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Headshot of Scott Rubarth

Professor of Classical Philosophy

My work focuses on ancient philosophy and Stoicism, with additional interests in ethics, Aristotle, gender in antiquity, philosophy of perception, and critical thinking and media. I earned my Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Toronto through the Collaborative Program in Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, where my dissertation examined the Stoic theory of aisthêsis, or sense-perception. At Rollins, I serve as George D. and Harriet W. Cornell Scholar in Classical Studies and Associate Professor of Classical Philosophy.

Education

BA in Pre-Theology, Los Angeles Baptist College
BA in Classics, San Diego State University
AS in Emergency Medical Services, Crafton Hills College
MA in Philosophy, San Diego State University
PhD in Philosophy, University of Toronto

Courses Taught

Undergraduate
Argumentation and Manipulation (PHI 218)
Cynics and Stoics (PHI 395)
Greek Philosophy (PHI 230)
Science-Fiction, Philosophy, and Film (rFLA 200)
The Pursuit of the Good Life (Classical Ethics) (CLS 103)

Graduate
Marcus Aurelius and his Meditations (MLS 515)
The Human Order (MLS 602)

Awards and Honors

George D. and Harriet W. Cornell Scholar in Classical Philosophy, 2025

FYRST Grant, Rollins College, 2005-2006

NEH Summer Seminar, Aristotle on Meaning and Thought, 2003

Rollins College Personal Development Grant, 2002

Jack B. Critchfield Research Grants, 1998-2001 and 2005


Recent Publications

Rubarth, Scott. Competing Constructions of Masculinity in Ancient Greece. Athens Journal of Humanities & Arts, 1(1), 21-32, 2014. Link: https://doi.org/10.30958/ajha.1-1-2

Rubarth, Scott. Relativism and Cosmopolitanism in Stoic Philosophy. International Journal of Arts & Sciences, 4(13), 249-255, 2011. Link: https://www.academia.edu/39012188/Relativism_and_Cosmopolitanism_in_Stoic_Philosophy

Rubarth, Scott. Foucault, Free Speech and the Ancient Cynics. In Values and Justice in the Global Era, Athens: Ionia, 173-182, 2007. Link: https://icpc.gr/contents/VALUES%20AND%20JUSTICE-VOL.%20I-pdf.pdf

Rubarth, Scott. Aristotle, Epistemic Exemplars, and Virtue Epistemology. The Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy Newsletter, 5(2), 1-7, 2004. Link: https://orb.binghamton.edu/sagp/352/

Rubarth, Scott. The Meaning of Aisthêsis in Early Stoicism. Phoenix, 58(3-4), 319-344, 2004. Link: https://www.jstor.org/stable/4135172

Rubarth, Scott. Targeting Emotion in Early Stoicism. The Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy Newsletter, 353, 2002. Link: https://orb.binghamton.edu/sagp/353/

Rubarth, Scott. Stoic Philosophy of Mind. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2002. Link: https://iep.utm.edu/stoicmind/

Rubarth, Scott. Plato, McLuhan, and the Technology of Irony. International Studies in Philosophy, 34(2), 95-114, 2002. Link: https://www.pdcnet.org/intstudphil/content/intstudphil_2002_0034_0002_0095_0114

Rubarth, Scott. Animal Perception in Early Stoicism: A Response to Richard Sorabji. The Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy Newsletter, 456, 1999. Link: https://orb.binghamton.edu/sagp/456/


News & Features

2025 Phi Beta Kappa induction class at Rollins College

March 31, 2025

Rollins Inducts 24 New Members of Phi Beta Kappa

A select group of Rollins students has joined the nation’s most prestigious academic honor society, Phi Beta Kappa, placing them among the top 1 percent of college scholars in the U.S.

Rollins Inducts 24 New Members of Phi Beta Kappa
Photo of children and one adult drawing at Rollins Museum of Art

March 21, 2025

Rollins Museum of Art Collaborates with Hume House Child Development Center

David Matteson, an associate curator of education for Rollins Museum of Art, and Alice Davidson, executive director of Rollins Child Development Center and a professor of Psychology, were interviewed on Central Florida Public Media's Engage about the Symbolic Languages Exhibit. (at 39:01)

Rollins Museum of Art Collaborates with Hume House Child Development Center
photo of teacher reading to 5 children

October 11, 2024

Psychology Professor Provides Expertise on Children Developing a Love for Reading

Alice Davidson, a psychology professor and Director of the Hume House College Child Development and Student Research Center, provided expert commentary to Parents.com on teaching your child to develop a love for reading.

Psychology Professor Provides Expertise on Children Developing a Love for Reading
Headshot Alice Davidson, smiling.

December 13, 2023

Psychology Professor Shares Research on Gentle Parenting in New York Magazine

Alice Davidson, a professor of psychology, shared her research on "gentle parenting" with New York Magazine's -The Cut.

Psychology Professor Shares Research on Gentle Parenting in New York Magazine

May 11, 2022

A Professor of Psychology Addresses Social-Emotional Learning

Alice Davidson, a professor of psychology, discusses social-emotional learning and the Florida Department of Education’s review of math textbooks.

A Professor of Psychology Addresses Social-Emotional Learning
Orlando Sentinel Media Group logo

April 21, 2022

Psychology Professor Provides Commentary on Social Emotional Learning

Psychology professor Alice Davidson discusses Florida’s ban on math textbooks that promote social emotional learning.

Psychology Professor Provides Commentary on Social Emotional Learning