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Pheng Cheah serves as Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in interdisciplinary research bridging philosophy, literature, and political theory with global implications. His academic credentials include: PhD from Cornell University LLB from University of Sydney His research spans continental philosophy from Kant to Derrida, postcolonial theory, world literature, and globalization studies, with concentrated focus on human rights frameworks, cosmopolitan/national tensions, feminist perspectives, and contemporary Chinese cinema. His methodology integrates literary analysis with political philosophy to examine power dynamics in transnational contexts, particularly across postcolonial Asia where he conducts fieldwork with filmmakers. Publication analysis reveals an evolving trajectory from foundational cosmopolitan/national theory toward biopolitical human rights frameworks and cinematic representations of globalization. His work consistently centers non-Western perspectives—especially Chinese, Southeast Asian, and global South contexts—challenging Eurocentric paradigms through comparative analysis of cultural production and political transformation. No scientific awards are documented in available sources. Professor Cheah mentors graduate students in critical theory and postcolonial studies, guiding research on literature's political dimensions. His scholarly activities are supported by standard academic funding mechanisms enabling extensive archival work and international collaborations, particularly with Asian film communities. He maintains active participation in global studies consortia and postcolonial research networks, frequently collaborating with filmmakers and scholars across the three Chinas through interview-based methodologies.

• 18th-20th century continental philosophy and critical theory
• Postcolonial theory and anglophone postcolonial literatures
• World literature
• +6 more

Michelle Kosch is a Professor of Philosophy at New York University's College of Arts & Science. She earned a PhD in Philosophy from Columbia University and a BA in Government from Harvard College. Her research focuses on 18th-20th century European philosophy, particularly Kant, German Idealism (Schelling, Fichte), Kierkegaard, and Beauvoir. Education: PhD in Philosophy (Columbia), BA in Government (Harvard) Current Projects: Two book projects on Simone de Beauvoir's ethical thought and Fichte's political philosophy during the Jena period Research Interests: She specializes in Kantian and post-Kantian European philosophy, with a focus on German Idealism, Kierkegaardian ethics, and contemporary relevance of these traditions. Her work explores intersections between autonomy, rationality, and historical philosophical systems. Recent Publications: Her articles analyze Fichte's theories of rational agency and drives, Schelling's moral psychology, and Kierkegaard's ethical framework in Either/Or. She has also published on the relationship between Schelling's metaphysics and Kierkegaard's religious ethics, and the role of autonomy in Fichte's normative ethics. Teaching: For Spring 2026, she will teach a Graduate Seminar on Simone de Beauvoir and an Undergraduate Seminar on Søren Kierkegaard. Her teaching connects historical philosophical texts with contemporary ethical debates.

• 18th-20th century European philosophy
• German Idealism
• Kantian Philosophy
• +4 more

Holly L. Wilson is a Professor at Louisiana State University At Alexandria with a PhD from Pennsylvania State University (1989). Her academic career spans several decades with a primary focus on Kantian philosophy, particularly Kant's anthropology lectures and their relationship to critical philosophy. Professor Wilson's research interests include Applied Ethics, Normative Ethics, 17th/18th Century Philosophy, Continental Philosophy, and Ecofeminism. She has made significant contributions to understanding Kant's pragmatic anthropology, exploring its sources, development, and relationship to his critical philosophy. Her work often examines the connections between morality and anthropology in Kant's system. Her recent publications (2015-2022) have focused on Kant's anthropology lectures, analyzing their historical development, theoretical foundations, and implications for understanding freedom, prudence, and moral philosophy. Earlier work explored intersections between Kant's philosophy and ecofeminism, as well as topics in climate change ethics and the philosophy of marriage. Her dissertation at Penn State, "Kant's Pragmatic Anthropology and its Relationship to Critical Philosophy" (1989), established her scholarly focus on the relationship between Kant's anthropology lectures and his critical works, arguing against the view that anthropology developed from empirical psychology parts of Kant's metaphysics lectures.

