Russell Ford

Russell Ford received his Ph.D. in philosophy as well as doctoral minor in Literary Theory, Literary Criticism, and Aesthetics from Pennsylvania State University. He held visiting positions at American University and DePaul University before joining the faculty at Elmhurst University. Russell’s primary work is in twentieth-century French philosophy. He has published several recent works including a special issue of the journal Angelaki, “Why So Serious? On Philosophy and Comedy,” which included his article, “Humor, Law, and Jurisprudence: On Deleuze’s Political Philosophy.” (2016; repr. Routledge 2018) Other recent publications include “Tran Duc Thao: Politics and Truth” (Philosophy Compass, 2020), “The Problem of Forgiveness: Jankélévitch, Deleuze, and Spinoza” (Journal of Speculative Philosophy, 2017), and “Against Negativity: Wahl, Deleuze, and Postwar Existentialism” (Symposium, 2016). His book, Experience and Empiricism: Hume and the Early Deleuze, is under contract with Northwestern University Press and will appear in their Studies in Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy Series in the Fall of 2022.

In addition to his work in the Philosophy Department, Russell is the Faculty Advisor for the Medical Humanities Minor and teaches the MEH Research Capstone as well as Key Themes and Thinkers in Biomedicine.

Other courses he teaches include Modern Philosophy, Biomedical Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy, Existentialism, and the Critical Philosophy of Kant.

Education

• PhD Pennsylvania State University - University Park (1994 — 2000)
• BA St. John's College (1989 — 1993)

Companies

• Professor of Philosophy Elmhurst College (2016)
• Professor of Philosophy Elmhurst University (2005)
• Associate Professor of Philosophy Elmhurst College (2011 — 2016)
• Assistant Professor of Philosophy Elmhurst College (2005 — 2011)
• Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy DePaul (2004 — 2005)
• Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy American University (2003 — 2004)
• Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy Albright College (2002 — 2003)
• Adjunct Professor of Philosophy Villanova University (2001 — 2002)