Samantha Matherne

Samantha Matherne is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Harvard University. Her research focuses on aesthetics, Kantian philosophy, and phenomenology, emphasizing the interplay between perception and art. She is affiliated with Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences and has contributed significantly to the Routledge Philosophers series with her work on Cassirer.

Her research interests include Kant’s theory of imagination, neo-Kantian traditions, and the historical development of aesthetic concepts. She has authored Seeing More: Kant’s Theory of Imagination and co-authored The Geography of Taste, exploring themes like aesthetic universality and the role of creativity in art.

Matherne’s work often bridges historical and contemporary philosophical debates, engaging with thinkers like Cassirer, Merleau-Ponty, and Schiller. She frequently presents at international conferences, discussing topics such as aesthetic autonomy, Kantian ethics, and the philosophy of art.

She has also edited Edith Landmann-Kalischer: Essays on Art, Aesthetics, and Value, recovering the work of a neglected early 20th-century philosopher. Matherne’s contributions span academic publications, book reviews, and collaborative projects, reflecting her commitment to advancing interdisciplinary dialogue in philosophy and aesthetics.