Philosophy Department Welcomes Two Bonsall Visiting Professors Winter 2026

The Philosophy Department is delighted to announce the appointment of two esteemed professors as William H. Bonsall Visiting Professors in the Humanities – Elliott Sober and David Charles. They will join our faculty and teach 1-2 courses during the winter quarter. Each professor is a distinguished scholar in their respective fields and will bring a wealth of knowledge to our department. 

Elliott Sober is the Hans Reichenbach Professor and William F. Vilas Research Professor emeritus, Department of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin and has been the Bonsall Visiting Professor with our department for the past two years. His research in general philosophy of science concerns probabilistic reasoning, explanation, reductionism, causality, and parsimony. His research in philosophy of evolutionary biology concerns central concepts like common ancestry, random mutations, drift, gradualism, and units of selection. His most recent book, The Philosophy of Evolutionary Theory, was named Outstanding Academic Title by Choice in 2024. He will be teaching PHIL 167E/267E, Philosophy of Evolutionary Biology in Winter quarter.

David Charles holds a doctorate (D.Phil.) in philosophy from Oxford University. His research interests are in Ancient Philosophy, especially on Aristotle’s philosophy, and in Philosophy of Mind. From 2014 until 2023 he was the Howard H. Newman Philosophy Professor at Yale University. He has previously been a Colin Prestige Fellow at Oriel College, Oxford, and Research Professor in Philosophy in the Faculty of Philosophy, Oxford. He will be teaching PHIL 312, Aristotle’s Psychology with Chris Bobonich and PHIL 116C/216C Ancient Philosophy in Winter quarter. 

We’re incredibly fortunate that the Bonsall fund provides for ongoing visits. Professor Charles will be with us in future winter quarters for an additional two years. And Professor Sober will be joining us in future winter quarters for an additional three years.