Christopher A. Riddle, Ph.D.

Directory
Christopher A. Riddle, Ph.D.

Position

Distinguished Professor of Philosophy

Phone

(315) 792-3759

cariddle@utica.edu

Office

203 Faculty Center
School of Arts & Sciences

Position type

Faculty

Christopher A. Riddle

www.christopherariddle.com

Bluesky

@christopherariddle.com

Curriculum Vitae

Biography

Chris Riddle received his Ph.D. from Queen's University at Kingston. He specializes in Applied Ethics (especially philosophical issues arising from the experience of disability) and Social & Political Philosophy (especially the Capabilities Approach).

In 2020 he was a visiting scholar at the Hastings Center in New York, and in 2016 he was a visiting researcher at the Brocher Foundation in Switzerland.

He has published in numerous journals, including The Journal of Medical Ethics; The Journal of Social Philosophy; Bioethics; The American Journal of Bioethics; Medicine, Health Care, and Philosophy; Essays in Philosophy; Journal of Human Development and Capabilities; Topoi; Public Health Ethics; Disability & Society, and Disability Studies Quarterly.

He has authored 4 books: Disability & Justice (Lexington / Rowman & Littlefield, 2014) , Human Rights, Disability, & Capabilties (Palgrave MacMillan, 2016), The Ethics of Assisted Dying (Routledge, 2025), The Ethics of Disability (Routledge, 2025). He is the editor of 2 books: From Disability Theory to Practice (Lexington / Rowman & Littlefield, 2018), Disability & Death (Routledge, 2025).

Education

Ph.D. Philosophy, Queen’s University at Kingston.
M.A. Critical Disability Studies, York University.
B.A.H. Philosophy (minor in Political Studies), Queen’s University at Kingston.

Research

BOOKS (4)

Riddle, C. A. The Ethics of Disability: An Introduction. New York: Routledge, (forthcoming) 2025.
Riddle, C. A. The Ethics of Assisted Dying: An Introduction. New York: Routledge, (forthcoming) 2025.
Riddle, C. A. Human Rights, Disability, & Capabilities. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2016.
Riddle, C. A. Disability & Justice: The Capabilities Approach in Practice. Lanham: Lexington Books/Rowman & Littlefield, 2014.

EDITED BOOKS (2)

Riddle, C. A. & Jerome E. Bickenbach, eds. Disability & Death: Philosophical, Social, and Political Perspectives. New York: Routledge, (forthcoming) 2025.
Riddle, C. A., ed. From Disability Theory to Practice: Essays in Honor of Jerome E. Bickenbach. Lanham: Lexington Books/Rowman & Littlefield, 2018.

JOURNAL ARTICLES & BOOK CHAPTERS (35)

