Toril Moi

Toril Moi is the James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Literature at Duke University, holding additional professorships in English, Romance Studies, Philosophy, and Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies. She directs the Center for Philosophy, Arts, and Literature (PAL). Her work bridges feminist theory, literary criticism, and philosophy, with a focus on modernism, existentialism, and ordinary language philosophy. Educated at the University of Bergen (Dr. Art., 1985), her research spans Simone de Beauvoir, Ibsen, and Cavellian thought. She has held fellowships at the Radcliffe Institute, Guggenheim Foundation, and Rockefeller Foundation. Recognized with honorary doctorates from four universities, her teaching emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, including courses on Wittgenstein, existentialism, and feminist classics. Moi advises graduate students across disciplines and has supervised over 20 PhD dissertations, many winning top academic prizes.

Her research explores intersections between literature and philosophy, particularly through feminist frameworks. Notable books include Sexual/Textual Politics (1985) and Henrik Ibsen and the Birth of Modernism (2006). Recent work addresses Beauvoir’s literary theory and crises in humanities education. Moi’s global lectures span 29 countries, and she advises institutions like Norway’s National Library. Awards highlight her contributions to feminist scholarship and mentorship.