Kevin Aho

Kevin Aho is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication and Philosophy at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of South Florida (2004), an M.A. from the University of Utah (1998), and a B.A. from Idaho State University (1992). His research focuses on existentialism, phenomenology, hermeneutics, and the philosophy of health and illness. Aho has authored or edited over 50 publications, including books like One Beat More: Existentialism and the Gift of Mortality (2022) and Contexts of Suffering: A Heideggerian Approach to Psychopathology (2019). His work bridges philosophy with clinical practice, emphasizing phenomenological analyses of aging, illness, and mental health.

Key research themes include the existential dimensions of aging, the phenomenology of functional neurological disorders, and critical reflections on healthcare ethics during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Aho’s scholarship integrates philosophical frameworks with empirical studies, as seen in his co-authored article on older adult embodiment (2025) and his exploration of loneliness in long-term care facilities (2022). He serves as editor for the Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Existentialism (2024), highlighting his role in advancing existential thought.

Publications trends reveal a focus on interdisciplinary dialogue between philosophy, medicine, and psychology. Recent work addresses embodiment, vulnerability, and transformational healing, with a commitment to rethinking biomedical approaches through hermeneutic and phenomenological lenses. Aho’s upcoming book A Phenomenology of Functional Neurological Disorder (2025) further expands his engagement with medically unexplained syndromes.