Riddle, C. A. “The Gang Becomes Scabs: The Ethics of Strikebreaking.” In “So Long, Dental Plan!” Unions, Labor Relations and Class Struggle…As Seen On TV, edited by Shaun Richman. New York: SUNY Press, (forthcoming) 2026.
Riddle, C. A. “Justice and Disability-Associated Health Expenditures.” In Disability & Death: Philosophical, Social, and Political Perspectives, edited by Christopher A. Riddle, and Jerome E. Bickenbach. New York: Routledge, (forthcoming) 2025.
Riddle, C. A. “Disability in Contemporary Theories of Distributive Justice.” In Philosophical Foundations of Disability Law, edited by Heloise Robinson, Jonas-Sébastien Beaudry, and Jonathan Herring. Oxford: Oxford University Press, (forthcoming) 2025.
Riddle, C. A. “Prenatal Testing & Selective Abortion: Opposition from Disability-Rights Proponents.” Humana.Mente: Journal of Philosophical Studies (forthcoming) 2025.
Riddle, C. A. “Agency, the Capability Approach, and the ICF at the End-of-Life.” Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 26, no. 2 (2025): 316-325.
Riddle, C. A. “Social Coercion, Patient Preferences, and AI-Substituted Judgments.” The American Journal of Bioethics, 24, no. 7 (2024) 60-62.
Riddle, C. A. “Is Medical Aid in Dying Discriminatory?” Journal of Medical Ethics, 50, no. 2 (2024): 122.
Riddle, C. A. “Assent and Vulnerability in Patients Who Lack Capacity.” Journal of Medical Ethics, 49, no. 7 (2023): 485-486.
Riddle, C. A. “Medical Aid in Dying: The Case of Disability.” In New Directions in the Ethics of Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia – 2nd Edition, edited by Michael Cholbi and Jukka Varelius, 225-241. New York: Springer, 2023.
Riddle, C. A. “The Capabilities Approach and Social Inclusion.” In The Springer Handbook of Social Inclusion: Research and Practices in Health and Social Sciences, edited by Pranee Liamputtong, 169-180. Singapore: Springer, 2022.
Riddle, C. A. “Vulnerability, Disability, & Public Health Crises.” Public Health Ethics, 14, no. 2 (2021): 161-167.
Riddle, C. A. “Applying the Capabilities Approach to Disability & Education.” Philosophical Inquiry in Education, 28, no. 2 (2021): 83-94.
Riddle, C. A. “Why We Do Not Need A 'Stronger' Social Model of Disability.” Disability & Society, 35, no. 9 (2020): 1509-1513.
Riddle, C. A. “Disability and Disadvantage in the Capabilities Approach.” In The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy and Disability, edited by Adam Cureton and David Wasserman, 229-244. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020.
Vehmas, S. & C. A. Riddle. “What Can Philosophy Tell Us About Disability?” In The Routledge Handbook of Disability Studies - 2nd Edition, edited by Nick Watson and Simo Vehmas, 348-361. New York: Routledge, 2019.
Riddle, C. A. & Jeremy Butler. “Obsolescence, Genetic Treatment, and Disability.” The American Journal of Bioethics, 19, no. 7 (2019): 51-53.
Riddle, C. A. “Assisted Dying, Disability Rights, & Medical Error.” International Journal of Applied Philosophy, 32, no. 2 (2019): 187-196.
Riddle, C. A. “What We Owe: Disability & Non-Talent.” In From Disability Theory to Practice: Essays in Honor of Jerome E. Bickenbach, edited by Christopher A. Riddle, 41-49. Lanham: Lexington Books/Rowman & Littlefield, 2018.
Riddle, C. A., & D. J. Riddle. “Personal Property, Health Insurance, and Morality.” The American Journal of Bioethics 18, no. 2 (2018): 62-63.
Riddle, C. A. “Disability & Doing Justice.” In The Ethics of Ability and Enhancement, edited by Jessica Flanigan and Terry Price, 41-55. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2017.
Riddle, C. A. “Assisted Dying & Disability.” Bioethics 31, no. 6 (2017): 484-489.
Riddle, C. A. “Grounding Disability and Human Rights with the Capabilities Approach.” In Human Rights and Disability: Interdisciplinary Perspectives, edited by John Stewart-Gordon, Johann-Christian Põder, and Holger Burckhart, 39-49. New York: Routledge, 2017.
Riddle, C. A. “Ranking Capabilities.” In Discussing Capabilities, Emotions and Values: A Cross-Cultural Perspective, edited by Koji Nakatogawa, Lydia de Tienda, Yousuke Mitsuke, and Yohei Fukayama, 111-118. Sapporo, Japan: Keyword, 2015.
Riddle, C. A. “On Risk & Responsibility.” Essays in Philosophy 16, no. 2 (2015): 217-231.
Riddle, C. A. “Disability, Health, and Minimal Risk Thresholds.” The American Journal of Bioethics 14, no. 9 (2014): 25-26.
Riddle, C. A. “Well-Being and the Capability of Health.” Topoi 32, no. 2 (2013): 153-160.
Riddle, C. A. “Defining Disability: Metaphysical Not Political.” Medicine, Health Care, & Philosophy 16, no. 3 (2013): 377-384.
Riddle, C. A. “Natural Diversity and Justice for People with Disabilities.” In Disability and the Good Human Life, edited by Jerome Bickenbach, Franziska Felder, and Barbara Schmitz, 271-299.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013.
Riddle, C. A. “The Ontology of Impairment: Rethinking How We Define Disability.” In Emerging Perspectives on Disability Studies, edited by Matthew Wappett and Katrina Arndt, 23-40. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.
Riddle, C. A. “Equality & Disability: A Charter Analysis.” Disability Studies Quarterly 32, no. 1 (2012).
Riddle, C. A. “Measuring Capabilities: The Case of Disability.” In The Capability Approach on Social Order, edited byNiels Weidtmann, Yanti Martina Hölzchen, & Bilal Hawa (preface by Martha Nussbaum), 49-62. Münster: LIT Verlag, 2012.
Riddle, C. A. “Responsibility and Foundational Material Conditions.” The American Journal of Bioethics 11, no. 7 (2011): 53-55.
Rioux M. H., & C. A. Riddle. “Values in Disability Policy & Law: Equality.” In Critical Perspectives On Human Rights and Disability Law, edited by M. Rioux, L. Basser, and M. Jones, 37-55. The Hague: Brill/Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2011.
Riddle, C. A. “Indexing, Capabilities, and Disability.” The Journal of Social Philosophy 41, no. 4 (2010): 527-537.
Riddle, C. A. “The Right to Live: Priority and the Roles of Physicians.” The American Journal of Bioethics 10, no. 3 (2010): 69-70.

