Steven Nadler

Steven Nadler is the Vilas Research Professor and William H. Hay II Professor of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he directs the Institute for Research in the Humanities. His expertise spans 17th-century philosophy, with a focus on Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz, alongside medieval and early modern Jewish philosophy. He has held visiting positions at prestigious institutions including Stanford University, the University of Chicago, and the École Normale Supérieure in Paris.

In 2022, he delivered the Rotelli Lectures at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, exploring Spinoza as a moral philosopher. His research emphasizes ethical theory, theodicy, and the intersections between philosophy and religion. Notable works include Spinoza: A Life, A Book Forged in Hell, and Think Least of Death.

Nadler’s honors include membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2020). His lectures and publications bridge historical scholarship with contemporary philosophical debates, offering critical analyses of foundational texts and their cultural impacts.