Updated 13/02/2025

Areas of specialisation and competence

  • Area of Specialisation: Ancient Philosophy, Greek Literature

  • Areas of Competence: Ethics, Aesthetics, Metaphysics

Employment

  • 2020-present University of Wollongong

    Lecturer

    School of Liberal Arts

  • 2016-2019.      Durham University
                               Junior Research Fellow
                               The Department of Ancient History and Classics
                               Project Title: Immortality in the Symposium: Plato's Appropriation of Established Traditions
                               of Post-Mortem Fate

EDucation

  • 2011-2015 The University of Sydney
    PhD, Department of Philosophy
    Title: The Memory of Virtue: Immortality and Kleos in Plato's Symposium
    Supervisors: Prof. Rick Benitez, Prof. Paul Thom, Prof. Julia Kindt
    Examiners: Prof. Catherine Collobert (Ottawa), Prof. Gerard Nadday (York), Prof. Gabriel
    Richardson Lear (Chicago)

  • 2008-2010 The University of Sydney
    MPhil, Department of Philosophy
    Title: The Rites of Love: A Discussion of Platonic Eros with particular reference to the Scala
    Amoris passage of Plato's Symposium
    Supervisors: Prof. Rick Benitez, Assoc. Prof. John Grumley
    Examiners: Prof. Paul Woodruff (Texas), Dr. Frisbee Sheffield (Cambridge)

  • 2003-2006 The University of Sydney
    BA (Hons I) in Philosophy, minor in Linguistics
    Honours Thesis Title: Art as Process: On Definitions of Art

publications

  • Monographs

    • (in progress), ‘Immortality in Plato’s Symposium’.

  • Edited Volumes

    • (under consideration) with Andrea Capra and Sarah Miles, The Draw of Thaleia: Plato and Comedy in the Socratic Dialogues, Cambridge University Press (full manuscript submitted 17/02/2025).

    • with George Gazis 2021, Aspects of Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Greece, Liverpool, Liverpool University Press.

  • Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

  • Book Chapters

    • (forthcoming), ‘Epic kleos as a Model for Immortality in Plato’s Symposium’, in Plato’s Epic Entanglements, eds Marta Antonla, Giulia Bernardini, and George Gazis, Liverpool, Liverpool University Press (submitted 31/01/2025).

    • (under consideration), ‘The Comic Worldview: Plato’s Symposium 189c ff.’, in The Draw of Thaleia: Plato and Comedy in the Socratic Dialogues, eds Andrea Capra, Anthony Hooper, and Sarah Miles, Cambridge University Press (submitted 17/02/2025).

    • 2021, 'Renovating the House of Hades: Cult Extensions and Socratic Reconstructions', in Aspects of Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Greece, eds George Gazis and Anthony Hooper, Liverpool, Liverpool University Press, pp. 153-70.

    • 2021, 'Introduction', in Aspects of Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Greece, eds George Gazis and Anthony Hooper, Liverpool, Liverpool University Press, pp. 1-9.

    • 2020, 'The Afterlife in Homer', The Cambridge Guide to Homer, ed Corrine Pache et al, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, pp. 287-92.

    • 2016, 'Extensions for the House of Hades', in Reflections on Plato's Poetics: Essays from Beijing, eds Rick Benitez and Keping Wang, Australia, Academic Printing and Publishing, pp. 55-63.

    • 2012, 'The Dual-Role Philosophers: An Exploration of a Failed Relationship', in Alcibiades and the Socratic Lover-Educator, eds Marguerite Johnson and Harold Tarrant, London, Bristol Classical Press, pp. 107-18.

  • Reviews

    • 2023, ‘Review: (V.) Harte and (R.) Woolf, Reading Ancient Philosophy: Old Chestnuts and Sacred Cows’, Journal of Hellenic Studies, Vol. 142, pp. 434-35.

    • 2021, ‘Review: J. Fischer, Death, Immortality, and Meaning in Life’, Australasian Journal of Philosophy, Vol. 99, No. 3, p. 628.

