Tara Smith (philosopher)
Tara A. Smith (born 1961) is an American philosopher. She is a professor of philosophy, the BB&T Chair for the Study of Objectivism,[1] and the Anthem Foundation Fellow for the Study of Objectivism[2] at the University of Texas at Austin.
For other uses, see Tara Smith.
Tara A. Smith
1961 (age 62–63)
American
Metaethics, ethical naturalism, virtue ethics, ethical egoism, rational egoism, value theory, political philosophy, natural rights, philosophy of law, constitutional law, objectivity, intrinsicism
objective value, virtuous egoism, objective law
Career[edit]
Smith specializes in moral and political theory. She did her undergraduate work at the University of Virginia and received her doctorate from Johns Hopkins University. Her published works include the books Viable Values: A Study of Life as the Root and Reward of Morality (2000), Moral Rights and Political Freedom (1995), and Ayn Rand's Normative Ethics: The Virtuous Egoist (2006). She is also a contributing author to several essay collections about Ayn Rand's novels. Smith has written in journals such as The Journal of Philosophy, American Philosophical Quarterly, Social Philosophy and Policy, and Law and Philosophy.[3]
Smith has lectured all across the United States including Harvard University,[4] Wheeling Jesuit University,[5] Duke University,[6] University of Pittsburgh,[7] and New York University,[8] and to groups of businessmen.[9] She has also organized conferences, often ones emphasizing objective law.[10][11]
She is on the board of The Philosopher's Index[12] and is on the Academic Advisory Council of The Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism at Clemson University.[13] Smith is a member of the Ayn Rand Society,[14] which exists within the American Philosophical Association. She is also on the board of directors of the Ayn Rand Institute.[15]