Dr William Desmond

    Ancient Classics

    Lecturer

    Arts Building
    4
    (01) 708 3693

    Biography

    William Desmond is originally from Cork but was educated mainly in the US. He has a BA in classics and philosophy, a BSc in mathematics and completed a joint MA and PhD in classics and philosophy at Yale University. He was a lecturer at Yale for two years before returning to Ireland where he lectured in UCD, TCD and Milltown, before taking up a permanent post in Maynooth in 2007. 

    Dr Desmond’s research interests centre on intellectual history, particularly in the Greek classical period and certain modern receptions of antiquity; recurrent themes include virtue ethics, political philosophy, historiography and metaphysics. His doctorate on classical Greek ideas about wealth was published as The Greek Praise of Poverty (Notre Dame UP, 2006), which was awarded the NUI Centennial Prize in Academic Publishing in Languages, Literature & Linguistics (2009). A second monograph,Cynics (Acumen & University of California Press, 2008), examines the “dog philosophers” in antiquity, and their later influence. Philosopher-Kings of Antiquity (Bloomsbury, 2011, pbk. 2013) explores the ideal Platonic union of power and wisdom and its more important variations and historical refractions through antiquity and beyond. His current research remains interdisciplinary as it focuses on nineteenth-century German receptions of both Greek and Roman cultures, especially among Idealist and Romantic writers. Other specialist areas of interest include Homer and mythology, and Whitehead and modern process thought; he has edited (with Michel Weber) the two-volume Handbook of Whiteheadian Process Thought (de Gruyter, 2008).

    Books

      Year Publication
    2020 Hegel's Antiquity.
    Will Desmond (2020) Hegel's Antiquity. Oxford, UK: Oxford University. [Details]
    2011 Philosopher-Kings of Antiquity.
    Will Desmond (2011) Philosopher-Kings of Antiquity. London: Bloomsbury. [Details]
    2008 Cynics.
    Will Desmond (2008) Cynics. Berkeley: Acumen Press & University of California Press. [Details]
    2006 The Greek Praise of Poverty: Origins of Ancient Cynicism.
    Will Desmond (2006) The Greek Praise of Poverty: Origins of Ancient Cynicism. South Bend, IN: University of Notre Dame Press. [Details]

    Book Chapters

      Year Publication
    2019 'Hercules among the Germans: From Winckelmann to Hölderlin'
    Will Desmond (2019) 'Hercules among the Germans: From Winckelmann to Hölderlin' In: A. Blanshard and E. Stafford (eds). The Modern Hercules. Leiden: Brill. [Details]
    2019 'Diogenes of Sinope'
    Will Desmond (2019) 'Diogenes of Sinope' In: David Wolfsdorf (eds). Early Greek Ethics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [Details]
    2018 'Diogenes and the Meaning of Life'
    Will Desmond (2018) 'Diogenes and the Meaning of Life' In: S. Leach, J. Targalia (eds). The Meaning of Life and the Great Philosophers. London: Routledge. [Details]
    2018 'Between gods and mortals: The Piety of Homeric Kings'
    Will Desmond (2018) 'Between gods and mortals: The Piety of Homeric Kings' In: J. Klooster, B. van den Berg (eds). Homer and the Good Ruler in Antiquity and Beyond. Leiden: Brill. [Details]
    2018 'Hegel on Lyric'
    Will Desmond (2018) 'Hegel on Lyric' In: J. de Albuquerque and G. Hoffmann (eds). Anti-classicism and Anti-idealism. Leiden: Brill. [Details]
    2017 'Aristotle on peace: Biological, political, ethical, and metaphysical dimensions'
    Desmond W. (2017) 'Aristotle on peace: Biological, political, ethical, and metaphysical dimensions' In: Peace and Reconciliation in the Classical World. [DOI] [Details]
    2016 '“Aristotle on peace: Biological, political, ethical, and metaphysical dimensions”'
    Will Desmond (2016) '“Aristotle on peace: Biological, political, ethical, and metaphysical dimensions”' In: E. Moloney, M. Williams (eds). Peace and Reconciliation in the Ancient World. Abingdon-on-Thames: Routledge. [Details]
    2016 'Between gods and mortals: The piety of Homeric kings'
    Will Desmond (2016) 'Between gods and mortals: The piety of Homeric kings' In: Jacqueline Klooster and Baukje van den Berg (eds). Homer and the Good Ruler in Antiquity and Beyond: from Princes’ Mirror to Parody. Leiden: Brill. [Details]
    2016 'Gulliver’s Travels and Philosopher-Kings'
    Will Desmond (2016) 'Gulliver’s Travels and Philosopher-Kings' In: Janelle Pötzsch (eds). Jonathan Swift and Philosophy. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group. [Details]
    2016 'Gulliver among the Cynics'
    Will Desmond (2016) 'Gulliver among the Cynics' In: Janelle Pötzsch (eds). Jonathan Swift and Philosophy. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group. [Details]
    2015 'Eleos'
    Will Desmond (2015) 'Eleos' In: C. Ampolo, U. Fantasia, L. Porciani (eds). Lexicon historiographicum Graecum et Latinum. Pisa: Edizioni della Normale. [Details]
    2014 'Diogenes'
    Will Desmond (2014) 'Diogenes' In: S. Alexander, A. McLeod (eds). Simple Living in History: Pioneers of the Deep Future. Melbourne: Simplicity Institute. [Details]
    2014 '“Antisthenes and Hegel'
    Will Desmond (2014) '“Antisthenes and Hegel' In: V. Suvak (eds). Antisthenica, Cynica, Socratica. Prague: Oikoumene. [Details]
    2012 'Low Philosophy'
    Desmond W. (2012) 'Low Philosophy' In: The Oxford Handbook of Hellenic Studies. [DOI] [Details]
    2006 'Towards a Whiteheadian Philosophy of History'
    Desmond, Dr. William (2006) 'Towards a Whiteheadian Philosophy of History' In: Proceedings for 2005 CAPT Conference, Chromatiques Whiteheadiennes. Ontos. [Details]
    2005 'The Hybris of Socrates'
    Desmond, Dr. William (2005) 'The Hybris of Socrates' In: Yearbook of the Irish Philosophical Society. Irish Philosophical Society. [IR Link] [Details]

