Morris B. Kaplan

Morris B. Kaplan is a Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Critical Thought at Purchase College, School of Humanities. His work bridges philosophy with critical theory, focusing on queer studies, legal humanities, and continental thought.

• Education: BA from Williams College, MA and JD from Yale University

His research interrogates intersections between law, sexuality, and political philosophy. Key themes include queer epistemologies, ethical self-formation, and deconstructive critiques of legal frameworks.

Recent publications analyze Oscar Wilde's trials, hate crime legislation, and Hannah Arendt's theories. Articles span topics like poststructuralist law, family dynamics in policy, and gendered legal paradigms.

Scientific Awards

• Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship
• Rockefeller Fellow in Legal Humanities
• Visiting Fellow at Birkbeck College
• Purchase College Student Engagement Award
• Grants from ACLS and NEH

Kaplan teaches courses on Plato, Nietzsche, Foucault, and queer theory. His advising focuses on graduate research in philosophy, political ethics, and critical legal studies.