Eleonore Stump

Eleonore Stump is the Robert J. Henle Professor of Philosophy at Saint Louis University, where she has taught since 1992. She also holds honorary positions as Professor at Wuhan University, at the Logos Institute, St. Andrews, and as a Professorial Fellow at Australian Catholic University. Her distinguished career includes delivering prestigious lectures such as the Gifford Lectures (Aberdeen, 2003), the Wilde lectures (Oxford, 2006), the Stewart lectures (Princeton, 2009), and the Stanton lectures (Cambridge, 2018).

Professor Stump's research spans three primary areas: philosophy of religion, contemporary metaphysics, and medieval philosophy. Her work is characterized by a narrative approach to philosophical problems, particularly the problem of evil and suffering. She has made significant contributions to understanding Aquinas's thought and has engaged deeply with biblical narratives as philosophical texts. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges analytic philosophy with theological insights, creating a unique perspective on longstanding philosophical questions. This methodology has been particularly influential in addressing the relationship between divine attributes and human suffering.

Stump's publications reveal a consistent focus on the intersection of narrative, suffering, and divine attributes. Her major works explore how biblical stories can illuminate philosophical problems, particularly regarding God's relationship to human suffering. This narrative approach has become increasingly influential in contemporary philosophy of religion, offering an alternative to more traditional logical approaches to the problem of evil. Her work on atonement theory has also reshaped contemporary discussions in theological ethics.

• Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Past president of the Society of Christian Philosophers
• Past president of the American Catholic Philosophical Association
• Past president of the American Philosophical Association, Central Division
• Gifford Lecturer (Aberdeen, 2003)
• Wilde Lecturer (Oxford, 2006)
• Stewart Lecturer (Princeton, 2009)
• Stanton Lecturer (Cambridge, 2018)

Professor Stump has supervised over thirty-five doctoral students at Saint Louis University, many of whom have gone on to prominent academic positions at institutions worldwide. Her mentoring has shaped a generation of philosophers working at the intersection of analytic philosophy and theological inquiry. She has led significant research initiatives including the "Wrestling with Life: Analytic Theology and Biblical Narratives" workshop at Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem (2019) and "The Philosophy and Theology of Biblical Narratives" workshop (2021), funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Stump is actively involved with the Ignatian Scholars Corps, connecting eminent scholars with institutions of higher education to provide lectures in the Judaeo-Christian intellectual heritage. She also contributes weekly reflections to The Sunday Website of Saint Louis University, demonstrating her commitment to making philosophical insights accessible beyond academic circles. Her ongoing work includes reading groups on Aquinas's biblical commentaries and Dante's Divine Comedy, reflecting her dedication to collaborative scholarly inquiry and the integration of faith and reason.