Background:
J.R. Shrader is a native Hoosier, his preexistent soul having been reluctantly embodied in LaPorte in 1970. Dr. Shrader joined the philosophy faculty at IU South Bend in 2004 after earning (or at least being granted) his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame. An earlier temporal part of J.R. received a B.S. in chemical engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, subsequently serving four years in the employ of Eli Lilly & Company as a developer and manufacturer of perfectly legal drugs.
Disgruntled by the corporate world and inspired by Descartes, who spoke to it in a vision, a collection of atoms arranged J.R.-wise left engineering and earned a master's degree in philosophy at Biola University before attending Notre Dame. In his work time, J.R. teaches classes in metaphysics, epistemology, and the philosophy of mind while conducting research into topics such as physicalism, dualism, subjectivity, and artificial intelligence.
In his free time, J.R. enjoys all types of science fiction, playing sports, and pouring his heart into the Chicago Cubs. At all times, J.R. perdures. (And if you want to understand this bio, you need to take his Metaphysics class.)