Catherine Z. Elgin

Catherine Z. Elgin is a Professor of Education at Harvard University's Graduate School of Education, where she has taught since 1996. Her research bridges epistemology, philosophy of art, and philosophy of science, emphasizing understanding over knowledge as epistemology's central concern. She is also the editor of The Philosophy of Nelson Goodman and co-editor of Philosophical Inquiry.

• Education: PhD, Brandeis University (1975)

Elgin's work explores how philosophical problems like those in aesthetics and language can inform epistemology. She argues that artistic and scientific practices similarly advance understanding through reconfiguration and cognitive reorganization.

Her publications span topics like True Enough (MIT Press), which challenges foundationalist epistemology, and contributions to journals such as Philosophical Studies and Synthese. Key themes include the epistemic value of metaphor, fiction, and exemplification.

Scientific Awards:
• American Academy of Arts & Sciences member (2023)

Elgin serves as a literary executor for Nelson Goodman and Jonathan Adler, and is actively involved in editorial roles for American Philosophical Quarterly, International Journal for the Philosophy of Science, and Theory and Research in Education. Her courses focus on philosophy and education, and she maintains a personal site for academic resources.