Who is God, and what does it mean to believe in Him? How do religious attitudes relate to the rest of our psychology? Are rationality and faith fundamentally at odds? These and many other questions in fundamental theology and the philosophy of religion play a central role in Edith Stein’s work. My project explores these themes within the context of her contributions to the philosophy of religion.

Since Plato’s Academy, philosophers have been interested in the nature and purpose of physical excellence. Examining modern strength and physique sports, this age-old interest gives rise to various classical questions that can be addressed in this context (e.g., what is physical strength?) as well as new questions emerging from contemporary developments in physical culture (e.g., is bodybuilding a sport?). The purpose of this project is to explore these and related questions in collaboration with philosophers, sports scientists, and historians specializing in physical culture.