Jeffrey Goodman

Dr. Jeffrey Goodman is a Professor of Philosophy at James Madison University, affiliated with the Department of Philosophy & Religion. He holds a B.A. from the University of California, Davis, and both an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Rochester. His research focuses on contemporary metaphysics, philosophy of language, and related areas including philosophy of mind and epistemology. Central themes include theories of possible/impossible worlds, counterfactuals, fictional objects, and metaphilosophy. He teaches courses in critical thinking, logic, metaphysics, and philosophy of language.

Dr. Goodman’s research explores the ontology of fictional and mythical entities, vagueness in abstracta, and the semantics of counterfactuals. He has contributed to debates on creationism in fiction, artist essentialism, and modal artifacts. His recent work bridges epistemology and interpretive practices in literature. Over 20 years, his publications address topics ranging from Sherlock Holmes’ ontological status to the semantics of ‘argument’ and the inductive/deductive distinction.

Teaching responsibilities include foundational courses for undergraduates and advanced topics for graduate students. His office is located in Cleveland 110, and he maintains an ORCID profile (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8156-7476).