William Bell

Assistant Professor of Philosophy

Education

• Ph.D., Washington University in St. Louis
• M.A., University of Missouri St. Louis
• B.A., Southwest Baptist University

Courses Taught

• PHIL-39171 Intro to Philosophy
• PHIL-39275 Professional Ethics
• PHIL-39276 Intro to Ethics: Biomedical

Academic Interests

• Political Philosophy
• Ethics (applied and normative)
• Deontology

Scholarly Activity

Publications:

• (2026) “Defensive Desert.” Philosophy & Public Affairs 52(2): 105-115.
• (2026) with Graham Renz. “In Defense of Natural Religion.” Religious Studies 62(1): 107–120. (2025) with Christopher Heath Wellman. “Natural Duty Accounts of Political Obligation.” In George Klosko (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Political Obligation. *
• (2024) with Christopher Heath Wellman. “The Rights Forfeiture Theory of Punishment.” In Jesper Ryberg (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Punishment Theory and Philosophy (Oxford: Oxford University Press): 113–126.
• (2024) “Prison Violence as Punishment.” Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 27(4): 541–553. (2024) “Rights Reclamation.” Philosophical Studies 181: 835–858. (2024) with Graham Renz. “Why There is No Obligation to Love God.” Religious Studies 60: 77–88.

Other Professional Experiences

• Member of the American Philosophical Association