Richard Eldridge

Prof. Dr. Richard Eldridge is a distinguished philosopher and literary critic, currently serving as the Charles and Harriett Cox McDowell Professor of Philosophy at Swarthmore College. He has held roles such as Chair of the Philosophy Department and has been affiliated with institutions like the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS) and the University of Bremen. His research focuses on aesthetics, philosophy of language, German Idealism, and Wittgenstein. Eldridge has authored influential works such as Literature, Life, and Modernity and edited volumes like the Oxford Handbook of Philosophy and Literature. His recent FRIAS project explores Kant and Benjamin’s views on historical experience, integrating gradualist and punctual perspectives. Eldridge’s academic journey includes degrees from Middlebury College and the University of Chicago, with a Ph.D. in philosophy (1981).

• Education: A.B. (Philosophy & History, Middlebury College, 1975), M.A. (Philosophy, University of Chicago, 1976), Ph.D. (Philosophy, University of Chicago, 1981)

His research interests bridge philosophy and literature, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to critical theory, Romanticism, and modernity. Eldridge’s publications reflect a deep engagement with the intersections of ethical, aesthetic, and literary thought. He has held visiting positions at Stanford University, the University of Essex, and the University of Erfurt, enriching his academic contributions globally.