b. 1937
Thomas E. Hill Jr. is a contemporary American moral philosopher best known for his systematic development of Kantian ethics, with particular attention to dignity, autonomy, and practical reason. His work explores the foundations of moral obligation and the nature of respect for persons. He has also engaged questions at the intersection of ethics and theology, including divine attributes and the problem of suffering.
Developed influential accounts of Kantian dignity and respect for persons
Authored 'Dignity and Practical Reason in Kant's Moral Theory' (1992), a major interpretive work
Explored autonomy as a foundational moral concept in 'Autonomy and Self-Respect' (1991)
Contributed to debates on divine attributes and theodicy within analytic philosophy of religion
Long-tenured professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill