Loren Goldman

Loren Goldman is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania, affiliated with the School of Arts & Sciences. His research focuses on German Idealism, Western Marxism, American Pragmatism, and questions of political agency and hope. He has authored The Principle of Political Hope (2023) and co-translated Ernst Bloch’s Avicenna and the Aristotelian Left (2019). A co-editor of a special issue on Thomas Müntzer (2025), he has held visiting roles at Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität. Goldman teaches courses on modern political thought, utopianism, and American Pragmatism, winning the Henry Teune Award for teaching excellence in 2018.

Education:

• Ph.D., M.A. in Political Science, University of Chicago (2010, 2005)
• M.Phil. in Politics, University of Oxford (2003)
• DAAD Jahresstipendiat in Philosophy, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt (2000-2001)
• B.A. in Political Science, Yale University (2000)

Research Interests: Goldman explores intersections between philosophy and political theory, emphasizing historical materialism, utopian thought, and the role of hope in democratic action. His work engages figures like Kant, Bloch, Dewey, and Rorty, analyzing concepts like temporality, agency, and the ethics of progress. Recent projects include studies on historical generations, AI’s societal impact, and the legacy of the German Peasants’ War.

Professional Contributions: He coordinated Penn’s Political Theory Workshop (2017-2025) and serves in the Graduate Group of Francophone, Italian, and Germanic Studies. His 150+ articles span journals like Political Theory, European Journal of Social Theory, and Perspectives of New Music, reflecting interdisciplinary reach. Awards include recognition for teaching and scholarly contributions.

Awards:

• Pi Sigma Alpha Society’s Henry Teune Award (2018)

Advising & Grants: No advisees listed, but he has supervised graduate research through Penn’s Political Theory Workshop. His postdoctoral fellowships include UC Berkeley (2011-2013) and Rutgers University (2010-2011).

Labs/Teams: Active in the Political Theory Workshop and collaborates with institutions like the Freie Universität Berlin’s Democratic Hope Research Group.