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Dr. Richard S. Ruderman

Associate Professor

University of North Texas

Department of Political Science

(940) 565-4999

Email: ruderman@unt.edu

Education

  • MA, University of Chicago, 1990
    Major: Committee on Social Thought
  • PhD, University of Chicago, 1990
    Major: Social Thought
    Specialization: Political Philosophy
    Dissertation: Sufficient Justice: Xenophon's Anabasis and the Classical View of Ruling.
  • BA, University of Toronto, 1980
    Major: Political Science

Professional Positions

  • Associate Professor, University of North Texas. University of North Texas. (1999 - Present).
  • Department Chair, UNT. UNT. (2010 - 2014).
  • Assistant Professor, University of North Texas. University of North Texas. (1993 - 1999).
  • Olin Faculty Fellow, University of Chicago. University of Chicago. (1992 - 1993).
  • Visiting Assistant Professor, Colgate University. Colgate University. (1989 - 1992).

Professional Memberships

  • Northeast Political Science Association. (August 20, 2023 - Present).
  • Society for the Study of Greek Political Thought. (August 20, 1995 - Present).
  • American Political Science Association. (1992 - Present).
  • Midwest Political Science Association. (February 1, 2021 - December 31, 2022).

Development Activities

  • Faculty Development Leave, Book MS: The Enlightenment's Failure to Defeat Anger and Hatred, UNT. Denton,TX,United States of America. (August 25, 2024 - January 10, 2025).
  • Faculty Development Leave, Research on Machiavelli, University of North Texas. Denton,TX,United States of America. (August 27, 2015 - December 15, 2015).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • PSCI 1010 - Politics and Pop Culture, 2 courses.
  • PSCI 1040 - American Government: Laws and Institutions, 6 courses.
  • PSCI 1050 - American Government: Process and Policies, 3 courses.
  • PSCI 1051 - Honors American Government, 2 courses.
  • PSCI 1060 - American Government: Topics, 1 course.
  • PSCI 1085 - The American Political and Economic Experience, 2 courses.
  • PSCI 2305 - US Political Behavior and Policy, 10 courses.
  • PSCI 2316 - Honors US and Texas Constitutions and Institutions, 1 course.
  • PSCI 3310 - Political Theory: Quest for Justice, 13 courses.
  • PSCI 3320 - Political Theory: The State and its Critics, 14 courses.
  • PSCI 4320 - American Political Theory, 1 course.
  • PSCI 4330 - Topics in Political Theory, 23 courses.
  • PSCI 4333 - Politics and Socratic Self Knowledge, 1 course.
  • PSCI 4900 - Special Problems, 5 courses.
  • PSCI 4952 - Political Science Capstone Seminar, 2 courses.
  • PSCI 5310 - Proseminar in Political Theory, 10 courses.
  • PSCI 5350 - Topics in Political Theory, 10 courses.
  • PSCI 5900 - Special Problems, 10 courses.
  • PSCI 5950 - Master's Thesis, 19 courses.
  • PSCI 6310 - Topics in Political Theory, 4 courses.
  • PSCI 6900 - Special Problems, 21 courses.
  • PSCI 6930 - Individual Research, 7 courses.
  • PSCI 6940 - Practicum, 4 courses.
  • PSCI 6950 - Doctoral Dissertation, 24 courses.

Non-Credit Instruction

  • Continuing Education, Jack Miller Center, 18 participants. (June 8, 2022 - June 9, 2022).

