Edward Feser

Contents

Edward Charles Feser (/ˈfeɪzər/) is an American Catholic philosopher. He is a professor of Philosophy at Pasadena City College in Pasadena, California.

Early life and education

Edward Charles Feser holds a B.A. in philosophy and religious studies from the California State University at Fullerton, an M.A. in religion from the Claremont Graduate School, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of California at Santa Barbara.[1] His 1999 thesis is titled Russell, Hayek, and the Mind-Body Problem.[2][3]

Career

Feser is a professor of philosophy at Pasadena City College and has been a visiting assistant professor of philosophy at Loyola Marymount University and a visiting scholar at Bowling Green State University's Social Philosophy and Policy Center.[4]

Called by National Review "one of the best contemporary writers on philosophy," Feser is the author of On Nozick, Philosophy of Mind, Locke, The Last Superstition: A Refutation of the New Atheism, Aquinas, Scholastic Metaphysics: A Contemporary Introduction, Neo-Scholastic Essay, and Five Proofs of the Existence of God, the co-author of By Man Shall His Blood Be Shed: A Catholic Defense of Capital Punishment, and the editor of The Cambridge Companion to Hayek and Aristotle on Method and Metaphysics. His primary academic research interests are in metaphysics, natural theology, the philosophy of mind, and moral and political philosophy.[4]

Feser writes on politics and culture from a conservative point of view and on religion, from a traditionalist Catholic perspective. His work has appeared in The American, The American Conservative, Catholic World Report, City Journal, The Claremont Review of Books, Crisis, First Things, Liberty, National Review, New Oxford Review, Nova et Vetera, Public Discourse, Reason, and TCS Daily.[4]

Feser has defended Thomistic dualism.[5][6] His book The Last Superstition: A Refutation of the New Atheism makes a philosophical argument for the classical Aristotelian-Thomistic worldview over and against the materialist assumptions, which he sees as scientistic prejudices, of contemporary atheists such as Richard Dawkins, of whom he is particularly critical.[7]

Reception

In a review of Five Proofs for the Existence of God, Clare Walker from the National Catholic Register wrote that Feser "has a rare gift: the ability to make esoteric philosophical arguments accessible to lay readers."[8]

Personal life

Feser lives with his wife and six children in Los Angeles, California.[4]

References

  1. 1."Edward C. Feser". Independent Institute. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  2. 2.Russell, Hayek, and the Mind-Body Problem. OCLC 248515504.
  3. 3."Russell, Hayek, and the Mind-Body problem". ProQuest. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  4. 4.[4.2][4.3][4.4]"Edward Feser". Edward Feser. Archived from the original on January 25, 2025. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  5. 5.Feser, Edward (2006). Philosophy of Mind: A Beginner's Guide (PDF). Oneworld Publications. pp. 221–228. ISBN 978-1851684786. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2024.
  6. 6.Oldhoff, Martine C. L. (2019). "Review of The Blackwell Companion to Substance Dualism". Journal of Analytic Theology. 7 (1): 753–758. doi:10.12978/jat.2019-7.1200-51141105.
  7. 7.Seaman, Mary McWay (September 2011). "The Last Superstition: A Refutation of the New Atheism". New Oxford Review. Archived from the original on August 16, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  8. 8.Walker, Clare (May 5, 2018). "How Can We Prove God Exists". National Catholic Register. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2025.