My main philosophical interests concern nineteenth and twentieth century continental philosophy. The courses I teach in this area focus on thinkers who are, roughly speaking, in the existentialist tradition (e.g. Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Sartre) as well as thinkers to whom these “existentialists” respond (e.g. Hegel and Husserl). I also have interests in contemporary issues in philosophy of religion (esp. the relationship between faith and reason) and aesthetics (esp. the debate over the cognitive value of literature.)

My research covers a broad range of issues in Kierkegaard’s thought, including his philosophy of religion, his rejection of Hegel’s idealism, and his critique of modern society. My current project deals with the rationale behind the literary aspects of Kierkegaard’s philosophical writings. On the standard view, he writes how he does for practical, ethical, and religious reasons. I argue that this is only part of the story. His deeper motivation is to avoid performative contradictions that would arise if he used ordinary prose. My interpretation aligns Kierkegaard’s view of the role literature plays in philosophy with more contemporary views defended by Arthur Danto and Martha Nussbaum.