Directed Student Learning

  • Dissertation Committee Chair, "The American Dream in the Works of F. Scott Fitzgerald," Political Science. (June 15, 2013 - October 9, 2023).
  • Dissertation Committee Chair, "Political Corruption in Islam and the West: Machiavelli and Ibn Khaldun," Political Science. (July 15, 2019 - October 7, 2023).
  • Dissertation Committee Chair, "The Problem of the Demagogue in Aristotle and Machiavelli," Political Science. (June 1, 2019 - June 8, 2022).
  • Other (Directed Research Capstone), "Problem of Justice in Plato's Republic," Philosophy and Religion. (January 22, 2022 - May 13, 2022).
  • Dissertation Committee Chair, "The Stranger's Theology in Plato's Laws," Political Science. (April 20, 2016 - March 15, 2021).
  • Dissertation Committee Chair, "Political Judgment and Rule in Bacon's New Atlantis," Political Science. (October 2012 - March 8, 2021).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, "Justice and Political Stability in Xenophon's Cyropaedia," Political Science. (October 2015 - October 15, 2020).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, "Rousseau and the Problem of Censorship," Political Science. (October 2014 - August 15, 2020).
  • Directed Individual/Independent Study, "Montesquieu's Political Philosophy," Political Science. (January 20, 2018 - May 13, 2018).
  • Master's Thesis Committee Chair, "Towards an Improved Capabilities Approach in Animal Ethics," Political Science. (August 25, 2017 - May 11, 2018).
  • Directed Individual/Independent Study, "Leo Strauss's Political Philosophy," Political Science. (August 20, 2017 - December 14, 2017).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, "Knowing What is Useful: Rousseau's Education Concerning Science, Politics, and Happiness," Political Science. (September 2014 - August 2017).
  • Other (Undergraduate Honors Contract), Honors College. (August 27, 2016 - December 15, 2016).
  • Dissertation Committee Chair, "A History of Overcoming: Nietzsche on the Moral Antecedents and Successors of Modern Liberalism," Political Science. (September 2013 - June 2016).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, "Scripture for America: Scriptural Interpretation in John Locke’s Paraphrase," Political Science. (September 2013 - June 2016).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, "Montesquieu, Diversity, and the American Constitutional Debate," Political Science. (September 1, 2013 - December 13, 2015).
  • Dissertation Committee Chair, "Aristotle on Friendship and Politics," Political Science. (May 13, 2015).
  • Dissertation Committee Chair, "Rabelais' Critique of Machiavelli's Conquest of Fortune," Political Science. (August 1, 2013 - May 13, 2015).
  • Dissertation Committee Chair, "Thucydides' Spartans," Political Science. (August 09, 2014).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, "Hobbes's Critique of Christianity," Political Science. (December 13, 2013).

Awards and Honors

  • Nominated for President's Council Teaching Award, Faculty Senate.
  • Nominated for 'Fessor Graham Teaching Award, Student Government Association.
  • Inspirational Professor, Honors College.

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Book

  • Martin D. Yaffe and Richard S. Ruderman, eds.. (2014). Reorientation: Leo Strauss in the 1930's. http://www.amazon.com/Reorientation-Strauss-Recovering-Political-Philosophy/dp/1137374233/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409073127&sr=8-1&keywords=reorientation+leo+strauss

