Joe Lynch

Joe Lynch is a Professor in the Philosophy Department at California Polytechnic State University, where he serves as the PHIL Major and Minor Advisor. He earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy from The Claremont Graduate School (1992) and contributes to interdisciplinary programs like the Religious Studies Minor and the Ethics + Emerging Sciences Group.

Professional Interests: His research focuses on Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Religion, and intersections of Animal Ethics with theological frameworks. He teaches courses such as PHIL 422: Philosophy of Mind, PHIL 342: Philosophy of Religion, and RELS 307: Buddhism.

Selected Publications (2010–2012) span topics like animal biotechnology ethics, comparative religious traditions, and philosophical analysis of popular culture. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the peer-reviewed online journal Between the Species, which explores human-animal relationships, and chairs the Society for the Study of Philosophy and the Martial Arts.

Additional Roles: He advises the Cal Poly Theisms Religious Studies Club, promotes convivencia (productive harmony across diverse traditions), and supports open-access scholarship through his editorial work. His affiliations bridge Philosophy, Religious Studies, and Ethics of Emerging Sciences.