    Edited Books

      Year Publication
    2008 Yearbook of the Irish Philosophical Society, 2007
    Will Desmond (Ed.). (2008) Yearbook of the Irish Philosophical Society, 2007 Ireland: Irish Philosophical Society. [Details]
    2008 Yearbook of the Irish Philosophical Society
    Will Desmond (Ed.). (2008) Yearbook of the Irish Philosophical Society Maynooth, Ireland: Irish Philosophical Society. [Details]
    2008 Handbook of Whiteheadian Process Thought, Vols. 1-2
    Will Desmond, Michel Weber (Ed.). (2008) Handbook of Whiteheadian Process Thought, Vols. 1-2 Frankfurt: Walter De Gruyter. [Details]

    Peer Reviewed Journals

      Year Publication
    2015 'The Five Paragraph Essay'
    Will Desmond (2015) 'The Five Paragraph Essay'. Arion - Journal of Humanities and the Classics, 23 (2 (Fall)):111-116 [Details]
    2011 'Ancient Cynicism and Modern Philosophy'
    WIll Desmond (2011) 'Ancient Cynicism and Modern Philosophy'. Filozofia, 66 :571-576 [IR Link] [Details]
    2011 'Hegel, Homer, Heroism'
    Dr. William Desmond (2011) 'Hegel, Homer, Heroism'. YEARBOOK OF THE IRISH PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, 1 :1-16 [IR Link] [Details]
    2007 'The Silence of Socrates: Dialectic and the Platonic Good'
    Desmond, William (2007) 'The Silence of Socrates: Dialectic and the Platonic Good'. MILLTOWN STUDIES, 58 :73-99 [IR Link] [Details]
    2006 'Lessons of Fear: A Reading of Thucydides'
    Desmond, Dr. William (2006) 'Lessons of Fear: A Reading of Thucydides'. CLASSICAL PHILOLOGY, 101 :359-379 [IR Link] [Details]
    2004 'Punishments and the Conclusion of Herodotus' Histories'
    Desmond, William (2004) 'Punishments and the Conclusion of Herodotus' Histories'. GREEK, ROMAN AND BYZANTINE STUDIES, 44 :19-40 [IR Link] [Details]

