Mihretu Guta, PhD

Adjunct Professor, MS Biotechnology Studies, Department of Biology and Chemistry; Department of Philosophy

Email: mguta@apu.edu

Mihretu P. Guta completed his PhD, at Durham University in the UK. After completing a PhD, Guta spent a year at Durham University as a postdoctoral research fellow within the Durham Emergence Project, set up with cooperation between physicists and philosophers (funded by the John Templeton Foundation). His postdoctoral research was focused on the nature of the emergence of phenomenal consciousness taken from the standpoint of metaphysics, philosophy of mind, neuroscience, and quantum physics. Guta also received professional academic certificates in neuroscience from Cambridge University and Harvard University. He also attended merit based competitive academic summer seminars in philosophy at Rutgers University (NJ), Rivendell Institute at Yale University and Bamberg University in Germany. Currently, Guta teaches philosophy at Azusa Pacific University and Biola University.
Guta is also an associate fellow at the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity of the Academy of Fellows at Trinity International University (IL). Guta’s primary research interest is in analytic metaphysics, philosophy of mind, and consciousness studies. His other research interest areas include ethics, bioethics, philosophy of religion, philosophy of language/logic, epistemology,philosophical theology, science and religion, the philosophy of cognitive neuroscience, and the philosophy of quantum physics.
His publications include: “Selfhood, Autism, and Thought Insertion edited with Sophie Gibb” (Academic Imprint, UK, 2021, the Journal of Consciousness Studies); “E. J. Lowe’s Metaphysics and Philosophical Theology,” a Special Issue edited with Eric LaRock (TheoLogica: An International Journal for Philosophy of Religion and Philosophical Theology, 2021); “Consciousness and the Ontology of Properties” (Routledge, 2019); “Taking Persons Seriously: Where Philosophy and Bioethics Intersect” edited with Scott Rae (forthcoming, Pickwick Publications, Wipf and Stock Publishers), E. J. Lowe’s Metaphysics and Philosophical Theology edited with Eric LaRock (forthcoming, Routledge) and “Consciousness, Unconsciousness and Artificial Intelligence” edited with Eric LaRock (forthcoming, Wiley Blackwell). “Human Flourishing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”, edited with Louise Ko Huang (in progress).
Guta also has published articles, short response commentaries, and book reviews in academic journals such as Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, Philosophical Quarterly, Philosophia Christi, Analysis, Journal of Consciousness Studies, Teorema: International Journal of Philosophy, and the Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation.
Guta has presented research/public lectures over 90 times. Some of the places he spoke at include Durham University (UK), Tyndale House at Cambridge University, University of Vienna (Austria), University of Helsinki (Finland), Boston University, University of Arizona, Oakland University (MI), Michigan University, University of Tampa (FL), Biola University, Azusa Pacific University, Wheaton College (IL), Trinity International University (IL), Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology, and Ethiopia’s Evangelical Theological College. Currently, Guta is working on a book manuscript entitled: The Metaphysics of Substance and Personhood: A Non-Theory-Laden Approach and another co-written book entitled: Bracketed Issue: A Case for Metaphysical Foundation for Bioethics.

Education

• PhD, Philosophy, Durham University (United Kingdom)
• MA, Philosophy, Biola University
• MA, Science and Religion, Biola University
• BTh, Academic Theology, Evangelical Theological College (Ethiopia)

Academic Area

• Honors College
• School of Theology
• School of Humanities and Sciences

Expertise

• Consciousness Studies
• The Philosophy of Cognitive Neuroscience
• Science and Religion
• Philosophy of Mind
• Philosophical Theology
• Metaphysics

Courses Taught

• PHIL 100 – Introduction to Philosophy
• PHIL 410 - Philosophy of Religion
• WRIT 202 - Writing with CS Lewis
• HON 300 - CORE IV
• BIOT 516 - Ethics for Biomedical Products Industry