Contact Information

Office: 4083 JFSB

Phone: 422-6514

Email: gmower@byu.edu

Commonly Taught Courses :
Hume
Descartes
British Empiricists
Continental Rationalists
Classical Chinese Philosophy
Political Philosophy
Ethics

Semester Schedule: :
Topics in Ethics: History of Modern Ethics
PHIL 413R-002
MWF, 2:00p - 2:50p
JFSB 4082

Continental Rationalism
PHIL 340R-001
MWF, 10:00a - 10:50a
JFSB 4082

The History of Modern Philosophy, Honors
PHIL 202-002
MWF, 8:00a - 8:50a
JFSB B132

Consultation Hours:
MWF, 9:00a - 9:50a

Vita: Link to Vita

Website: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/gordon-mower/33/569/180

Biography:

I was born near Boston during the Kennedy Administration and moved shortly after that to Salt Lake City. I grew up in the Salt Lake City area, going to school in Salt Lake and Sandy. I graduated from Alta High School in Sandy together with my high school sweetheart, DeeDee Johnson. DeeDee and I also lived in the same ward. We have known each other since we were twelve.

 

I served in the LDS Korea, Seoul mission under David C. Butler as my mission president.

 

DeeDee waited for me while I was on my mission, and shortly after I returned we were married in the Jordan River Temple. We have lived in only two homes, one in West Jordan and our current home in Riverton (these towns are in the southern part of Salt Lake County). DeeDee teaches fourth grade at our neighborhood school.

 

 

We have four children: Kate, Trevor, Brock, and Rorty. Kate is a graduate of the University of Utah and works at a youth facility in Layton, Utah (Davis County). Trevor is married to Carlie Webster Mower and they live in a basement apartment in our home. Carlie is the daughter of my close friend, Barry Webster. Barry was my next door neighbor in Sandy while I was growing up and lived in the same ward as DeeDee and me. Trevor is studying at SLCC, studying communications and would like to transfer to BYU after he completes his associate degree next spring. Brock is currently serving an LDS mission in the Laoag, Philippines mission. Rorty is finishing his senior year at Riverton High School.

 

 

I have worked at various jobs. I worked as an office manager for a construction company and later as a real estate appraiser and REO manager for a mortgage company while I was finishing my undergraduate education at the University of Utah. I studied economics and political science with an emphasis on international relations. After I graduated I worked again as an office manager for another construction company and then in the technologies division at American Express in Salt Lake City. I worked nights there while I finished a master’s degree in political science with an emphasis on political theory at the University of Utah. While I was still working nights, I began teaching philosophy and humanities at SLCC in 1996. Shortly after that I became a business manager at American Express. I was still in that position when I began my PhD studies in Philosophy at the University of Utah, but I left American Express shortly after that to pursue the full time life of a scholar and academic. I completed my PhD in 2007, and I have taught philosophy at most of the major colleges and universities along the Wasatch Front: SLCC, UVU, the U of U, and Weber State. I began teaching philosophy at BYU in 2008, and I have loved my experience here. I hope to be able to teach here for the rest of my life.

 

 

I found my way into philosophy through political science and international relations. My first real exposure to philosophy was in Professor Donald W. Hansen’s history of political thought class, and this made all the difference for me.   

Degrees: PhD, Philosophy, University of Utah, 2007
MA, Political Science, University of Utah, 1994
BA, Political Science, University of Utah, 1988
BS, Economics, University of Utah, 1988

Interests:

My interests include: Philosophy, politics, economics, history, international relations. I like reading and writing fiction, photography, gardening, art, film, hiking, cooking, eating what I have cooked, eating what others have cooked, playing harmonica, etc.

I like the San Franciso Giants, and I am very pleased that they are this year's National League West champs. I like the San Francisco 49ers. In general I like San Francisco.

 

I am very interested in all things Korea, and in East Asia. I follow the news from the region quite closely.

 

I speak Korean, although it is rusty. I am working to rescucitate my knowledge of Korean. I intend to learn Japanese and Mandarin.

 

You can follow me on Twitter at Mauyoung.

Links

Gordy Mower on KBYU's "Thinking Aloud"
Phil 202 Syllabus, History of Modern Philosophy
Phil 340R Syllabus, Continental Rationalism
Phil 413R Syllabus, History of Modern Ethics