W&L Philosophy Professor Has New Book
Nathaniel Goldberg, professor of philosophy at Washington and Lee University, is the author of a new book, “Philosophy of the History of Philosophy.” Drawing on a half-century of scholarship, the book provides a systematic framework for understanding the value of engaging with philosophy’s past.
Printed by Bloomsbury, the book examines the fundamental relationship between philosophy and its own history, offering a comprehensive analysis of how philosophers should approach historical philosophical works and why those who don’t specialize in the history of philosophy would, and would not, benefit from studying it.
This is Goldberg’s second solo book, joining “Kantian Conceptual Geography,” published in 2015. He has also partnered with professor of English Chris Gavaler to co-author three books: “Superhero Thought Experiments” (2019), “Revising Fiction, Fact and Faith” (2020) and “Revising Reality” (2024).
Goldberg has been with the W&L faculty since 2008. He received a bachelor of arts degree in history from Brandeis University, a master of arts degree in philosophy from Tufts University and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Georgetown University.
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