Aaron Harper

Dr. Aaron Harper is a Professor of Philosophy and Chairperson of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at West Liberty University, where he also serves as Director of Interdisciplinary Studies. He holds a Ph.D. (2012), M.A. (2007), and B.A. (2005) in Philosophy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Creighton University, respectively.

His research focuses on 19th Century Philosophy, Ethics, and Nietzschean thought, with particular emphasis on moral psychology, nihilism, and value creation. He has authored Sport Realism: A Law-Inspired Theory of Sport and published extensively on sport ethics, political philosophy, and ancient philosophy. His work integrates Nietzsche’s ideas with contemporary debates on sport fairness, playoff systems, and existential responses to nihilism.

Dr. Harper’s publications from 2012–2025 reflect a thematic progression from Nietzsche’s value theory to applied sport philosophy. His recent work critiques formalist approaches in sport and explores interdisciplinary connections between play, art, and education.

He advises no listed students but actively promotes interdisciplinary studies. His personal interests include running, hiking, baseball, and reading ancient/19th–20th century literature and history.