Bill Curtis

Bill Curtis is Professor of Political Science at the University of Portland. His scholarship focuses on political philosophy, history of political thought, and constitutional law. He serves as the university's pre-law advisor and maintains a dual role as an Army National Guard Judge Advocate General (JAG).

Curtis recently published Defending Rorty: Pragmatism and Liberal Virtue, examining how pragmatist philosophy supports liberal democratic values. His research argues that liberal democracies require citizens to develop specific ethical character traits like tolerance, respect for others' rights, and moral imagination.

In teaching, Curtis challenges students to critically examine foundational texts from Plato to the U.S. Constitution, encouraging deep engagement with political traditions.