Kenneth Pearce

Dr. Kenneth Pearce is a Professor of Philosophy and Academic Unit Head at the Department of Philosophy & Religion, James Madison University (since 2022). He previously served as Head of the Philosophy Department at Trinity College Dublin (2020–2022) and held roles including Ussher Assistant Professor in Berkeley Studies (2016–2020). His research focuses on early modern philosophy, particularly George Berkeley, and philosophy of religion, exploring metaphysical questions about divine power, free will, and religious epistemology. He has published extensively, including books like *Is There a God? A Debate* (2022) and *Language and the Structure of Berkeley's World* (2017). His work bridges historical and contemporary philosophy, addressing themes like grounding theory, divine attributes, and early modern critiques of materialism. Awards include the Sanders Prize (2016) and a Royal Institute of Philosophy Grant (2018). He teaches courses on early modern philosophy, philosophy of religion, and metaphysics, and actively advises graduate students. His media engagements include podcasts and radio discussions on religious debates and philosophical topics.

Education:

• B.A./B.A.S., University of Pennsylvania (2007)
• Ph.D., University of Southern California (2014)

Research Interests:

• Early modern philosophy (Berkeley, Locke, Arnauld)
• Philosophy of religion (omnipotence, divine freedom)
• Metaphysics (grounding, free will)

Grants & Service:

• Directed MPhil in Philosophy programs at Trinity College Dublin
• Organized conferences like *Irish Philosophy in the Age of Berkeley* (2019)
• Editorial roles at *PhilPapers* and *The Prosblogion* blog

Labs/Teams: Engages in digital humanities projects, including exhibits on Berkeley's manuscripts.