John C. McDowell is Professor of Philosophy, Systematic Theology and Ethics, and is Academic Dean at Yarra Theological Union. Formerly Morpeth Professor at the University of Newcastle NSW and the Meldrum Senior Lecturer in Systematic Theology at the University of Edinburgh, he was Cambridge and Aberdeen educated. A prolific writer, John has published 7 monographs, edited 9 collections, and contributed over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. His research interests coalesce on the issue of hope, and cover interdisciplinary interests in theology (particularly Karl Barth and the German theological tradition), political theology, German philosophy, philosophical and theological ethics, cultural studies of popular cultural texts, critical theory and Marxist analysis.

Having been Director of Research at the University (2015-9), John is concerned to ensure Higher Education is driven by responsibility to values of excellence, and that academics’ claims to truth-telling be subjected to rigorous high-quality peer-review.

Among the various units John has designed and taught at the University, the following are his most current: Atheism, Philosophy for Beginners, The Human Person as Neighbour, Hope in Dark Times, Doing Justice in Theory and Practice, & Patristic Thought for the Good Life.

University Appointments

Academic Dean (Yarra Theological Union)