Kris Klotz

Kris Klotz is an assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences. Klotz received his Ph.D. in philosophy from Pennsylvania State University in 2019. His areas of specialization include social and political philosophy, critical theory and continental philosophy. During his Ph.D., Klotz conducted research with the Center for Democratic Deliberation and the Humanities Institute at Penn State. Prior to beginning at Lynn, Klotz was also a visiting researcher at Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany. His current research examines the characteristics citizens must possess in order to maintain an inclusive society while acknowledging their conflicting visions of a good society and the good life. Additionally, Klotz has an interest in theories of civic friendship and the justifiability of populism.

• B.A. St. John’s College
• M.A. Claremont School of Theology
• Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University

Klotz views the classroom as an experiment in democratic modes of inquiry, where students practice and cultivate the skills and virtues necessary for deliberative and inclusive ways of life. For members of democratic and multicultural societies, this requires familiarity with the fundamental concepts, values, and problems constitutive of such societies. For this reason, his courses stress the importance of foundational texts that have shaped contemporary values, ideas, and institutions. Since these texts often appear quite foreign to students—in their concepts, their problems, and their style, assignments and discussions are pursued as collective projects of clarification. His courses also emphasize the relevance of foundational texts to issues impacting students’ everyday lives. In classroom discussions, students often apply theories to contemporary ethical and political issues.

• Social and Political Philosophy
• Critical Theory
• Continental Philosophy