Portrait image of James Snyder
James Snyder

Professor

Contact Information

OFFICE: Preston 226
PHONE: 814-824-3345

Dr. Snyder specializes in 19th and 20th century European philosophy, and he is interested in classical Greek philosophy, modern philosophy, the nature of happiness, and the intersections between literature, psychology, and religion. He teaches a broad range of courses, including Introduction to Logic, Philosophy and Literature, Existentialism, Postmodernism, and Capstone Ethics. Dr. Snyder is a strong believer in international education, and he has participated in 6 faculty-led study abroad courses to France, Germany, Italy and Greece. In 2019 he was the recipient of Mercyhurst University’s Teaching Excellence Award.

About Dr. Snyder

    Ph.D. - Duquesne University, Philosophy
    M.A. - Duquesne University, Philosophy
    B.A. - Slippery Rock University, Philosophy
    B.S. - Slippery Rock University, Secondary Education

    • Introduction to Philosophy (Online)
    • Introduction to Logic
    • Philosophical Studies
    • Introduction to Ethics
    • Philosophy and Literature
    • Existentialism
    • History of Philosophy to the Renaissance
    • History of Philosophy since the Renaissance
    • Postmodern Philosophy
    • Capstone Ethics
    • Philosophy of time, meaning, and spiritual experience
    • The works of Martin Heidegger
    • Hellenic Studies
    • American Philosophical Association
    • Global Center for Advanced Studies 
    • European Center for Heidegger Studies 
    • North American Heidegger Circle
    • Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy
    • Society for the Study of Existential and Phenomenological Theory and Culture
    • Senior Research Fellowship, The Martin Heidegger Archive, Meßkirch, Germany (March-May, 2023)
    • Research participant and presenter, Global Center for Advanced Studies, “Nietzsche Seminar: Thus Spoke Zarathustra,” Annaberg im Lammertal, Austria (May/June, 2023)
    • Lecture, “Heidegger and the Question Concerning Technology,” University of Salzburg, Austria (May 2023)
    • Conference presentation, “Authentic Freedom, Temporality, and Eternity in Heidegger’s Interpretation of Schelling,” 2022 Heidegger and German Idealism conference, The Martin Heidegger Archive and the Universität Erfurt, Meßkirch, Germany. Online (June, 2022)
    • Award recipient and participant in “The Ancient Greek Hero” Summer Seminar, The Council of Independent Colleges and the Center for Hellenic Studies, Harvard University. Washington D.C. (2019, August)

    Interview with the German newspaper Südkurier, while serving as a Senior Research Fellow, The Martin Heidegger Archive, Meßkirch, Germany (May 8, 2023)

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    Dr. Snyder leading discussion on Nietzsche’s Thus Spoke Zarathustra while trekking in the Austrian Alps with professors and graduate students from The Global Global Center for Advanced Studies (Annaberg im Lammertal, Austria, June, 2023)

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    Dr. Snyder delivering a lecture, “Heidegger and the Question Concerning Technology,” at the University of Salzburg, Austria (May 2023). Hosted by Dr. Robert Winkler, Department of English and American Studies, University of Salzburg. 

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