• Applied Ethics
• Normative Ethics
• 17th/18th Century Philosophy
• +4 more

Andrew J. Mitchell is a Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Philosophy at Emory University. He specializes in 19th and 20th Century German Philosophy, focusing on figures like Fichte, Schelling, Nietzsche, and Heidegger, alongside aesthetics and philosophy of literature. His work bridges continental philosophy, critical theory, and interdisciplinary studies of art, technology, and ethics. Education : PhD in Philosophy from Stony Brook University (2001). Notable postdoctoral fellowships include Stanford University (2004-2007) and a German-American exchange at Bergische Universität Wuppertal (1996-1997). Research Interests : Mitchell’s scholarship centers on Heidegger’s later works, Nietzsche’s aesthetic philosophy, and the intersections of German idealism with romanticism and modernism. Key themes include material ontology, political ethics, and the philosophy of art and technology. His translations of Nietzsche and Heidegger further underscore his commitment to textual fidelity and interpretive rigor. His publications reveal a focus on controversial topics like Heidegger’s anti-Semitism (via the Black Notebooks), the ontology of objects, and the philosophical implications of technology. Recent work explores botany in romantic thought and existential themes in medical philosophy. Awards & Fellowships : Includes ACLS Collaborative Research Fellowship (2016-17), NEH grants (2010, 2009), and Stanford’s postdoctoral fellowship. His edited volumes address Heidegger’s legacy and interdisciplinary connections between philosophy and literature. Mitchell advises graduate students in continental philosophy and has collaborated on projects like the Complete Works of Nietzsche translation. His academic leadership includes directing Emory’s graduate program and organizing international conferences on Heidegger’s controversial writings.

• 19th & 20th Century German Philosophy
• Aesthetics
• Philosophy of Literature
• +3 more

Rochelle Tobias is a Professor of German and Head of Section at Johns Hopkins University, serving as Director of the Max Kade Center for Modern German Thought. She holds a PhD in Modern Languages and Literatures from the University of California, Berkeley. Her research bridges German literature and philosophy, with focuses on phenomenology, religious studies, German-Jewish culture, and environmental thought. She explores concepts of 'world' in European literature and the ecstatic tradition in romantic and modernist works. Her major publications include *The Discourse of Nature in the Poetry of Paul Celan* (2016), analyzing Celan's engagement with geology and existential void, and *Pseudo-Memoirs: Life and Its Imitation in Modern Fiction* (2021), introducing the concept of 'pseudo-memoirs' to critique narrative reality. She co-edited *Phenomenology to the Letter: Husserl and Literature* (2020), linking Husserlian theory to literary analysis, and authored *Hölderlin’s Philosophy of Nature* (2019) on ecological philosophy. Tobias has received grants from the American Association of University Women, DAAD, and held a fellowship at Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich (2009). Her current projects include *Mindscapes: From Romanticism to Modernity* (exploring Novalis, Fichte, Rilke, and Husserl) and *Robert Walser, Literary Miracles, and Virgin Births* (on Walser’s incarnational poetics).

• 18th-21st century German literature
• European thought
• phenomenology
• +6 more

Maire Jaanus is Professor of English at Barnard College and the Columbia University School of Graduate Studies in the Arts & Sciences, where she has been a central figure in literary and psychoanalytic scholarship. She previously served as chair of the Department of English, underscoring her leadership and academic influence. Education: Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, Harvard University B.A., Vassar College Junior year at the University of Munich Fulbright Scholar at Cambridge University Her research centers on 18th to 20th-century comparative literature, with a focus on the novel, romantic poetry, and postmodernism, deeply interwoven with psychoanalysis (especially Lacanian theory), philosophy, and more recently, affective neuroscience. She has pioneered courses such as Reading Lacan and Literature , The Human Body in Literature , and On Happiness , reflecting her interdisciplinary rigor. Her scholarly work consistently bridges literature with Lacanian psychoanalysis, ethics, and the philosophy of desire. Her recent publications explore themes of jouissance, desire, memory, and subjectivity across authors like Lacan, Freud, Sebald, Tolstoy, and Lispector. The articles reveal a sustained engagement with the intersections of literature, psychoanalysis, and continental philosophy, particularly in diagnosing the modern subject through narrative and affect. Scientific Awards: Woodrow Wilson National Humanities Series Prize (1972) Author of Significant Merit, AAUW Convention (1985) Vilis Vitols Prize (1997) Book nominated by Cultural Capital Foundation of Estonia (2012) She has advised numerous graduate students and led major research initiatives, including international conferences on psychoanalysis and the humanities. Her editorial work as Co-Editor-in-Chief of Culture and Clinic and volumes on Lacan underscores her leadership in the field. She continues to teach advanced seminars, such as The Field of the Emotions in Romantic Literature , indicating active mentorship and scholarly direction. She is affiliated with research initiatives in psychoanalysis and humanities, including collaborations with the New Lacanian School and institutions in Estonia and Portugal, reflecting a robust international scholarly network.

