Abitibi-Témiscamingue (2010-24)
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Dissertation Abstract

My dissertation represents the first systematic study of the idea of an 'outline' (τύπος/typos) in
Plato and Aristotle. Pushing back against the general consensus that Plato and Aristotle use typos
vocabulary in a non-technical manner to indicate a 'rough sketch,' I argue that language of typoi in both
authors is consistently connected to a common conceptual structure. A typos: 1) marks out the object
of inquiry within a larger domain of candidate objects and 2) identifies the primary elements of the
essential definition of this object, 3) with the elements included in the outline subsequently requiring
further clarification and articulation in order to produce a perfected account of the essence of that
object.
In Chapter I, I identify the key questions that arise when we consider various occurrences of the
term in Plato and Aristotle together, with these questions serving to orient the dissertation as a whole.
In Chapter II, I develop my understanding of the shared conceptual structure indicated by the language
of typoi through a close reading of Nicomachean Ethics I.7. I argue that Aristotle's use of the term in
the chapter must be understood in light of an epigraphic metaphor, show how his use conforms to
Plato's own employment of the term, and suggest how the conceptual framework identified through the
language of typoi fits into Aristotle's more general understanding of the structure of philosophical
inquiry. Chapter III aims to confirm my claim that a typos includes the primary elements of an
essential definition by showing how Plato uses the terminology in the Cratylus to indicate precisely
those primary essential elements. Chapter IV turns to the Republic, showing how the tripartite common
structure associated with the language of typoi in contexts of theoretical inquiry is also employed by
Plato in practical contexts to indicate the structure of early character formation. Finally, Chapter V
points forward to future avenues of research, suggesting how patterns of typological reasoning
identified in my study of Plato and Aristotle are appropriated and transformed in the subsequent
history of ancient philosophy.
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Academic References

Christopher Bobonich
Clarence Irving Lewis Professor of Philosophy
Stanford University
Main Quad, Building 90
450 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305
bobonich@stanford.edu

George Boys-Stones
Professor of Classics and Philosophy
University of Toronto
Lillian Massey 210
125 Queens Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C7
george.boys.stones@utoronto.ca

Alan Code
Ward W. and Priscilla B. Woods Professor of Philosophy
Stanford University
Main Quad, Building 90
450 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305
acode@stanford.edu

Andrea Nightingale
Professor of Classics
Stanford University
Main Quad, Building 110
450 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305
andrean@stanford.edu

Voula Tsouna
Professor of Philosophy
University of California
South Hall 5722, Santa Barbara, CA 93106
vtsouna@philosophy.ucsb.edu