EDITED JOURNAL ISSUES (1)

Riddle, C. A., ed. Special Issue: “Philosophy & Gun Control.” Essays in Philosophy 16, no. 2 (2015).

BOOK REVIEWS (12)

Riddle, C. A. Review of Equality Renewed: Justice, Flourishing, and the Egalitarian Ideal, by Christine Sypnowich. Philosophy in Review 39, no. 4 (2019): 218-220.
Riddle, C. A. Review of The Minority Body: A Theory of Disability, by Elizabeth Barnes. Dialogue 57, no. 1 (2018): 188-190.
Riddle, C. A. Review of Why Inequality Matters: Luck Egalitarianism, its Meaning and Value, by Shlomi Segall. Philosophy in Review 37, no. 4 (2017): 166-168.
Riddle, C. A. Review of Human Rights and Disability Advocacy, edited by Mara Sabatello, and Marianne Schulze. Law & Politics Book Review 24, no. 11 (2015): 530-532.
Riddle, C. A. Review of Measuring Justice: Primary Goods and Capabilities, edited by Harry Brighouse, and Ingrid Robeyns. Dialogue: Canadian Philosophical Review 50, no. 1 (2011): 213-215.
Riddle, C. A. Review of Law and The Humanities: An Introduction, edited by Austin Sarat, Matthew Anderson, and Cathrine O. Frank. The Law & Politics Book Review 20, no.7 (2010): 307-309.
Riddle, C. A. Review of Reflections on Life, Death, and The Constitution, by George Anastaplo. The Law & Politics Book Review 19, no. 12 (2009): 858-861.
Riddle, C. A. Review of Values and Virtues: Aristotelianism in Contemporary Ethics, edited by T. Chappell. The International Journal of Philosophical Studies 17, no. 2 (2009): 355-358.
Riddle, C. A. Review of Foucault and the Government of Disability, edited by Shelley Tremain. Essays in Philosophy 10, no. 1 (2009).
Riddle, C. A. Review of Medicine, Malpractice and Misapprehensions, by Vivienne Harpwood. The Law & Politics Book Review 18, no. 9 (2008): 838-841.
Riddle, C. A. Review of Disadvantage, by Jonathan Wolff & Avner de-Shalit. 2R – The Journal of Philosophical Reviews 9 (2008): 105-114.
Riddle, C. A. Review of Stem Cell Century: Law and Policy for a Breakthrough Technology, by Russell Korobkin. The Law & Politics Book Review 18, no.3 (2008): 216-219.

Awards and Recognition

2021 recipient of the Harold T. Clark Award for Outstanding Faculty Scholarship
2018 recipient of the 44th Dr. Virgil Crisafulli Distinguished Teaching Award