    Other Journals

      Year Publication
    2009 'Wisdom of the Ages'
    Desmond, William (2009) 'Wisdom of the Ages' In Character: A Journal of Everyday Virtues, 5 :4-13. [IR Link] [Details]

    Conference Publications

      Year Publication
    2017 Aristotle on peace Biological, political, ethical, and metaphysical dimensions
    Desmond, W (2017) Aristotle on peace Biological, political, ethical, and metaphysical dimensions PEACE AND RECONCILIATION IN THE CLASSICAL WORLD , pp.27-43 [Details]

    Conference Contributions

      Year Publication
    2018 • “Hegel and Herodotus: Knowledge and History.
    Will Desmond (2018) • “Hegel and Herodotus: Knowledge and History. [Oral Presentation], Ancient Knowledges, Modern Knowledges, Sheffield University , 22-JUN-18 - 23-JUN-18 [Details]
    2017 “Between the Classical and Romantic: Hegel on lyric poetry.
    Will Desmond (2017) “Between the Classical and Romantic: Hegel on lyric poetry. [Oral Presentation], (Anti-) Classicism & (Anti-)Idealism, University College Cork , 09-JUN-17 - 10-JUN-17 [Details]
    2017 Plato’s mythology of reason.
    Will Desmond (2017) Plato’s mythology of reason. [Oral Presentation], Philosophy in its Beginnings: On the Conceptualisation, Criticism, and Justification of Philosophy in Antiquity, Humboldt University , 21-JUL-17 - 23-JUL-17 [Details]
    2017 “Hercules among the Germans”.
    Will Desmond (2017) “Hercules among the Germans”. [Oral Presentation], Hercules Project Conference, Leeds University , 09-JUL-17 - 11-JUL-17 [Details]
    2015 “Homer and the Good Ruler,” Ghent University.
    Will Desmond (2015) “Homer and the Good Ruler,” Ghent University. [Keynote Address], The Piety of the Homeric Kings”, Ghent University , 20-MAY-15 - 22-MAY-15 [Details]
    2015 “Ethics and Society in the Ancient World,” Royal Irish Academy.
    Will Desmond (2015) “Ethics and Society in the Ancient World,” Royal Irish Academy. [Invited Lecture], “Greek Aesthetic Democracy: Modern myths of the Greek polis, Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, Ireland , 13-NOV-15 - 14-NOV-15 [Details]
    2014 Celtic Classics Conference, Edinburgh University.
    Will Desmond (2014) Celtic Classics Conference, Edinburgh University. [Oral Presentation], Aristotle on Natural Peace and the Statesman’s Imperative, Edinburgh University , 25-JUN-14 - 28-JUN-14 [Details]
    2014 Invited Speakers Series, Philosophy Department, Maynooth University.
    Will Desmond (2014) Invited Speakers Series, Philosophy Department, Maynooth University. [Invited Lecture], Eternal Objects and Religious Intelligence: Science and God in Plato and Whitehead, Philosophy Department, Maynooth University , 11-NOV-14 [Details]
    2014 Peace in the Ancient World, Maynooth University.
    Will Desmond (2014) Peace in the Ancient World, Maynooth University. [Oral Presentation], Aristotle on Peace, Maynooth University, Ancient Classics / Edward M. Kennedy Institute of Peace Studies , 06-JUN-14 [Details]
    2013 Maynooth Classical Seminar.
    Will Desmond (2013) Maynooth Classical Seminar. [Invited Oral Presentation], Anacreon among the Germans: Appropriations of Ancient Lyric in the Time of Hegel, Maynooth University , 13-DEC-13 [Details]
    2012 “Philosophical Thinking and the Religious Context,” Dublin City University.
    Will Desmond (2012) “Philosophical Thinking and the Religious Context,” Dublin City University. [Invited Oral Presentation], “Reason and the Holy: Plato and Whitehead”, 2012 , 17-MAY-12 - 19-MAY-12 [Details]
    2012 Mythos, Logos, Sophos, Prometheus Trust, Warminster.
    Will Desmond (2012) Mythos, Logos, Sophos, Prometheus Trust, Warminster. [Oral Presentation], Plato’s mythology of reason, Prometheus Trust, Ivy House, Warminster , 29-JUN-12 - 02-JUL-11 [Details]
    2011 Maynooth Patristics Symposium.
    Will Desmond (2011) Maynooth Patristics Symposium. [Oral Presentation], “Marcus Aurelius: Philosopher of Love?”, St Patrick's College, Maynooth , 26-FEB-11 [Details]
    2010 Research Colloquium, School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Maynooth University.
    Will Desmond (2010) Research Colloquium, School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Maynooth University. [Oral Presentation], “Orwell’s Philosopher Kings”, Maynooth University , 31-MAR-10 [Details]
    2009 Travels and Encounters: Journeys to the Known and Unknown in Greco-Roman Antiquity,” RIA Greek and Latin Studies Colloquium.
    Will Desmond (2009) Travels and Encounters: Journeys to the Known and Unknown in Greco-Roman Antiquity,” RIA Greek and Latin Studies Colloquium. [Oral Presentation], “The Secret Travels of Socrates the Athenian”, Royal Irish Academy [Details]
    2007 “Nietzsche, Power and Politics, Friedrich Nietzsche Society, Leiden University.
    Will Desmond (2007) “Nietzsche, Power and Politics, Friedrich Nietzsche Society, Leiden University. [Oral Presentation], The Power of Names: Nietzsche and Ancient Thought, Leiden University, Netherlands , 23-MAR-07 - 25-MAR-07 [Details]
    2007 “The Open Society,” Irish Philosophical Society.
    Will Desmond (2007) “The Open Society,” Irish Philosophical Society. [Oral Presentation], An Open Society? The case of Classical Athens, UCC, Ireland , 02-MAR-07 [Details]
    2005 “Science and Process Philosophy,” Maynooth University.
    Will Desmond (2005) “Science and Process Philosophy,” Maynooth University. [Oral Presentation], A Whiteheadian Philosophy of History, Maynooth University , 11-MAY-05 [Details]