    • Book Chapter

  • Ruderman, R.S. (2024). A Socratic Middle Road Between Virtue and Vice. Governing Oneself and Others: On Xenophon of Athens. Mercer University Press.
  • Ruderman, R.S. (2021). Plato on the Tyrannical Temptation. Liberty, Democracy, and the Temptations to Tyranny in the Dialogues of Plato, ed. Charlotte C.S. Thomas, Mercer University Press, 2021. 20. Mercer University Press.
  • Ruderman, R.S. (2018). "'Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land': William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, and the Abolition of Slavery.". History of American Political Thought. 2nd edition. Edited by Bryan-Paul Frost and Jeffrey Sikkenga. (2nd edition) Lexington Books.
  • Marks, J. (2016). Practice and Principle in Ancient Statesmanship. Prudence and Principle: Essays in Honor of Nathan Tarcov. Lanham, MD, Lexington Press.
  • Ed., Timothy W. Burns. (2015). "'Through the Keyhole': Leo Strauss's Rediscovery of Classical Political Philosophy in Xenophon's Constitution of the Lacedaemonians". Brill's Companion to Leo Strauss's Writings on Classical Political Thought. Leiden, Brill Publishers. http://www.brill.com/products/reference-work/brills-companion-leo-strauss-writings-classical-political-thought
  • Ed., Timothy Burns. (2015). "On Leo Strauss's Presentation of Xenophon's Political Philosophy in "The Problem of Socrates". Brill's Companion to Leo Strauss's Writings on Classical Political Thought. Leiden, Brill Publishers. http://www.brill.com/products/reference-work/brills-companion-leo-strauss-writings-classical-political-thought
  • Ruderman, R.S. (2012). "A Slingshot Recoils: The Critique of Philosophy in Halevi's Kuzari ." In The Recovery of Political Rationalism: Essays in Honor of Thomas L. Pangle , ed. Timothy Burns (Lexington Press, 2011). . The Recovery of Classical PoliticalRationalism: Essays in Honor of Thomas L. Pangle. Lanham, MD, Lexington Press.
  • Ruderman, R.S. (2003). "'Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land': William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, and the Abolition of Slavery." In History of American Political Thought. Edited by Bryan-Paul Frost and Jeffrey Sikkenga.
  • Ruderman, R.S. (2002). "Political Judgment in Dark Times: Frederick Douglass and Slavery." In 'Phronesis': Studies in the Nature and Scope of Prudential Leadership." Edited by Ethan Fishman.
  • Ruderman, R.S. (1995). "Leadership." In The Encyclopedia of Democracy. Edited by Seymour Martin Lipset.
  • Ruderman, R.S. (1995). "Love and Friendship in Homer's Odyssey." In Political Philosophy and the Human Soul: Essays in Honor of Allan Bloom. Edited by Michael Palmer and Thomas L. Pangle.
  • Ruderman, R.S. (1992). "The Rule of a Philosopher-King: Xenophon's Anabasis." In Politikos II: Educating the Ambitious. Edited by Leslie G. Rubin.

    • Book Review

  • Ruderman, R.S. (2017). The Longing that Dares Not Speak Its Name. Interpretation: A Journal of Political Philosophy. 43 (3) 513-519. http://www.interpretationjournal.com/backissues/Vol_43_3.pdf
  • Ruderman, R.S. (1997). Review of Peter J. Ahrensdorf's The Death of Socrates and the Life of Philosophy..
  • Ruderman, R.S. (1992). Review of Zdravko Planinc's Platonic Political Philosophy..

    • Journal Article

  • Ruderman, R.S. (2022). "'A Sacred Effort': Lincoln's Second Inaugural and the Problem of Justice". American Journal of Political Science.
  • Ruderman, R.S. (2012). "Statesmanship Reconsidered". Perspectives on Political Science. 41 (2)
  • R. Kenneth Godwin. (2000). "Liberalism and Parental Control of Education".
  • Ruderman, R.S. (1999). "Odysseus and the Possibility of Enlightenment.". American Journal of Political Science.
  • R. Kenneth Godwin, Frank Kemerer, and Valerie Martinez. (1998). "Liberal Equity in Education: A Comparison of Choice Options," along with a response to critics: "Equity, Diversity, and Tolerance in Education.".
  • Ruderman, R.S. (1997). "Democracy and the Problem of Statesmanship.".
  • Ruderman, R.S. (1997). "Aristotle and the Recovery of Political Judgment.". American Political Science Review.

Presentations Given

  • Ruderman, R.S. (Other), Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison, (2003 - 2003).

    • Invited Talk

  • Ruderman, R.S. (Author & Presenter), Tocqueville Center Lecture Series, "Frederick Douglass's Eulogy of Abraham Lincoln: Discovering Statesmanship", Jack Miller Center, Jacksonville State University (AL), United States of America. (2022).
  • Ruderman, R.S. (Author), Science, Common Sense, and Prudence, Prudence in the History of Political Philosophy, Co-sponsored by the Center for Political Thought and Leadership at Arizona State University and the Peoria Project, Tempe, AZ, United States of America. (2019 - 2019).
  • Ruderman, R.S. (Author), Baylor Speakers Series, C.F. Meyer's 'The Tempting of Pescara' and the Meaning of Death, Political Science Department, Baylor University, United States of America. (2017 - 2017).
  • Ruderman, R.S. (Other), Amon Carter Museum Series, On Henry Clay, United States of America. (2012 - 2012).