    • 2018, 'Review: P. Destrée and P. Giannopoulou, Plato's Symposium: A Critical Guide', Classical Review, Vol. 68, No. 2, pp. 356-59.

    • 2017, 'Review: S. Weisser and N. Thaler, Strategies of Polemics in Greek and Roman Philosophy', Classical Review, Vol. 67, No. 2, pp. 538-41.

    • 2012, 'Review: Plato's Symposium', Prudentia. https://cdn.auckland.ac.nz/assets/arts/Departments/classics-ancient/documents-publications/Prudentia/Hooper%20on%20Cooksey.pdf

    • 2011, 'Review: George Rudebusch, Socrates', International Journal of Philosophical Studies, Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 119-24.

    • 2009, 'Review: Jane Johnson, An Idealist Justification of Punishment', Australian Journal of Legal Philosophy, Vol. 34, pp. 262-65.

Works in progress

  • 'Erotic Androgyny in Plato’s Symposium’ (draft article)

Teaching

Course Co-ordinating

  • The Good Life and the Virtues (2024) - University of Wollongong (UoW)

  • Classics of the Middle Ages (2021-25) - UoW

  • Classics of Ancient Rome (2020-25) - UoW

  • Classics of Ancient Greece (2020-25) - UoW

  • Hellenistic Philosophy (2015) - University of Sydney (USYD)

  • Philosophy of Happiness (2015-16) - USYD

  • The Classical Mind (2011-14) - USYD

  • Greek Philosophy (2013) - UoW

  • The Presocratic Philosophers (2012) - USYD

Lecturing

  • The Good Life and the Virtues (2024) - UoW

  • Classics of the Middle Ages (2021-25) - UoW

  • Classics of Ancient Rome (2020-25) - UoW

  • Classics of Ancient Greece (2020-25) - UoW

  • Wisdom, Truth, and Reason (2020-25) - UoW

  • Early Greek Philosophy (2016-17) - Durham University

  • Philosophy of Happiness (2015-16) - USYD

  • Hellenistic Philosophy (2015) - USYD

  • The Classical Mind (2010-14)

  • Greek Philosophy (2013) - UoW

  • The Presocratic Philosophers (2012) - USYD

  • Science and Ethics (2008) - USYD

  • Bioethics (2008) - USYD

Tutoring

  • The Good Life and the Virtues (2024) - UoW

  • Classics of the Middle Ages (2021-25 - UoW

  • Classics of Ancient Rome (2020-25) - UoW

  • Classics of Ancient Greece (2020-25) - UoW

  • Early Greek Philosophy (2016-17) - Durham University

  • Philosophy and Psychiatry (2016) - USYD

  • Philosophy of Happiness (2014-16) - USYD

  • Hellenistic Philosophy (2015) - USYD

  • The Classical Mind (2010-14)

  • Greek Philosophy (2013) - UoW

  • The Presocratic Philosophers (2012)

  • Ethics (2009) - University of Notre Dame, Sydney

  • Society, Knowledge, and Self (2009) - USYD

  • Reality, Ethics, and Beauty (2008) - USYD

  • Science and Ethics (2008) - USYD

  • Bioethics (2008) - USYD

Conferences Organised

  • with Assoc. Prof. Andrea Capra, Assoc. Prof. Sarah Miles, and Dr. George Gazis, Plato on Comedy: International Conference, Durham University, 6th-7th July 2019, Keynote Speaker: Prof. Kathryn Morgan.

  • with Assoc. Prof. Andrea Capra, Assoc. prof. Sarah Miles, and Dr. George Gazis, Plato on Comedy: An International Workshop, 30th-31st March 2019.

  • with Dr. George Gazis, Aspects of Death and the Afterlife in Greece and Beyond, Durham University, 7th-9th July 2017. Keynote Speakers: Prof. Radcliffe Edmonds III and Prof. Douglas Davies.