    Article

      Year Publication
    2018 Between gods and mortals: The piety of homeric kings.
    Desmond W. (2018) Between gods and mortals: The piety of homeric kings. Article [DOI] [Details]

    Book Review

      Year Publication
    2016 Intuition in Mathematics and Physics: A Whiteheadian Approach.
    Ronny Desmet (2016) Intuition in Mathematics and Physics: A Whiteheadian Approach. Book Review [Details]
    2013 Socrates on Friendship and Community: Reflections on Plato’s Symposium, Phaedrus and Lysis.
    Mary P. Nichols (2013) Socrates on Friendship and Community: Reflections on Plato’s Symposium, Phaedrus and Lysis. Book Review [Details]
    2012 Aesopic Conversations: Popular Tradition, Cultural Dialogue, and the Invention of Greek Prose.
    Desmond, W (2012) Aesopic Conversations: Popular Tradition, Cultural Dialogue, and the Invention of Greek Prose. CHICAGO: Book Review [Details]
    2004 The Music of the Republic: Essays on Socrates' Conversations and Plato's Writings.
    Eva Brann (2004) The Music of the Republic: Essays on Socrates' Conversations and Plato's Writings. Book Review [Details]
    2013 A Companion to Marcus Aurelius.
    M. van Ackeren (ed.) (2013) A Companion to Marcus Aurelius. CAMBRIDGE: Book Review [DOI] [Details]
    2012 Aesopic Conversations: Popular Tradition, Cultural Dialogue, and the Invention of Greek Prose .
    L. Kurke (2012) Aesopic Conversations: Popular Tradition, Cultural Dialogue, and the Invention of Greek Prose . Book Review [Details]
    2007 Plato’s Dialectic at Play: Argument, Structure, and Myth in the Symposium.
    Corrigan, K. & E. Glazov-Corrigan (2007) Plato’s Dialectic at Play: Argument, Structure, and Myth in the Symposium. Book Review [Details]
    2006 The Household as the Foundation of Aristotle's Polis .
    D. Brendan Nagle (2006) The Household as the Foundation of Aristotle's Polis . Book Review [Details]
    2005 Space, Time and Einstein: An Introduction.
    Kennedy, J.B. (2005) Space, Time and Einstein: An Introduction. Book Review [Details]
    2004 Herodotus and Religion in the Persian Wars.
    Jon Mikalson (2004) Herodotus and Religion in the Persian Wars. Book Review [Details]
    2002 Bonfire of the Humanities .
    V. Hanson, J. Heath, and B. Thornton (2002) Bonfire of the Humanities . Book Review [Details]