    • Other

  • Ruderman, R.S. (Discussant), Oases of Excellence Faculty Conference, N/A, American Council of Trustees and Alumni, Logan, UT, United States of America. (2019 - 2019).

    • Panel Presentation

  • Ruderman, R.S. (Author & Presenter), American Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Anger and Hatred in the Perspective of Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Aristotle, American Political Science Association, Montreal, Quebec., Canada. (2022 - 2022).
  • Ruderman, R.S. (Chair), Northeast Political Science Association Conference, Comments on Jason Lund’s “Plato’s Phaedrus and the Socratic Turn”, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America. (2019 - 2019).
  • Ruderman, R.S. (Author & Presenter), A.V. Elliott Conference on Great Books and Ideas, Plato on our Inner Tyrant, Mercer University, Macon, GA, United States of America. (2019 - 2019).
  • Ruderman, R.S. (Author), Northeast Political Science Association Annual Meeting, J'Accuse: Machiavelli's Response to a Divine Calumny, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (2018 - 2018).
  • Ruderman, R.S. (Author), American Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Thucydides on the Causes of (the) War, San Francisco, CA, United States of America. (2017 - 2017).
  • Ruderman, R.S. (Discussant), Ancient Philosophy Society, Comments on Timothy Burns's "The Dialogue between Cyrus and his Father", Waco, TX, United States of America. (2017).
  • Ruderman, R.S. (Author & Presenter), Northeast Political Science Association Conference, Democratic Demagoguery in Aristophanes’ The Knights”, Boston, MA, United States of America. (2012).
  • Ruderman, R.S. (Other), Northeast Political Science Association Annual Meeting, "Xenophon's Constitution of the Lacedaemonians", Philadelphia PA, United States of America. (2011).

    • Paper

  • Ruderman, R.S. (Author & Presenter), Northeastern Political Science Association Meeting, Plato's Republic on the Tyrannical Temptation, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America. (2019 - 2019).

    • Professional Meeting Contribution

  • Ruderman, R.S. (Discussant), Midwest Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Commentary on "Approaches to Plato", Chicago, IL, United States of America. (2016).
  • Ruderman, R.S. (Chair), American Political Science Association Annual Meeting, The Wisdom of Ancient Texts, San Francisco, CA, United States of America. (2015 - 2015).
  • Ruderman, R.S. (Author & Presenter), Northeast Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Leo Strauss on Xenophon and the Problem of Heidegger, Boston, MA, United States of America. (2014 - 2014).

    • Scholarly Meeting Contribution

  • Ruderman, R.S. (Discussant), Northeast Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Commentary on "Ancient Tragedy and Comedy", Boston, MA, United States of America. (2016).

Contracts, Grants, Sponsored Research

    Grant - Research

  • Ruderman, R.S. (Principal), "Support for hosting Lone Star Theory Group meeting (March 2019)," sponsored by Office of Research and Innovation, University of North Texas, $720.00 Funded. (2018 - 2019).
  • Ruderman, R.S. (Principal), "Research and Creativity Award," sponsored by University of North Texas, University of North Texas, $3500 Funded. (2009 - 2010).

    • Grant - Service

  • Borck, C.A. (Co-Principal), Duff, A.S. (Co-Principal), Ruderman, R. (Co-Principal), Major, R. (Co-Principal), "Constitutionalism and Democracy Forum," sponsored by Jack Miller Foundation, National, $10000 Funded. (2021 - 2022).

