Kelly James Clark, Professor
Philosophy
616-526-6421
kclark@calvin.edu
Office: Hiemenga Hall 353
Educational/Professional Background
Professor Clark graduated from Michigan State University with a BA in Philosophy and Religious Studies in 1978. He completed an MA in Humanities at Western Kentucky University in 1980. He then attended the University of Notre Dame, receiving his master of arts in History and Philosophy of Science and his Ph.D. in Philosophy in 1985. He taught at Gordon College (1985-1989) and has been at Calvin since 1989. He was also Visiting Professor of Philosophy at St. Andrews, Scotland (1995-1996).
Academic Interests/Areas of Specialization
Professor Clark specializes in Chinese thought, philosophy of religion, ethics, and epistemology. He has traveled to China over 35 times since 1998. Dr. Clark teaches, organizes conferences, and recruits students and teachers in China. Dr. Clark is the Executive Director the Society of Christian Philosophers and Program Director of the $2 million grant for the John Templeton Foundation entitled Science, Philosophy and Belief: A Program for Chinese Scholars. The project is designed to produce a sophisticated ongoing conversation about philosophy, science, and belief in China that will equip scholars, strengthen teaching at Chinese universities, and sustain and deepen this line of inquiry in China.
Recent Activities/Publications
Professor Clark is the author of over 50 articles, and author, co-author or co-editor of a dozen books including The Story of Ethics, Return to Reason (recently translated into Chinese and published by Peking Press), 101 Key Philosophical Terms and their Importance to Theology, When Faith is Not Enough, and The Story of Ethics (forthcoming in China); he is editor of five books published in China. He has published extensively in Chinese philosophy in both Western presses (Journal of Chinese Philosophy, for example, and Dao) and Chinese presses (e.g. Peking University Press).
Hobbies
Kelly Clark and his wife have three children, two of whom are attending Calvin College. He plays basketball and soccer when he is not in China.
Courses
Philosophy 225 - Chinese Thought and Culture
Additional Information
http://www.calvin.edu/academic/philosophy/china/summerseminar/clark
http://www.calvin.edu/academic/philosophy/china
http://www.spb2009.org
