معرفی
Michelle Karnes is a Professor at the University of Notre Dame in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, with affiliations in Italian Studies. Her research bridges late medieval literature, philosophy, and religious studies through comparative analysis of Arabic and Latin traditions.
- Education: Ph.D. & M.A., University of Pennsylvania; B.A., University of California, Berkeley
Her scholarship explores how medieval literature interacts with cognitive theories, particularly the role of imagination in religious meditations and marvel narratives. Karnes examines intersections between philosophical discourse and fictional storytelling, focusing on metaphor mechanisms and truth claims in medieval texts.
Recent research trends include cross-cultural marvel studies (Latin West vs. Islamic World), cognitive mapping in travel literature, and philosophical fables as epistemological tools. Her 2022 book Medieval Marvels and Fictions challenges simplistic views of marvels as mere superstition, emphasizing their imaginative scrutiny demands.
- Scientific Awards
- Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award (2022)
Karnes holds fellowships from Radcliffe Institute, Huntington Library, and Yale Institute of Sacred Music. She co-edits Studies in the Age of Chaucer and teaches courses on Chaucer, medieval romance, animal studies, and comparative literature.
