Benjamin Michael Miller

Benjamin Michael Miller is Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with affiliations in the Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory, the Department of Classics, and the European Union Center. He is a political theorist specializing in democratic citizenship, civic education, and the philosophical foundations of liberal democracy.

• Ph.D., Stanford University, Department of Philosophy
• M.A., Stanford University, Graduate School of Education
• M.A., University of Auckland, Department of Philosophy
• B.S., Northeastern University, Department of Philosophy & Religion
• B.S., Northeastern University, Department of Psychology

His research critically examines Aristotelian character education, arguing that its value theory is incompatible with liberal democratic pluralism. He explores how citizens should be educated to uphold democratic principles rather than merely match policies to preferences. His work bridges political philosophy and empirical political science, focusing on democratic backsliding, affective polarization, and citizen competence.

The recent articles by Miller focus on citizenship, virtue, and democratic theory, particularly analyzing Aristotle’s political thought and its modern applications. His publications reveal a strong interdisciplinary orientation, combining ancient philosophy with contemporary democratic challenges, emphasizing normative ideals of open-mindedness, political participation, and civic responsibility.

• 2024 Clarence A. Berdahl Excellent Undergraduate Teaching Award in Political Science
• 2019 Clarence A. Berdahl Excellent Undergraduate Teaching Award in Political Science

Miller teaches courses such as Intro to Political Theory, Justice in the Law, Classical Political Thought, Citizenship & Diversity, Ancient Philosophy, and Children, the Family, and Social Justice. He advises on democratic theory and has no listed advisees in the provided text. He is actively engaged in research linking philosophical concepts to empirical studies of political sophistication. His book Against Aristotelian Character Education (2025) presents a comprehensive critique of neo-Aristotelian educational models.

He is affiliated with interdisciplinary research centers including the Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory and the European Union Center, where he contributes to dialogues on democratic citizenship and political values.