Selected conference Papers and Presentations

  • 2025, ‘Epic kleos as a Model for Immortality in Plato’s Symposium’, Department of Philosophy Research Seminar, University of New South Wales, 25th March.

  • 2025, ‘Epic kleos as a Model for Immortality in Plato’s Symposium’, Department of Classics and Ancient History Research Seminar Series, University of Sydney, 17th March.

  • 2024, ‘Epic kleos as a Model for Immortality in Plato’s Symposium’, Expanding Minds Research Series, University of Wollongong, 26th November.

  • 2024, ‘Epic kleos as a Model for Immortality in Plato’s Symposium’, Centre for Classical Studies Seminar, Australian National University, 9th October.

  • 2023, ‘The Comic Worldview: Plato’s Symposium 189c ff.’, Department of Classics and Ancient History Research Seminar Series, University of Sydney, 2nd March.

  • 2022, ‘Highway to Hell: The Benefits of Philosophical Pessimism’, World Philosophy Day - Stanton Library Philosophy Group, Stanton Library Sydney, 17th November.

  • 2022, ‘Plato and Chill? Loving Well to Think Well in Plato’s Symposim’, Epistemic Virtue from the Ancient to Early Modern Period, University of Sydney, 20th-21st April.

  • 2022, ‘Erotic Androgyny and the Priority of the Feminine in Plato’s Symposium’, Critical Antiquities Workshop, Online, 24th March.

  • 2022, ‘The Beautiful as the Appearance of the Good in Plato’s Symposium’, Australasian Society for Classical Studies 43rd Annual Conference, University of Tasmania (Online), 8th-11th Feruary.

  • 2022, ‘The Bold ARE the Beautiful: Beauty and Ethical Value in Ancient Greece’, Stanton Library Philosophy Group, Stanton Library Sydney, 3rd February.

  • 2021, ‘Erotic Androgyny and the Priority of the Feminine in Plato’s Symposium’, The Australasian Society for Classical Studies 42nd Annual Conference, Online, 8th-11th February.

  • 2020, ‘The Virtues of Solitude: An Ancient Perspective’, World Philosophy Day - Stanton Library Philosophy Group, Sydney, 19th November.

  • 2019, ‘Aristotle’s Ingredients for the Good Life’, World Philosophy Day - Stanton Library Philosophy Group, Sydney, 21st November.

  • 2019, ‘Reconstructing Plato’s Comic Worldview’, Plato on Comedy: International Conference, Durham University, 6th-7th July.

  • 2017, 'No Short Cut to Wisdom: Suicide in Plato's Phaedo', 12th International Conference on Greek Research, Flinders University, 23rd-24th June.

  • 2016, 'My, How Death Becomes You! or Cultivation, Death, and Immortality in Plato's Symposium', In Pursuit of Wisdom: Ancient Chinese and Greek Perspectives on Cultivation, University of New South Wales, 15th-18th January.

  • 2015, 'Aristophanes' Hiccups and Pausanias' Sophistry in Plato's Symposium', 11th International Conference on Greek Research, Flinders University, 26th-28th June.

  • 2014, 'The Fragments of Heraclitus: Dynamic Wisdom and the Good Life', The Pursuit of Wisdom: Ancient Greek and Chinese Philosophy and Literature, University of New South Wales, 27th-28th November.

  • 2013, 'Scaling the Ladder: Why the Final Step of the Lover's Ascent is a Generalizing Step', International Plato Society X Symposium Platonicum: Symposium, Pisa, Italy, 15th-20th July.

  • 2012, 'Navigating the Depths: Dynamic Wisdom and the Flux of Thought in Heraclitus', The Australasian Society for Classical Studies 33rd Annual Conference, Monash University, 5th-9th February.

  • 2011, 'Immortal Virtue: Inspiration and Memory in Plato's Symposium', Inspired Voices Research Cluster, University of Sydney, 27th October.

  • 2011, 'Seminar Series: Empedocles' Purifications', Inspired Voices Research Cluster, University of Sydney, 9th June-28th July.

