Aug. 24, 2010

Morningside College professor publishes articles in recent books and journals

Several articles written by Heather L. Reid, professor and chair of philosophy at Morningside College, have been published recently in books and academic journals.

Reid’s article “Athletic Virtues East and West” appeared in the journal Sport, Ethics and Philosophy and was reprinted in the anthology “The Ethics of Sports: A Reader” published by Routledge. The article connected virtues from ancient Greek and Chinese philosophy with modern athletic practice.

The article “Hercules’ Dilemma: Is Strength Really a Virtue?” appears in the book “Philosophical Reflections on Physical Strength: Does a Strong Mind Need a Strong Body?” published by Mellen Press. Reid’s article discussed Hercules’ choice between two paths in life and concluded that strength is only a virtue if it is used for good.

Reid wrote about her bike racing career from a philosophical perspective in an article titled  “My Life as a Two-Wheeled Philosopher” that is featured in the book “Cycling – Philosophy for Everyone: A Philosophical Tour de Force” from Blackwell Publishing.

The International Journal of the History of Sport recently published Reid’s experiences at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics as part of a report titled “An American Philosopher at the Beijing Olympics.”

Reid presented the paper "Plato's Gymnasium" at the Fifth International Bilingual Symposium of the Olympic Center for Philosophy and Culture held in Olympia, Greece, in July.  The paper explored the educational function of Plato’s Academy, a philosophical school founded in an outdoor gymnasium in Athens. “Plato’s Gymnasium” will be published as a chapter in Reid’s forthcoming book “Philosophy and Athletics in Ancient Greece and Rome: Contests of Virtue.”

Reid joined the Morningside faculty in 1996. She received her bachelor’s degree in philosophy, English language and literature from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree and doctorate in philosophy from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Reid’s research has been supported in part through the Ver Steeg Faculty Development Program at Morningside.