Michael A. Gillespie | Scholars@Duke

Michael A. Gillespie
Professor of Political Science

Professor of Political Science and Philosophy, works in political philosophy, with particular emphasis on modern continental theory and the history of political philosophy. He is the author of Hegel, Heidegger and the Ground of History, Nihilism before Nietzsche, and The Theological Origins of Modernity. He is also co-editor of Nietzsche's New Seas: Explorations in Philosophy, Aesthetics, and Politics, Ratifying the Constitution, and Homo Politicus, Homo Economicus. He has published articles on Montaigne, Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Existentialism, and various topics in American political thought and public philosophy, as well as on the relation of religion and politics. He has received grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the German Academic Exchange Service, the Templeton Foundation, the Liberty Fund, the Jack Miller Foundation, the Smith Foundation, and the Earhart Foundation. He is the Director of the Duke Program in American Values and Institutions, the AB Duke Scholars Program, the Duke in Oxford Program, and the Visions of Freedom Focus Program.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Professor of Political Science, Political Science, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1995
Professor of Philosophy, Philosophy, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2017
Bass Fellow, Political Science, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2008

Contact Information

204G Gross Hall, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
Box 90204, Durham, NC 27708-0204
mgillesp@duke.edu (919) 660-4308
CV
My Twitter address

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., University of Chicago 1981
Duke Appointment History
- Acting Chair, Department of Political Science, Political Science, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2006 - 2007
- Professor of Philosophy, Philosophy, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1998 - 2001
- Associate Professor with Tenure, Political Science, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1991 - 1995
- Assistant Professor, Political Science, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1983 - 1990
Recognition
In the News
- DEC 14, 2015 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  
  Op-ed: Here's the question journalists should ask of candidates
- DEC 14, 2015 The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
  
