معرفی
Joel Isaac is an Associate Professor of Social Thought and History at the University of Chicago, serving as Interim Chair of the John U. Nef Committee on Social Thought. He holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge (2006). His research focuses on modern social and political thought, particularly American and British traditions, with expertise in the history and philosophy of science, Cold War intellectual history, and the intersections between economics and social theory.
Education:
- PhD in History, University of Cambridge, 2006
Research Interests:
Isaac explores how theories of knowledge shaped 20th-century human sciences, tracing their evolution through figures like Talcott Parsons, Donald Davidson, and W.V. Quine. He examines the influence of economics on social theory, the Cold War's impact on academic disciplines, and the analytic tradition in American philosophy. His work bridges historical analysis with conceptual rigor, emphasizing interdisciplinary dialogues.
Key Projects:
- Working Knowledge (2012): Explores the transformation of human sciences from Parsons to Kuhn, awarded the Gladstone Prize.
- Ongoing book on economics' influence on social thought, addressing rational choice theory and Enlightenment legacies.
Awards:
- Gladstone Prize (Royal Historical Society, UK), 2012.
Previous Affiliations:
- University of Cambridge (2011–2017)
- Queen Mary, University of London (2007–2011)
Labs/Teams: Active in the John U. Nef Committee on Social Thought, fostering interdisciplinary research across humanities and social sciences.
