معرفی
Douglas Casson is Professor of Political Science and Department Chair at St. Olaf College, where he also serves as Director of External Fellowships and Director of International Relations. He is based in Holland Hall and teaches courses in political philosophy, religion and politics, and constitutional law, including in the interdisciplinary Great Conversation Program.
His research centers on political theory, particularly the interplay between self-restraint and self-government in pluralistic societies. Key interests include ancient and modern political philosophy, the role of judgment under conditions of uncertainty, and the historical development of civility in political discourse. He has explored these themes through the works of thinkers such as Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau, Luther, and Erasmus.
His scholarship includes the acclaimed book Liberating Judgment (2011), which examines how probable judgment functions in Locke’s political thought and was named a Choice Outstanding Academic Title. His current project, Civility and Its Discontents, investigates the tension between civility and liberty from the Reformation through the Enlightenment.
Scientific Awards:
- Choice Outstanding Academic Title for 2011: Top 25 Books
He has held visiting fellowships at Harris Manchester College, Oxford, and Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen-Nuremberg, through the Fulbright program. He advises students on external fellowships and contributes significantly to international academic engagement at St. Olaf. His teaching and scholarship reflect a deep commitment to liberal education and the enduring questions of political life.
