J. Caleb Clanton

J. Caleb Clanton is a Professor and Distinguished University Chair in Philosophy and Humanities at Lipscomb University, leading the Philosophy Program since 2012. He previously taught at Pepperdine University (as director of their philosophy program and Seaver Fellow in the Humanities) and Vanderbilt University. His academic career spans three degrees from Vanderbilt (Ph.D. and M.A. in Philosophy) and a B.A. from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

His research focuses on moral philosophy, philosophy of religion, and the history of philosophy. He has authored or edited nine books, including recent works on metaphysical foundations of morality, Christian traditions in ethics, and American philosophical thought. He has consistently been recognized for teaching excellence, earning awards across multiple institutions.

Clanton’s work bridges classical and contemporary ethical theories, with a particular emphasis on religious contributions to moral discourse. His publications reflect interdisciplinary engagement between philosophy, theology, and political theory.

• Education: Ph.D. and M.A. in Philosophy (Vanderbilt University); B.A. in Philosophy (University of Alabama in Huntsville)
• Awards: Franklin J. Machette Teaching Excellence Award (2004/2005), Howard A. White Award (2009-2010), Outstanding Teacher of the Year (2014), Dean’s Award (2020)
• Key Themes: Divine command theory, American pragmatist philosophy, citizenship ethics, and religious epistemology