Richard Polt

Dr. Richard Polt is a Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Xavier University. He holds a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Ph.D. from the Committee on Social Thought at the University of Chicago. His research focuses on German and Greek philosophy, particularly the works of Martin Heidegger, and explores themes like technology, temporality, and political ontology.

Education:

• B.A., Philosophy, University of California, Berkeley
• Ph.D., Committee on Social Thought, University of Chicago (1991)

Research Interests:

• Heidegger's philosophy and its political dimensions
• Greek philosophy (Plato, Aristotle)
• Continental philosophy
• Philosophy of technology and the Anthropocene
• Ontological critiques of modernity

Notable Works:

• Heidegger: An Introduction (1999, 2025 revised ed.)
• The Emergency of Being: On Heidegger's 'Contributions to Philosophy' (2006)
• Time and Trauma: Thinking Through Heidegger in the Thirties (2019)
• The Typewriter Revolution (2015)

Philosophical Contributions: Polt’s work critically examines Heidegger’s engagement with Nazism and the implications of his thought for contemporary issues like democracy, technology, and environmental philosophy. His analysis of concepts like Ereignis and presence bridges Heidegger’s early and late works, while his recent writings address the Anthropocene and democratic crises.

Labs/Teams: None explicitly noted, though his collaborations include edited volumes with scholars like Gregory Fried and Jon Wittrock.