Service

University Service

  • Committee Member, Graduate Studies. (August 25, 2023 - Present).
  • Committee Member, Undergraduate Studies. (August 25, 2022 - Present).
  • Chairperson, Jewish Studies Steering Committee. (August 25, 2022 - December 20, 2024).
  • Director, Jewish Studies Program. (September 1, 2021 - August 31, 2022).
  • Committee Member, Jewish and Israel Studies Program Steering Committee. (August 27, 2014 - August 31, 2021).
  • Chairperson, Students Grants and Awards. (August 25, 2019 - May 15, 2021).
  • Chairperson, Constitution Day. (August 20, 2017 - May 15, 2020).
  • Member, Faculty Senate. (August 27, 2016 - August 1, 2019).
  • Committee Member, Student Awards. (August 27, 2018 - July 30, 2019).
  • Chairperson, Martin Colloquium. (August 27, 2017 - July 30, 2019).
  • Committee Member, Graduate Studies. (August 27, 2017 - July 30, 2018).
  • Committee Member, Undergraduate Studies. (August 27, 2017 - July 30, 2018).
  • Committee Member, Library Committee. (August 27, 2016 - July 30, 2018).
  • Committee Chair, Theory Search Committee. (August 1, 2017 - April 20, 2018).
  • Discussant, Residence Heads Association. (October 15, 2017 - October 15, 2017).
  • Committee Chair, Graduate Studies. (August 27, 2016 - July 30, 2017).
  • Chairperson, Spring Banquet Committee. (August 27, 2016 - July 30, 2017).
  • Member, Grants & Awards Committee. (2008 - 2009).
  • Committee Chair, Workbook Committee. (2008 - 2009).
  • Member, Executive Committee. (2007 - 2008).
  • Member, Grants & Awards Committee. (2007 - 2008).
  • Committee Chair, Workbook Committee. (2007 - 2008).
  • Member, Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Committee. (2002 - 2008).
  • Member, Executive Committee. (2006 - 2007).
  • Member, Grants and Awards Committee. (2006 - 2007).
  • Committee Chair, Workbook Committee. (2006 - 2007).
  • Other (Assistant Chair of Department), (2005 - 2006).
  • Committee Chair, Undergraduate Studies Committee. (2005 - 2006).
  • Committee Chair, Workbook Committee. (2005 - 2006).
  • Other (Assistant Chair of Department), (2004 - 2005).
  • Committee Chair, Undergraduate Studies Committee. (2004 - 2005).
  • Committee Chair, Workbook Committee. (2004 - 2005).
  • Other (Assistant Chair of Department), (2003 - 2004).
  • Member, Executive Committee. (2003 - 2004).
  • Committee Chair, Undergraduate Studies Committee. (2003 - 2004).
  • Committee Chair, Ad Hoc Workbook Committee. (2002 - 2003).
  • Other (Assistant Chair of Department), (2002 - 2003).
  • Member, Executive Committee. (2002 - 2003).
  • Member, Executive Committee. (2001).
  • Member, Graduate Studies Committee. (2000 - 2001).
  • Committee Chair, Library Committee. (2000 - 2001).
  • Member, Executive Committee. (1999 - 2000).
  • Committee Chair, Library Committee. (1999 - 2000).
  • Member, Undergraduate Studies Committee. (1999 - 2000).
  • Committee Chair, Library Committee. (1998 - 1999).
  • Member, Undergraduate Studies Committee. (1998 - 1999).
  • Committee Chair, Library Committee. (1997 - 1998).
  • Committee Chair, Library Committee. (1996 - 1997).
  • Other (Advisor), Jewish Students Association. (1994 - 1997).
  • Committee Chair, Undergraduate Studies Committee. (1995 - 1996).
  • Other (Elections Judge), (1994 - 1995).
  • Member, Grants & Awards Committee. (1994 - 1995).
  • Committee Chair, Undergraduate Studies Committee. (1994 - 1995).
  • Member, Graduate Studies Committee. (1993 - 1994).
  • Member, Library Committee. (1993 - 1994).

Public Service

  • Session Chair, Morris Center for Constitutional Thought. Denton, TX. (June 25, 2023 - July 5, 2023).
  • Mentor, Plano High School. Plano, TX. (January 31, 2021 - June 15, 2021).

Professional Service

  • External T&P Letter Writer, University of Maine. Maine. (July 1, 2023 - September 19, 2023).
  • External T&P Letter Writer, Texas A&M International University. (May 30, 2023 - August 31, 2023).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Interpretation: A Journal of Political Philosophy. (July 1, 2023 - August 11, 2023).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Political Science Reviewer. (April 22, 2023 - June 15, 2023).
  • Program Organizer, Lone Star Political Theory Group (Texas). Denton, TX. (September 15, 2018 - March 2, 2019).