معرفی
David Leech is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Religion and Theology at the University of Bristol, specializing in the intersection of historical and contemporary philosophy of religion with psychological dimensions of religious cognition.
His academic credentials include:
- MA Hons from St Andrews
- M.Phil from Cambridge
- PhD from Cambridge
Leech's research centers on affective religious knowing (the 'heart') as a sui generis cognitive mode, particularly through Cambridge Platonism. His work critically examines:
- Religious experience and psychological foundations
- Agnosticism and atheism in modern discourse
- Christian Platonism's historical development
- Critiques of philosophical naturalism
His publication trajectory reveals deepening interdisciplinary engagement, moving from historical analysis of Cambridge Platonists toward integrative models connecting philosophy, psychology, and theology. Recent works increasingly focus on the epistemological validity of religious affect and its implications for contemporary religious dialogue.
Recognition for his scholarship includes:
- Manfried Lautenschlaeger Book Prize for 'The Hammer of the Cartesians' (2013)
Leech has supervised 4 graduate researchers and actively recruits new students in his specialty areas. His AHRC-funded projects 'The Cambridge Platonists at the origins of Enlightenment' (2016-2019) and related initiatives demonstrate sustained commitment to collaborative research exploring philosophical theology's historical roots and modern relevance.
As an active member of the British Society for the Philosophy of Religion, he regularly presents at international forums including the International Association for the Psychology of Religion conferences, fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue on religious cognition.