  • 2011, 'Scaling the Ladder: Plato on Eros in the Symposium', Blackheath Philosophy Forum, Blackheath, 28th May.

  • 2011, 'Immortal Fame: Plato on Immortality in the Symposium', Postgraduate Philosophers' Seminar, University of Sydney, 7th March.

  • 2011, 'Seminar Series: Heraclitus on Immortality', Inspired Voices Research Cluster, University of Sydney, 8th-22nd February.

  • 2011, 'The Greatest Hop of All: Aristophanes on Mortal Nature in Plato's Symposium', The Australasian Association of Philosophy Annual Conference, University of Aukland, 24th-27th January.

  • 2010, 'The Memory of Virtue: Achieving Immortality through Inspiration in Plato's Symposium', The Australasian Association of Philosophy Annual Conference, University of New South Wales, 4th-9th July.

  • 2010, 'The Aesthetic Element of Ethical Behaviour in Sergio Leone's For a Few Dollars More', Russellian Society, University of Sydney, 13th May.

  • 2009, 'The Philosopher's Stories: The Role of Myth in Plato's Pedagogy, The Australasian Postgraduate Annual Conference, Macquarie University, 15th-17th April.

  • 2008, 'The Dual-Role Philosophers: A Mutual Relationship of becoming-towards-Being', Socrates, Alcibiades, and the Divine Lover& Educator, University of Newcastle, 4th-6th December.

  • 2007, 'An Examination of Categories and Claims in Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit', Kantian and Post-Kantian Interest Group, University of Sydney, 4th October.

Scholarships and Awards

  • 2013 Excellence in Teaching (Practice) Award, Faculty of Arts, University of Sydney

  • 2013 Postgraduate Research Support Scheme Award, Faculty of Arts, University of Sydney

  • 2015, 2012 x2 Lucy Firth Prize for Meritorious Performance, Department of Philosophy, University of
    2011, 2010 Sydney

  • 2011-14 Australian Postgraduate Award, Commonwealth Government of Australia

Administration

Administrative Roles

  • 2024-present International Officer

  • 2020-2024 Head of Students

    School of Liberal Arts, University of Wollongong

  • 2020-2024 Shadow Academic Programme Director

    School of Liberal Arts, University of Wollongong

Other Administrative Activities

  • 2012, Research Assistant and Manuscript Editor for Assoc. Prof. Julia Kindt for her project:
    Rethinking Greek Religion, Department of Classics and Ancient History, University of
    Sydney

  • 2011-13, Administrative Assistant for the Inspired Voices Research Cluster, Faculty of Arts and
    Social Sciences Collaborative Research Scheme, University of Sydney

  • 2010, Research Assistant and Manuscript Editor for De. Sebastiana Nervegna for her project:
    Menander in Antiquity: The Contexts of Reception, Department of Classics and Ancient
    History, University of Sydney

Journal Referee

  • The Classical Review (Cambridge)

  • Antithesis (University of Melbourne)

  • Antichthon (Journal of the Australasian Association of Philosophy)

Memberships

  • The Australasian Association of Philosophy

  • The Australasian Society for Classical Studies

  • The International Plato Society

  • The Classical Association (UK)

Academic referees

  • Prof. Dan Hutto

    School of Liberal Arts (Director)

    University of Wollongong

    ddhutto@uow.edu.au

  • Prof. Rick Benitez
    Department of Philosophy
    University of Sydney
    Rick.Benitez@sydney.edu.au

  • Prof. Christopher Rowe
    Department of Classics and Ancient History (Emeritus)
    Durham University
    c.j.rowe@durham.ac.uk

  • Prof. Kathryn Morgan

    Department of Classics

    UCLA

    kmorgan@humnet.ucla.edu

  • Prof. George Boys-Stones
    Department of Classics

    University of Toronto

    george.boys.stones@utoronto.ca

  • Prof. Julia Kindt
    Department of Classics and Ancient History
    University of Sydney
    Julia.Kindt@sydney.edu.au