Brian Kogelmann

Brian Kogelmann is an Associate Professor of Philosophy and Political Science at Purdue University, with affiliations to the F.A. Hayek Program at the Mercatus Center (George Mason University). Previously, he held positions as an Assistant Professor at the John Chambers College of Business and Economics (West Virginia University) and at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he founded the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) major. His research bridges social/political philosophy and political economy, addressing topics like liberalism, property rights, transparency in governance, and meritocracy.

He earned a PhD in Philosophy at the University of Arizona. His first book, Secret Government: The Pathologies of Publicity, critiques transparency norms in governance. Current projects include a monograph on meritocracy and political parties, alongside future works on economic growth. His work frequently employs formal models and engages with classical theorists like Marx, Rawls, and Buchanan.

Key themes in his scholarship include the ethics of political institutions, the dynamics of collective action, and normative analysis of democratic systems. He critiques oligarchic tendencies while advocating for institutional designs that balance autonomy with social justice.