Kwame Anthony Appiah

Kwame Anthony Appiah is the Hans Blumenberg Professor at the Cluster of Excellence 'Religion and Politics' at the University of Münster and a Professor of Philosophy and Law at New York University. His work focuses on identity, cosmopolitanism, and the role of religion in shaping social belonging. He critiques rigid notions of religious identity, advocating instead for dynamic, practice-based understandings. Appiah’s interdisciplinary approach bridges philosophy, ethics, and social theory.

Educations: PhD in Philosophy from the University of Cambridge. Previous academic roles include positions at Yale, Cornell, Duke, Harvard, and Princeton University, where he held the Laurance S. Rockefeller University Professorship in Philosophy.

Research Interests: Appiah explores how identities are constructed through practices and communities rather than fixed beliefs. He argues against the 'source-code fallacy'—the idea that religious truth resides solely in sacred texts. His work emphasizes the fluidity of identity, particularly in contexts of race, class, and creed. He advocates for cosmopolitan ethics that respect pluralism while fostering global responsibility.

Awards:

• Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Member of the American Philosophical Society
• Elected President of the American Academy of Arts and Letters (2022)
• Honorary doctorates from universities worldwide

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