Philosophy professor awarded Core Fellowship at Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Dr. Charlie Kurth, a philosophy professor at Western Michigan University, was one of 11 international scholars chosen for the Core Fellowship Program at the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies. 

As a fellow, Kurth will have the unique opportunity to focus on his research for two years without other administrative duties while collaborating with scholars across the globe representing diverse fields of study. 

“My research aims to understand how emotions like anger, disgust, anxiety and compassion shape us and how we might be able to shape our emotions to make us better,” says Kurth. “It draws on philosophy, psychology and cognitive science to try to make a case that there are things we can do if we think carefully about our emotions to allow us to use them for the better.” 

During this fellowship, Kurth plans to continue his research and work with other scholars to draft a book, “Taming the Passions: Emotion Cultivation and the Development of Moral Agency.” He has previously published the highly-regarded scholarly book “The Anxious Mind” which focuses on the nature and value of anxiety from a philosophical perspective.  

“What makes this opportunity so cool is that it gives me two years where I can just focus on writing. Which is just an amazing opportunity,” says Kurth.  “And I can do it in an environment with scholars and perspectives from around the world from a wide variety of disciplines.” 

While at the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, located in Finland, Kurth will also have ample opportunities to give talks and engage with students and faculty at the university and throughout Europe. 

This story is published as part of the College of Arts and Sciences Annual Magazine—view the 2022 Magazine online.