Trevor Pearce

Trevor Pearce is a Professor and Chair in the Department of Philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. His research focuses on the historical interplay between philosophy and science, particularly exploring how scientific developments influenced American pragmatist thinkers like William James and John Dewey. He is the author of Pragmatism’s Evolution: Organism and Environment in American Philosophy (2020), which examines the impact of 19th-century life sciences on philosophical frameworks. Current projects include studies on marginalized figures such as Grace de Laguna and Alain Locke’s engagement with human sciences.

His interdisciplinary work bridges philosophy of biology, history of ideas, and social sciences. Recent investigations address Darwinism-materialism intersections in the 1860s and the role of evolutionary thought in shaping legal and social theories. He critiques traditional evolutionary narratives while advocating for inclusive historiography that centers underrepresented voices.

Pearce’s scholarship spans over two decades, with contributions to journals like Journal of the History of Philosophy and Isis. He frequently engages with public intellectual discourse through podcasts and interviews, notably with the New Books Network and Exchange. His work challenges reductionist approaches in both scientific and philosophical domains, emphasizing organism-environment entanglement as a foundational concept.