Baylor Johnson finds it gratifying “to be paid to spend time thinking and learning and keeping company with smart and idealistic students and colleagues.” Johnson, associate professor of philosophy and director of outdoor studies and the Adirondack Semester, has been at St. Lawrence since 1972. He had a hand in creating the First-Year Program, the Outdoor Program and the Adirondack Semester, and regards his programmatic involvement in these initiatives as his most distinctive contribution to St. Lawrence and “friendships with students built over the years” as the most rewarding aspect of his job.

Baylor’s favorite memories in classroom are instances “when students become so involved that they come to class prepared, eager and even impatient to discuss.” He cherishes outdoor activities with students such as “rock-climbing, hiking, camping partners and bicycling.”

As for his scholarly interests, Prof. Johnson works in different aspects of philosophy. He has worked “mostly on ideas about responsibility and metaphysical theory that are used to justify belief in personal responsibility in the West, particularly the theory of free will.” He is also interested in environmental philosophy and has been concerned with societal causes of and solutions to environmental problems. He has published articles in journals such as International Journal of Wilderness, Environmental Values, Rethinking Sustainability and Liberalism, Oppression and Empowerment. Recently, he joined the editorial board of the International Journal of Friluftsliv, a Norwegian publication.

Johnson graduated from University of Tennessee in Knoxville with a history major and earned his doctorate in philosophy from Northwestern University.