Geoffrey Gorham

Geoffrey Gorham is a Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Macalester College, with expertise in early modern philosophy, metaphysics, and American philosophy. His affiliations include residencies at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Philosophy of Science (2017), Radboud University (2011), and the Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science. He holds a BA from Dalhousie University (1986), an MA from the University of Calgary (1988), and a PhD from the University of Minnesota (1994).

Gorham's research explores the intersection of history, science, and metaphysics, focusing on figures like Descartes, Hobbes, and Locke. Key areas include the philosophy of time/space, the scientific revolution, and early American philosophical thought. His work often examines how metaphysical concepts evolved during pivotal historical periods, blending theological and scientific perspectives.

His recent publications (2018–2025) predominantly analyze temporal metaphysics, early modern scientific debates, and American philosophical traditions. Common themes include the nature of infinity, causality, and the interplay between empirical methods and metaphysical inquiry.

Gorham has received numerous awards and grants, including:

• NEH Summer Seminars (1996, 2000, 2004, 2010)
• SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship (1988)
• Visiting Fellowships at the Smithsonian Dibner Library (2018) and University of Pittsburgh (2017)
• Templeton Foundation Grant (2006)

He actively mentors students, advising projects like Samuel Eklund's 'The Emancipation of Time in the Seventeenth Century' (2013) and Stephanie Van Fossen's 'Early American Philosophy' (2017). As a Resident Fellow at the Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science, he collaborates on interdisciplinary research bridging historical and contemporary scientific inquiry.