Christian Early Associate Professor of Philosophy and Interim Director of JMU’s ERiA Program

Christian Early's current work focuses on ethical reasoning and developing curiosity prompted habits of perceiving and navigating situations that arise in daily and professional life using the Eight Key Question strategy. His research interests are the role of emotions and intuition in decision-making, moral sense and perception, and investigating ways in which we can effectively incorporate moral deliberation when making a decision (navigating) rather than using moral deliberation to justify a decision (virtue signaling). He has published in Teaching Ethics and given numerous papers, lectures, and workshops on ethical reasoning.

Before joining Ethical Reasoning in Action at James Madison University, Christian taught philosophy at Eastern Mennonite University focusing on the intersections between science, philosophy, and religion. He has edited two books: Integrating the New Science of Love and a Spirituality of Peace (2013) and A Pacifist Way of Knowing (2010).

Christian received his M.A. from Fuller Seminary (Pasadena, CA) and Ph.D from the University of Wales (Cardiff, Wales). He is Interim Director of Ethical Reasoning in Action and Associate Professor of Philosophy at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA.