DAVID MEELER
David Meeler
Tenured Professor of Philosophy, Winthrop University
Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara
My work is deeply informed by an interest in institutional culture and the ways in which normative frameworks shape social interaction. Drawing on Habermas and Rawls, I explore the intersection of communicative rationality and legal structures, particularly how these systems adapt to emerging technological and environmental challenges.
Specialization: Philosophy of Law, Information Ethics, and Logic
Grounded in my doctoral analysis of Shared Access and Private Space, I specialize in Philosophy of Law and Information Privacy. I bring this rigorous Subject Matter Expertise to the challenges of AI training. For Human-in-the-loop (HITL) oversight and Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF), I offer the analytical precision needed to ensure that emerging autonomous systems remain resilient, compliant with privacy norms, and responsive to the human condition.
Consulting Interest: AI Training & SME Services
Expert Human-in-the-loop (HITL) oversight for Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF) alignment and Chain-of-Thought (CoT) verification.
| Domain | Expertise Applied | Value for AI Models |
|---|---|---|
| Logic Verification | Formal & Symbolic Logic | Evaluating CoT outputs for logical soundness. |
| Alignment Grading | Applied Ethics & Jurisprudence | Reviewing moral frameworks and normative consistency. |
| Active Inquiry | Socratic Nudging & Scaffolding | Optimizing tutorial interactions for independent critique. |
Policy Impact & Technical Standards
Bridging the gap between abstract ethics and verifiable engineering specs. My policy work advocates for "Information Containment", a legally functional, reductionist approach to AI privacy that focuses on rigorous data lineage rather than subjective moral outcomes.
| Document / Profile | Focus Area | Access |
|---|---|---|
| POLICY BRIEF: The Sufficiency of Information Protection | AI Governance, Data Lineage, Privacy Asymmetry | ⬇ DOWNLOAD PDF |
| Sage Policy Profile | Tracking research impact on government/NGO guidelines | [VIEW EXTERNAL PROFILE] |
Research and Theoretical Foundations
| Title | Platform/Publisher | Identifier |
|---|---|---|
| "Is Information All We Need to Protect?" (The Basis for 2026 AI Policy Brief) |
The Monist (2008) | View on PhilPapers |
| "Shared Access & Private Space: A Legal and Philosophical Analysis of Privacy (Foundational Dissertation) |
University of California, Santa Barbara (2000) | ProQuest ID: 304123886 |
| “Sharing Social Context: Is Community With The Posthuman Possible?” | Palgrave Macmillan (2015) | DOI: 10.1057/9781137430328_28 |
| “Academic Freedom: The Price of Pardon” | The Chronicle of Higher Education (2013) | Link to Article |
| “Rising Pink Tide...” | Recruiter (2018) | Link to Article |
| “Does GPA Matter?” | Recruiter (2015) | Link to Article |
| Review: Philosophical Perspectives on Democracy | Teaching Philosophy (2014) | DOI: 10.5840/teachphil201437440 |
| "Actions Speak Louder Than Words..." | Business Cases in Ethical Focus (2019) | ISBN: 9781554813742 |
| “Utilitarianism” | Business in Ethical Focus (2016) | ISBN: 9781554812516 |
| “Charity Begins at Home: Nepotism” | Business in Ethical Focus (2016) | ISBN: 9781554812516 |
| “Lifestyles and Your Livelihood..." | Business in Ethical Focus (2016) | ISBN: 9781554812516 |
| “Copy That Red Leader..." | Business in Ethical Focus (2016) | ISBN: 9781554812516 |
| “Posthumans Have No Human Rights...” | Beyond Humanism Conference (2013) | Conference Paper |
Teaching & Curriculum
My pedagogical approach utilizes Socratic Nudging—providing structural scaffolding to help students navigate complex prompts independently.
Regular & Core Offerings
| Code | Course Title | Inquiry Area |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 101 | Introduction to Philosophy | Fundamental inquiries and critical reasoning. |
| PHIL 220 | Logic & Language | Informal logic and linguistic analysis. |
| PHIL 230 | Contemporary Moral Problems | Applied ethics and social issue analysis. |
| PHIL 315 | Developments in Moral Reasoning | Evolutionary ethics and theoretical development. |
| PHIL 340 | Environmental Ethics | Ecological value and ethics. |
| PHIL 370 | Concepts & Problems in Law | Jurisprudence and legal theory. |
| PHIL 371 | LSAT Logic Puzzles and Arguments | Analytical reasoning and argument structure. |
Specialized & Interdisciplinary Courses
| Topic | Course Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Literary Logic | Borges & Philosophy | Paradox and narrative scaffolding. |
| Emerging Tech | Posthumanism in Film & TV | Bio-ethics and evolving definitions of humanity. |
| Emerging Tech | Promise & Peril of Emerging Technology | Ethical limits of innovation. |
| Bio-Ethics | Bio-Medical Ethics | Ethics in healthcare and life sciences. |
| Social Justice | Wilderness / Social Justice | Resource ethics and equity. |
Administrative Leadership
| Years | Role | Institution/Department |
|---|---|---|
| 2015–2020 | Dalton Endowed Chair of Environmental Sciences | Winthrop University |
| 2013–2019 | Director of Legal Studies | Interdisciplinary Studies |
| 2013–2015 | Chair, Winthrop University Judicial Council | Winthrop University |