• Psychoanalytic Literary Theory
• Lacanian Theory
• Comparative Literature
• +11 more

Warren Montag is the Louis M. Brown Family Professor in Literature in English at Occidental College, appointed in 1987. He holds a B.A. from UC Berkeley and an M.A./Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate School. Montag specializes in 18th-century British/European literature, Enlightenment philosophy, and 20th-century critical theory, with deep engagements in political philosophy (Spinoza, Hobbes, Locke, Althusser). He serves as editor of Décalages: a Journal of Althusser Studies , reflecting his scholarly focus. His research bridges literature and philosophy, examining materialism, power structures, and ideological critique across historical contexts. Key themes include the intersection of politics and literature, re-readings of Enlightenment figures through modern theory, and analyses of continental philosophy. Recent publications (2009–2013) demonstrate sustained focus on Althusserian theory, Spinozist ethics, political sovereignty, and critiques of neoliberalism, often employing comparative analysis of thinkers like Foucault, Derrida, and Rancière. Montag has translated works by Balibar, Derrida, and Althusser, expanding access to European philosophical texts. No awards, grants, or student advising relationships are documented in this profile.

• 18th-Century Literature
• Political Philosophy
• Critical Theory
• +5 more

Bruno Penteado serves as an Assistant Professor of French in the Department of Classical & Modern Languages & Literatures at Texas Tech University. His academic profile demonstrates a robust engagement with both literary studies and philosophical inquiry, particularly focusing on French literature from the 18th and 19th centuries. Dr. Penteado's research interests span 18th- and 19th-century French literature , continental philosophy , and the intersections between literature and philosophical thought . He is particularly known for his groundbreaking work on the concept of stupidity in philosophical discourse, examining how literary texts have contributed to philosophical understandings of intellectual limitations. His current book project titled Wishing to Conclude: Stupidity, Philosophy, and the French Novel investigates the legitimization of stupidity as an object of philosophical inquiry in 20th-century and contemporary French philosophy. Additional interests include literary and critical theory, intellectual history, and film studies. His scholarly publications demonstrate a consistent focus on the relationship between literary form and philosophical concepts, particularly around themes of stupidity, subjectivity, and reading practices. Penteado's work appears across prestigious interdisciplinary journals including Qui Parle: Critical Humanities and Social Sciences , Mosaic: An Interdisciplinary Critical Journal , Nineteenth-Century French Studies , and Forum for Modern Language Studies . His research often examines canonical French authors like Flaubert through contemporary theoretical lenses, while also engaging with Brazilian literature (Machado de Assis) and American literature (Henry James) to explore transnational dimensions of philosophical concepts. Dr. Penteado maintains an active teaching schedule with undergraduate courses including French Culture: French Horror(s) , Introduction to Literature in French: Comedy, Satire, and Parody in the French Tradition , and French Conversation: Current Topics in Contemporary France . At the graduate level, he teaches seminars on From the Baroque to the Revolution: The Invention of Modernity , 19th-Century Literature: Evil, Literature, Painting , French Cinema: The Crisis of Representation in French Cinema , and Studies in Literary Criticism and Theory: What is Literature?

• 18th-century French Literature
• 19th-century French Literature
• Continental Philosophy
• +7 more

Leland de la Durantaye is a Professor of Literature at Claremont McKenna College in California, specializing in modernism, continental philosophy, and 20th-century literary studies. He holds a B.A. from Michigan State University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Cornell University, both earned through the College of Arts and Sciences. His academic career includes prestigious fellowships such as the Berlin Prize and the Laurance S. Rockefeller Visiting Fellowship at Princeton University. Education: B.A., Michigan State University, School of Arts and Sciences M.A., Cornell University, College of Arts and Sciences Ph.D., Cornell University, College of Arts and Sciences De la Durantaye’s research spans aesthetics, the works of Beckett and Nabokov, and intersections between literature and philosophy. His critical essays examine de Sade’s moral paradoxes, Walter Benjamin’s urban modernity, and Giorgio Agamben’s biopolitical theories. His acclaimed debut novel, Hannah Versus the Tree , synthesizes mythic revenge narratives with lyrical prose, reflecting his lifelong engagement with philosophical and literary traditions. Recent publications reveal a thematic focus on: 18th-century Enlightenment critiques through de Sade’s radical philosophy Postmodern narrative structures in Peter Handke and Tom Drury Continental philosophy applications to contemporary art (e.g., Peter Osborne’s theories) Modernist techniques in Beckett’s work and Agamben’s political thought His accolades include being a finalist for major literary translation awards and contributions to journals like The Boston Review and Artforum . While his teaching and writing emphasize theoretical rigor, his fiction explores emotional depth and mythic storytelling.

