The humanities are alive and well, thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)! But did you know that philosophy professors are increasingly benefiting from this support? The NEH has just announced its latest grant recipients, and the list includes several brilliant minds dedicated to exploring profound philosophical questions.
Let's dive into the specifics. Here's a breakdown of the philosophy professors and their fascinating projects that have earned NEH funding:
David Ebrey (University of Barcelona): Plato's Inferences about the Soul. Ebrey received a $60,000 Fellowship to research and write a book delving into Plato's intricate ideas about the human soul. Think about it: thousands of years later, we are still trying to understand what Plato meant about the very essence of our being!
Raymond Hain (Providence College): Virtuous Citizens: Integrating Virtue and Leadership through the Saint Dominic Fellows Program at Providence College. Hain secured a substantial $1,125,554 Cooperative Agreement and Special Projects grant. This funding will enable the creation of an undergraduate program at Providence College, the Saint Dominic Fellows Program. It will cultivate intellectual, moral, and vocational development grounded in the rich traditions of Catholic and Western thought. This is a huge statement about the importance of integrating ethics and leadership in today's world. Could this be a model for other institutions?
Alexander Jech (University of Notre Dame): The Paradox of Faith: A Philosophical-Literary Commentary on Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling. Jech was awarded a $60,000 Fellowship to research and write a book centered on Søren Kierkegaard's seminal work, Fear and Trembling. This philosophical exploration grapples with the biblical narrative of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac. This is a classic text that continues to challenge our understanding of faith, duty, and the absurd.
James Kreines (Claremont McKenna College): Nothing Halfway: German Idealism from System-Critique to Hegel's System, and Back. Kreines received a $60,000 Fellowship to work on a book examining the arguments surrounding metaphysical systems in philosophy, with a particular emphasis on German philosophy. Prepare for a deep dive into the minds of thinkers like Kant and Hegel! But here's where it gets controversial... some argue that these systems are overly abstract and disconnected from the real world. Do you agree?
Robert Pasnau (University of Colorado, Boulder): Sources of the European Enlightenment in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Pasnau secured a $60,000 Fellowship to write a book investigating the roots of the European Enlightenment, tracing its origins back to the Middle Ages and Renaissance. It will also explore what limited the Enlightenment's achievements. This promises to be a fascinating exploration of how the past shapes the present and is a reminder that even revolutionary periods build on what came before.
John Stigall (Howard University) with Nathan Alexander (co-project director): The Haynes Project: Exhibiting the Historical Significance of the Philosophical Views of American Mathematicians. Stigall and Alexander received $148,944 through Humanities Initiatives at Historically Black Colleges and Universities for a three-year project. This project aims to create a digital repository, traveling exhibition, and teaching materials highlighting the life and work of Euphemia Haynes, a pioneering mathematician. And this is the part most people miss... it's crucial to recognize the contributions of often-overlooked figures in the history of ideas. This project directly addresses that imbalance.
It's also worth noting that several other projects in related fields, such as political science and classics, touched upon philosophical themes. This underscores the interdisciplinary nature of the humanities and the enduring relevance of philosophical inquiry.
Readers may remember the previous administration's attempted cancellation of NEH grants. Thankfully, most of those grants were reinstated, highlighting the importance of safeguarding funding for the humanities.
This latest round of NEH grants distributed a total of $75.1 million across 84 humanities projects, representing a significant increase in funding. While a detailed analysis is needed, there appears to be a rise in projects focusing on religion and American history, political documents, and ideals. You can explore the complete list of grants on the NEH website.
So, what does all of this mean? It suggests a renewed commitment to supporting philosophical inquiry and the humanities more broadly. It also raises some interesting questions: Are these funding priorities shifting in response to current social and political concerns? Are certain philosophical perspectives being favored over others? What kind of impact do you think these projects will have on our understanding of ourselves and the world around us? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
