David Cory

David Cory is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. His work centers on medieval theories of life and nature, with a focus on the intersection of physical theory and non-human souls in 13th-century thought.

• Education:
• Ph.D., Catholic University of America

Cory's research examines how Thomas Aquinas's hylomorphic theory distinguishes souls (including those of animals and plants) from other substantial forms, particularly through their causal powers and role in motion. His work also explores Aquinas's reconciliation of Aristotelian natural philosophy with theological frameworks.

His 2020 article in Oxford Studies in Medieval Philosophy analyzes Aquinas's view that the soul moves the body, challenging interpretations that frame the prime mover debate solely as a final cause. This work ties into broader themes of medieval metaphysics, causality, and the philosophy of nature.