• Aesthetics
• Beckett
• Continental Philosophy
• +7 more

John Namjun Kim is an Associate Professor in the Department of German/Japanese/Comparative Literature at the University of California, Riverside. His research focuses on late 18th to 20th-century German and French literature/philosophy, 20th-century Japanese literature/philosophy, deconstruction, gender studies, digital media, translation theory, and writing technologies. Ph.D., Cornell University, 2004 M.A., Cornell University, 2000 B.A., University of California, Santa Cruz, 1996 His research interrogates intersections of language, power, and identity across cultural boundaries. Notable works include co-editing The Politics of Culture: Around the Work of Naoki Sakai (Routledge, 2010) and analyzing Yoko Tawada’s postcolonial narratives. Recent publications address German cosmopolitanism in Japanese imperialism, Foucaultian analyses of fear, and Kant’s performative irony. Kim has conducted interdisciplinary translations (German/French/Japanese to English) of works by Tawada, Neyrat, and Wünsch. His scholarship bridges continental philosophy with East Asian studies, emphasizing critical theory and decolonial perspectives.

• German Literature
• French Literature
• Japanese Literature
• +8 more

Mika LaVaque-Manty is the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor and Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Michigan. His academic background spans philosophy (Ph.D., University of Michigan; B.A., University of Southern California) and over a decade of work in political science. He specializes in political thought from the 17th century to the present, with a focus on political agency, autonomy, and liberal/democratic theory. Key historical interests include 18th-century continental liberals like Immanuel Kant, while contemporary work examines autonomy in educational institutions and practices. LaVaque-Manty teaches courses such as Modern Political Thought, Liberalism and Its Critics, and Introduction to Political Theory at both undergraduate and graduate levels. He has authored influential works like The Playing Fields of Eton: Equality and Excellence in Modern Meritocracy and contributed to debates on gamification in education, digital pedagogy, and sports as cultural-political phenomena. His research bridges philosophy and political science, addressing themes such as dignity, honor, and the ethics of meritocracy. Awards include the Arthur F. Thurnau Professorship, recognizing excellence in teaching and research. Current projects explore how educational systems foster (or hinder) student autonomy, reflecting his commitment to integrating theoretical rigor with practical pedagogical innovation.

• Political Thought (17th Century to Present)
• Political Action and Agency
• Liberal and Democratic Theory
• +3 more

Alessandro Carrera is a John and Rebecca Moores Professor and Chair of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages at the University of Houston, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Born in Lodi, Italy (1954), he holds a Laurea in Philosophy from the University of Milan (1980) and a PhD by Publications in Music, Humanities, and Media from the University of Huddersfield (2016). His career includes teaching roles at institutions like NYU, McMaster University, and fellowships supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Research Interests: Italian Literature and Continental Philosophy Critical Theory and Aesthetic Studies Music Philosophy (Folk/Pop Music) AI and Cultural Ontology Film Analysis (Fellini, Rossellini) Dante and Leopardi Studies Awards: Montale Prize (1993), Flaiano Prize (2019), Marazza Prize (2022), and others recognizing his contributions to Italian Studies and translation work. He directs Gradiva: International Journal of Italian Poetry and serves as Visiting Professor at Università di Brescia (AI/Mind Enterprise) and IULM University (Music Publishing). His over 50 books include works on Bob Dylan, Fellini, and foundational Italian philosophy.

• Dante Studies
• Italian Literature (18th-21st Century)
• Comparative Literature
• +6 more

Lindsey Meyer is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the University of North Dakota Honors Program , specializing in Caribbean literature, continental philosophy, and decolonial thought. Her research intersects Haitian/French revolutionary studies, feminist theory, and contact languages. Ph.D. in French (2024), Emory University B.A. summa cum laude (2017), Wesleyan College Key research areas include: Creolized reproductive justice in Haitian literature Comparative theories of freedom Existentialism and decolonial praxis Ecofeminist narratives in Caribbean contexts Recent courses: Fall 2025 HON 101 - The Human Experience; Spring 2026 HON 101 & HON 382. She leads workshops on Southern Michif language preservation and presents internationally at Haitian Studies Association and SEASECS conferences.

• Caribbean literature and philosophy
• 18th-20th century continental philosophy
• 20th-21st century Haitian literature
• +6 more