Kirk Ludwig

Kirk Ludwig is the Ruth N. Halls Professor of Philosophy and Director of Graduate Studies at Indiana University Bloomington in the College of Arts & Sciences. He has held this position since joining IU in 2010 after teaching at the University of Florida from 1990 to 2010, where he was the Colonel Alan R. and Margaret G. Crow CLAS Term Professor from 2008-2010.

Education:

• Ph.D., Philosophy, University of California, Berkeley, 1990
• B.S., Physics, summa cum laude, University of California, Santa Barbara, 1981

Ludwig's research spans foundational issues in the philosophy of language (particularly logical form and semantics), philosophy of mind and action, epistemology, and metaphysics, with a significant focus on collective intentionality and agency. His work demonstrates how these philosophical domains intersect, particularly in understanding the nature of joint action, social institutions, and linguistic communication. He approaches these topics with analytical rigor while maintaining connections to broader philosophical traditions.

His recent publications reveal a consistent trajectory toward understanding collective phenomena, moving from individual to plural agency and then to institutional agency. The articles show increasing sophistication in analyzing how collective intentionality structures social reality, legal norms, speech acts, and corporate entities. His work bridges traditional philosophical concerns with contemporary issues in social ontology, demonstrating how philosophical analysis can illuminate complex social phenomena.

Ludwig has made significant contributions as an editor, most notably editing the volume on Donald Davidson in the Cambridge Contemporary Philosophy in Focus series and co-editing the Routledge Handbook of Collective Intentionality with Marija Jankovic. He also co-authored major works on Donald Davidson with Ernie Lepore and has authored two influential books on collective agency: From Individual to Plural Agency: Collective Action 1 (2016) and From Plural to Institutional Agency: Collective Action 2 (2017).

As Director of Graduate Studies, Ludwig oversees the philosophy department's graduate program, advising students and shaping the curriculum. His editorial work includes editing the Collective Intentionality category at PhilPapers, demonstrating his leadership in this growing field of philosophical inquiry. His research continues to explore the foundations of collective action and intentionality, with implications for understanding social institutions, legal systems, and corporate entities.