James Kinkaid (BU Ph.D. ‘19) Wins 2023 Routledge, Taylor & Francis Prize
The Philosophy Department is proud to announce that one of its recent Ph.D. alumni, James Kinkaid, has been awarded the esteemed 2023 Routledge, Taylor & Francis Prize. This prestigious award, established in 2013, honors the exceptional scholarly contributions of adjunct professors in philosophy. Kinkaid’s article, “Phenomenology, anti-realism, and the knowability paradox,” published in the European Journal of Philosophy in 2022, earned him this recognition.
Kinkaid, currently an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Bilkent University, holds a distinguished academic background. After completing his Ph.D. at Boston University in 2019, he served as an adjunct instructor at both Boston College and Boston University. His research predominantly explores the phenomenological tradition, with a keen focus on figures like Husserl, Heidegger, and Sartre, and their implications in contemporary metaphysics, logic, and mind philosophy.
His award-winning article provides a nuanced exploration of Husserl’s ideal verificationism, engaging with the anti-realism theories of Dummett, Tennant, and Wright. Kinkaid’s work has been applauded for its innovative approach, blending Husserlian verificationism with contemporary philosophical debates. By addressing the Church-Fitch proof and the knowability thesis, he skillfully demonstrates a version of verificationism that avoids the pitfalls of the knowability thesis. His analysis, particularly of intuitive illustration in imagination and the phenomenon of blindspots, has been praised for its depth and rigor.
Kinkaid’s accomplishment is not just a personal milestone but also a testament to the high caliber of scholarship fostered at Boston University’s Philosophy Department. His contribution to the field of philosophy is a source of inspiration for current and future scholars alike.
Congrats, James!