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Rem Edwards

My Ph.D. is from Emory University and I joined the department in 1966.  I am now an Emeritus Professor here at the University of Tennessee. 

Research Interests

Ethics, Metaethics, Medical Ethics, Philosophy of Religion, Epistemology, American Philosophy, History of Philosophy, Process Philosophy

Recent, representative publications

  • "Freedom and Free Will," forthcoming in the third edition of The Encyclopedia of Bioethics, New York, Macmillan.

  • "Being and Becoming All that We Can Be," in Memorias, 2nd Congreso Internacional Axiología Formal, (Toluca, MX: Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, 2001), pp. 40-50.

  • "How Process Theology Can Affirm Creation Ex Nihilo," Process Studies, Fall 2000.

  • "Editorial Foreword" to Gary J. Acquaviva, Values, Violence and Our Future, Amsterdam -Atlanta, Editions Rodopi, 2000.

  • "Minimizing Utilitarianism: An Ethical Theory for Clinical Practice," in Rem B. Edwards, ed., Bioethics for Medical Education, Stamford, Ct.: JAI Press, 1999, pp. 61-99.

  • "Editorial Foreword" to Armando Molina, Our Ways: Character and Values, Amsterdam -Atlanta, Editions Rodopi, 1997.

  • "The Search for Family Resemblances of Religion," In: Gary E. Kessler, Philosophy of Religions in Global Perspective, Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Co. 1997, pp. 20-24.

  • "Fetz's Misunderstanding of Formal Axiology," Kriterion, Vol. 11, Autumn 1998.

  • "Public Funding for Abortions and Abortion Counseling," in Rem B. Edwards, ed., New Essays on Abortion and Bioethics, Greenwich, CT: JAI Press, summer 1997.

  • "Who Are the Hartmaniacs? Applications of Formal Axiology," Center View, Vol. 2, no. 2, January, 1995. pp. 1-4.

  • "Behaviorism: Philosophical Issues," in the second edition of The Encyclopedia of Bioethics, Warren T. Reich, ed., New York, Macmillan, 1995, Vol. I, pp. 233-238. A revised version is forthcoming in the third edition.

  • "Freedom and Coercion," in the second edition of The Encyclopedia of Bioethics, Warren T. Reich, ed., New York, Macmillan, 1995, Vol. 2, pp. 881-888. (Co-authored with Edmund L. Erde).

  • "Editorial Foreword" and "Introduction," to Rem B. Edwards, ed., Formal Axiology and Its Critics, Amsterdam - Atlanta, Editions Rodopi, 1995.

  • "Some Spurious Proofs for the Pure Ego," in Rem B. Edwards, ed., Formal Axiology and Its Critics, Amsterdam - Atlanta, Editions Rodopi, 1995.

  • "Ten Unanswered Questions," in Rem B. Edwards, ed., Formal Axiology and Its Critics, Amsterdam - Atlanta, Editions Rodopi, 1995.

Recent, representative presentations

  • "The Christian and Religious Value Profiles,"co-presented with David and Vera Mefford, R. S. Hartman Institute for Formal and Applied Axiology, Knoxville, TN, Oct. 11, 2002.

  • "Being and Becoming All that We Can Be," International Congress of Axiology, Autonomous University of Mexico, Toluca, Mexico, Oct. 5, 2001.

  • "Can We Make Sense of ‘Infinite Value’?" co-presented with Thomas M. Dicken, R. S. Hartman Institute for Formal and Applied Axiology, Knoxville, TN, Oct. 6, 2000.

  • "Axiology, Evolutionary Psychology, and Fallen Human Nature," R. S.Hartman Institue for Formal and Applied Axiology, Knoxville, TN, Sept. 17, 1999.

  • "Religion and the Dark Side of Self-Knowledge," R. S. Hartman Institute for Formal and Applied Axiology, Knoxville, TN, Oct. 9, 1998.

  • "Religion and the Ultimate Axiological Proof of the Infinite Value of Human Beings," R. S. Hartman Institute for Formal and Applied Axiology, Knoxville, TN, Oct. 8, 1998.

  • "The Causes and Effects of the Big Bang" presented as a public lecture at Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC in April, 1998.

  • "Self-Knowledge and Values," R. S. Hartman Institute for Formal and Applied Axiology, Knoxville, TN., Oct. 1996.

  • "Tom Regan's Seafaring Dog and (Un)Equal Inherent Worth," The Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology, Atlanta, GA, March 31, 1994.

  • "Antecedent Universe Cosmologies," The Society for Philosophy of Religion, Savannah, GA, Feb. 25, 1994.

  • "Anthropic Cosmology and the Meaning and Value of Human Life," Hartman Institute for Formal and Applied Axiology, Knoxville, TN, Oct. 8, 1993.

Public Service Activities

  • Lecture on "The Development of Individuality in the Great Awakening and the Age of Reason" for Bruce Wheeler's University Scholars class--January 1996.
  • Member of Ethics Committee at Lakeshore Mental Health Institute, 1993-1996.
  • Chairman, Subcommittee on Policy Statement on Medical Ethics Committee, Lakeshore Mental Health Institute, Summer of 1995.
  • Member of Chaplaincy Training Committee, Baptist Hospital, Knoxville, TN, 1987.
  • Consultant and Member of several Ethics Advisory Committees for Lakeshore Mental Health Institute, 1981 to 1985.
  • This involved numerous consultations on difficult cases.Member, Nominating Committee, Mental Health Association of Knox County, 1987.
  • Member, Patient Advocacy Advisor Committee, Lakeshore Mental Health Institute, 1980-1986.
  • Chairman, Patient Advocacy Advisory Committee, Lakeshore Mental Health Institute, 1980-1986.
  • Member, Board of Directors, Mental Health Association of Knox County, 1981-1986.
  • First Vice President, Mental Health Association of Knox County, 1982-1983.
  • Member, Executive Committee, Mental Health Association of Knox County, 1982-1983.
Rem Edwards

Contact Information

Rem Edwards
Professor Emeritus
816 McClung Tower
Knoxville, TN 37996-0480

Phone: 865-974-4124
Fax: 865-974-3509

Email: remb@utk.edu