About the Aristotle Center

Bridging the gap between sciences and the humanities

Recent scientific research on humanistic questions (e.g., the existence of God, the evolutionary origin of altruism, or the physical effects of mindfulness practices) has created the potential for interesting and productive points of contact between science and the humanities. Yet much of that potential has gone unrealized in the context of undergraduate education—the academic gap between science and the humanities seems to be widening, even as our lived experience demands closer cooperation. Moreover, efforts to promote interdisciplinary research have not always produced meaningful curricular change at the undergraduate level.

It is one thing to conduct graduate-level research into the genetic basis of altruism, for example, but quite another to integrate such research into a coherent undergraduate curriculum. How should professors in the humanities engage recent scientific advances? How can professors in the natural sciences incorporate relevant insights from the humanities into their teaching? How might faculty from different academic disciplines come together to shape a curriculum that both draws on the traditional strengths of the liberal arts and also responds to shifting scientific and technological landscapes? And how might the goals of such a curriculum be made transparent to students? Directed by Drs. Brynn Welch and Adam Wells, the Aristotle Center provides an interdisciplinary forum for exploring the connections between the sciences and the humanities, bridging the growing academic gap between these disciplines.


Faculty associated with the Center:

Dr. Brynn Welch (Co-Director)
Dr. Adam Wells (Co-Director)
Dr. Christine Fleet (Advisor)

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    About Dr. Brynn Welch

    Dr. Welch received her Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2012) and her B.A. in Philosophy (with honors) from Davidson College (2005). Currently an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Emory & Henry College, Dr. Welch specializes in ethics and social/political philosophy with an emphasis on the intersection of family ethics with larger social issues, such as education and the provision of health care. Her current work examines the relationship between state welfare and filial obligations to provide care to elderly citizens. She is also interested in the ethical implications of the DIY movement in science.

    Website: https://sites.google.com/site/brynnfwelch/
    Email: bwelch@ehc.edu

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    About Dr. Adam Wells

    Dr. Wells received his Ph.D. in Religion from the University of Virginia (2012), his M.A.R. in Biblical Studies from Yale Divinity School (2007), and his B.A. in Philosophy (with honors) from Wake Forest University (2001). Currently an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Emory & Henry College, Dr. Wells' main scholarly interests are the theological and philosophical traditions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. His current work examines the kenosis hymn (Philippians 2: 5-11) as a foundation for theological and philosophical reflection about the nature of creation and incarnation. He is also interested in theoretical issues surrounding interreligious dialog.

    Email: awells@ehc.edu