William Bristow
Associate Professor, Coordinator of the Certificate in Ethics, Values, and Society
Philosophy
Curtin Hall 616
Education
PhD, Harvard University
Research Interests
His research focuses historically on the philosophical systems of Immanuel Kant and of the post-Kantian German idealists and on the writings of other nineteenth century philosophers. Topically or thematically, his research focuses on the nature of the self and its relation to philosophy’s distinctive methods and ambitions. Current research investigates the role of self-consciousness in practical rational agency, within the context, in particular, of Kant’s philosophy.
Teaching Interests
Teaches courses in history of modern philosophy, nineteenth and twentieth century continental thought, philosophy of religion, moral and political philosophy, and on self-consciousness and self-knowledge.
Selected Publications
Bristow, W. F. (2017, June). "Reason, Self-transcendence and Modernity in Hegel’s ‘Phenomenology’". Moyar, D. (Ed.). Oxford Handbook of Hegel. New York: Oxford University Press.
Bristow, W. F. (2016, July (3rd Quarter/Summer)). "From Transcendental Philosophy to Hegel’s Developmental Method". Hoeltzel, S., & Kim, H. (Eds.). Transcendental Inquiry: Its History, Its Methods and Its Critiques. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Bristow, W. F. (2015, January (1st Quarter/Winter)). Review of David James, "Rousseau and German Idealism: Freedom, Dependence and Necessity (CUP, 2013). Sedgwick, S., & Emundts, D. (Eds.). 11: Consciousness/ Bewusstsein, 6. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter: Internationales Jahrbuch des Deutschen Idealismus / International Yearbook of German Idealism.
Bristow, W. F. (2014, September). "The Scandal of Hegel’s Political Philosophy". Altman, M. C. (Ed.). The Palgrave Handbook of German Idealism, 704-720. New York, New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Bristow, W. F. (2012, December). Review: Ludwig Siep, Aktualität und Grenzen der Praktischen Philosophie Hegels: Aufsätze 1997-2009. Stolzenberg, J., & Rush, F. (Eds.). In Internationales Jahrbuch des Deutschen Idealismus / International Yearbook of German Idealism, 10, 291-298. Berlin Walter de Gruyter: Internaltionales Jahrbuch des Deutschen Idealismus / International Yearbook of German Philosophy Walter de Gruyter.
Bristow, W. F. (2012). "Thinking Outside the Circle: The Place of Kierkegaard in Stern’s ‘Understanding Moral Obligation’". Inquiry: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy, 55(6), 606-621.
Bristow, W. F. (2012, October (4th Quarter/Autumn)). "Defining Freedom as the End of Us". Honneth, A., & Hinrichs, G. (Eds.). Freiheit. Hegel Kongress 2011 — Geist und Geschichte Band 1, 1, 371-388.
Bristow, W. F. (2010, August). "Enlightenment". Zalta, E. (Ed.). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Summer 2011.
Bristow, W. F. (2007). Hegel and the Transformation of Philosophical Critique. Oxford University Press.
Bristow, W. F. (2006). Self‐Consciousness, Normativity and Abysmal Freedom. Inquiry: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy, 498-523.
Bristow, W. F. (2005). Bildung and the Critique of Modern Skepticism in McDowell and Hegel. Internationales Jahrbuch des Deutschen Idealismus/International Yearbook of German Idealism, 179-207.