About
Stephen Finn serves as an Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE) at the United States Military Academy (West Point), having previously held the role of Associate Director from 2009 to 2022. His academic career includes teaching philosophy at Seattle University from 2000 to 2009.
His educational background features a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Villanova University, an M.A. in Liberal Studies from the New School for Social Research, an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Toronto, and a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of New Hampshire.
Dr. Finn's research spans Modern Philosophy—with concentrated expertise on Thomas Hobbes—the Philosophy of Sports, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. He investigates ethical dimensions in pedagogy, teacher advocacy, and academic freedom, consistently linking theoretical philosophy to practical educational frameworks. His work emphasizes cultivating critical thinking and ethical reasoning within student development.
His publication portfolio demonstrates dual expertise: historical scholarship on Hobbes coexists with contemporary educational research. Recent articles analyze student perceptions of teaching ethics and academic freedom in methodology, while his books provide foundational resources for philosophical education and Hobbesian studies, reflecting interdisciplinary engagement across philosophy and pedagogy.
