Dana (Dan) Radcliffe, B.A. Philosophy Class of 1972
“It’s been exciting—and gratifying—to teach an array of students, from around the world, many of them dedicated to public service.”
Dana (Dan) Radcliffe is the Day Family Senior Lecturer of Business Ethics at Cornell University, where he has taught since 2000. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Syracuse University, where he teaches ethics courses in public administration, engineering, and scientific research.
Radcliffe enjoys teaching ethics to students from a variety of professional disciplines. “It’s been exciting—and gratifying—to teach an array of students, from around the world, many of them dedicated to public service,” he says. Along with his teaching, he also writes for general audiences about ethical issues in business and politics. He has been a regular contributor to Huffington Post and has published in other media outlets, including The Hill, Reuters, and Gannett Newspapers. He has also been interviewed by NPR’s All Things Considered and Marketplace.
Looking back on his professional life, Radcliffe reflects on his career highlights. “One career highlight was being selected by the Army Chief of Staff to teach leadership seminars for one- and two-star generals. Another was an invitation to speak on social media and democracy at the Pacific Council on International Relations,” he says. “Beyond the teaching, of most importance to me has been the chance to mentor students I know will make the world a better place.”
As an undergraduate philosophy major at Fort Hays State University, Radcliffe was profoundly affected by two of his professors, Dr. Steve Tramel and Dr. Sam Hamilton. “I simply cannot say enough about how consequential my studying and friendship with Steve and Sam have been in my life. Sam’s courses whetted my appetite for philosophy, and Steve’s rigorous approach to philosophical questions well prepared me for graduate school. Most importantly, as a Christian, I found in Sam and Steve living proof that keen philosophical acumen and a deep faith are not only compatible but complementary.”
When asked what advice he has for prospective and current philosophy majors, Radcliffe shares wise insights: “As you navigate the future, perhaps the most important quality you will need is adaptability. To be able to adjust successfully to a complex and rapidly changing world, you will need skills in thinking critically and imaginatively about whatever issues you are faced with. You will need to be able to analyze complicated problems, identify possible solutions, and rationally evaluate them. Apart from the intellectual stimulation of exploring the ideas of history’s most astute philosophers addressing life’s deepest questions, the great value of studying philosophy is its cultivating just those powers of reflective thinking that are so vital in today’s world.”