  What Journalists Should Ask of Candidates
- SEP 26, 2014 WUNC
  
  How to crowdsource a constitution
- AUG 21, 2013
  
  Gillespie New A.B. Duke Faculty Director
Awards & Honors
- Phi Beta Kappa-Honorary. Unknown. May 2010
- Fellow. National Humanities Center. 2004
Expertise
Subject Headings
- Philosophy
Global Scholarship
- Expertise
  - France (Country)
  - Germany (Country)
Research
Selected Grants
- The American Founding and Political Development in the Context of Western Civilization: A Proposal for funding PhD students in Political Science at Duke University awarded by Department of Education 2018 - 2021
- A Constitution Day Celebration at Duke University awarded by Jack Miller Center 2015 - 2016
- The Duke Program in American Values and Institutions awarded by National Endowment for the Humanities 2004 - 2010
- (93-0230) NEH Summer Institute (1994): Plato and the Polis awarded by National Endowment for the Humanities 1993 - 1994
- (86-0127) Ratifying the Constitution: Ideas and Interests in the Several American States awarded by National Endowment for the Humanities 1986 - 1988
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Books
  - Gillespie, M. A. The Theological Origins of Modernity, Turkish edition, 2013.
  - Gillespie, M. A. The Theological Origins of Modernity, Chinese edition with a new Preface. Human Science adn Technology Press, 2012.
  - Gillespie, M. A. The Theological Origins of Modernity. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2008.
  - Gillespie, M. A., and G. Brennan, eds. Homo Politicus, Homo Economicus, 2008.
  - Gillespie, M. A., and G. Brennan, eds. Homo Politicus, Homo Economicus, 2008.
  - Gillespie, M. A. Nihilism Before Nietzsche. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995.
  - Gillespie, M., and M. Lienesch, eds. Ratifying the Constitution. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1989.
  - Gillespie, M., and T. B. Strong, eds. Nietzsche’s New Seas: Exploration in Philosophy, Aesthetics and Politics. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1988.
  - Gillespie, M. A. Hegel, Heidegger, and Ground of History. Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1984.
- Academic Articles
  - Allen Gillespie, Michael. “On Debt and Redemption: Friedrich Nietzsche's Doctrine of Eternal Recurrence.” Journal of Religious Ethics 46, no. 2 (June 2018): 267–87. https://doi.org/10.1111/jore.12218.
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  - Gillespie, M. A. “On Nietzsche's final teaching: A response to my critics.” Interpretation (United States) 44, no. 3 (March 1, 2018): 439–46.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “The Question of the Examined Life.” Review of Politics 80, no. 2 (March 1, 2018): 223–33. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0034670517001279.
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  - Gillespie, M. A. “In the Shadow of Modernity” Orientale Lumen IV (2014).
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Question for Fuller.” First Things, no. April (2014).
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Jean Elshtain: In Memorium.” Review of Politics, 2013.
  - Gillespie, M. A., and J. S. Harpham. “Sherlock Holmes, Crime, And The Anxieties Of Globalization.” Critical Review 23, no. 4 (December 1, 2011): 449–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/08913811.2011.664851.
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  - Gillespie, M. A. “'March Madness'.” The Point, 2011.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Response to my critics.” Review of Politics 72, no. 4 (September 1, 2010): 705–10. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0034670510000616.
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  - Gillespie, M. A., and L. Perkins. “Political anti-theology.” Critical Review 22, no. 1 (March 1, 2010): 65–84. https://doi.org/10.1080/08913811003625489.
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  - Gillespie, M. A., and Luc Perkins. “Political Anti-Theology: Mark Lilla’s The Stillborn God.” Critical Review, March 2010.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Public Choice: Afterword.” Public Choice 137, no. 3–4 (December 1, 2008): 523–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11127-008-9323-9.
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  - Gillespie, Michael Allen. “Afterword.” Public Choice 137, no. 3–4 (December 2008): 523–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11127-008-9323-9.
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  - Gillespie, M. A. “'Slouching Toward Bethlehem to Be Born', On the Nature and Meaning of Nietzsche's Superman.” Journal of Nietzsche Studies 30 (2005): 50–70.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Philosophy and Rhetoric in Kant's Third Antinomy.” Political Science Reviewer 30 (2001): 7–33.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Martin Heidegger's Aristotelian national socialism.” Political Theory 28, no. 2 (January 1, 2000): 140–66. https://doi.org/10.1177/0090591700028002002.
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  - Gillespie, M. A. “Nietzsche and the anthropology of nihilism.” Nietzsche Studien 28, no. 1 (January 1, 1999): 141–55. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110244458.141.
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  - Gillespie, M. A. “The theological origins of modernity.” Critical Review 13, no. 1–2 (January 1, 1999): 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/08913819908443520.
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  - Gillespie, M. A. “Nietzsche and the premodernist critique of postmodernity.” Critical Review 11, no. 4 (December 1, 1997): 537–54.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Nietzsche and the Premodernist Critique of Postmodernity.” Critical Review 2, no. 2 (October 1997): 537–54.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Hegel's phenomenology: The sociality of reason - Pinkard,T.” Political Theory 25, no. 4 (August 1997): 584–97. https://doi.org/10.1177/0090591797025004005.
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  - Gillespie, M. A. “G.W.F. Hegel: Modernity and politics - Dallmayr,FR.” Political Theory 25, no. 4 (August 1997): 584–97. https://doi.org/10.1177/0090591797025004005.
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  - Gillespie, M. A. “Hegel's social philosophy: The project of reconciliation - Hardimon,MO.” Political Theory 25, no. 4 (August 1997): 584–97. https://doi.org/10.1177/0090591797025004005.
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  - Gillespie, M. A. “The New Hegel.” Political Theory 25, no. 4 (January 1, 1997): 584–97. https://doi.org/10.1177/0090591797025004005.
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  - Gillespie, M. “Beyond east and west: A Reply to Isaac.” Political Theory 23, no. 4 (January 1, 1995): 670–74. https://doi.org/10.1177/0090591795023004009.
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  - Gillespie, Michael Allen. “Books in Review.” Political Theory 20, no. 1 (February 1992): 173–76. https://doi.org/10.1177/0090591792020001014.
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  - Gillespie, M. A. “Liberal education and liberal democracy.” Academic Questions 3, no. 4 (September 1, 1990): 65–68. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02682904.
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  - Gillespie, M. A. “Liberal Democracy and Liberal Education.” Academic Question 3, no. 4 (1990): 65–68.
  - GILLESPIE, M. A. “TEMPORALITY AND HISTORY IN THE THOUGHT OF HEIDEGGER,MARTIN.” Revue Internationale De Philosophie 43, no. 168 (1989): 33–51.
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  - Gillespie, M. A. “History and Temporality in the Thought of Heidegger.” Revue Internationale De Phiosophie 43 (1989): 33–51.
  - GILLESPIE, M. A. “NIETZSCHE - HEIDEGGER,M.” Political Theory 15, no. 3 (August 1987): 424–35. https://doi.org/10.1177/0090591787015003009.
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  - Gillespie, M. A. “Heidegger's Nietzsche.” Political Theory 15, no. 3 (January 1, 1987): 424–35. https://doi.org/10.1177/0090591787015003009.
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  - Gillespie, Michael Allen. “Hegel's Liberalism Michael H. Mitias: Moral Foundation of the State in Hegel's Philosophy of Right. (Atlantic Highlands, N.J.: Humanities Press, 1984. Pp. 197. $23.00, paper.).” The Review of Politics 47, no. 03 (July 1985): 468–468. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0034670500037086.
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  - Gillespie, M. A. “Montaigne's Humanistic Liberalism.” Journal of Politics 47, no. 1 (February 1985): 40–59.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Montaigne's Humanistic Liberalism.” The Journal of Politics 47, no. 1 (January 1, 1985): 140–59. https://doi.org/10.2307/2131069.
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  - GILLESPIE, M. A. “HEIDEGGER 'BEING AND TIME' AND THE POSSIBILITY OF POLITICAL-PHILOSOPHY - BLITZ,M.” Interpretation a Journal of Political Philosophy 11, no. 3 (1983): 399–400.
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  - Gillespie, M. A. “The Problems of Modernity and the Possibilities of Human Thriving.” Perspectives Libres 12, no. Sept (n.d.).
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Nihilism After Nietzsche.” Bollettino Filosofico, no. Nihilism and Modernity. Rethinking Modern Tragicalness (n.d.).
  - Gillespie, M. A., and J. Harpham. “Life and Thought: The Structure of Montaigne's Essays and the Idea of the Self,” n.d.
- Book Sections
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Machiavelli’s Modernity and the Christian Tradition.” In The Modern Turn. Catholic University Press, 2014.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “On Debt.” Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2013.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Doing Nothing or Nothing Doing.” In Nihilism and Contemporary Politics. Van Leer Institute, 2013.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Radical Philosophy and Political Theology.” In Religion and Modern European Thought, edited by Graham Ward, George Pattison, and Nicholas Adams. Oxford University Press, 2013.
  - Gillespie, M. A., and Lucas Perkins. “The Dangerous Divide : Between Weak Thought and Practical Politics,".” In On Vattimo and Zabala’s Hermeneutic Communism On Vattimo and Zabala’s Hermeneutic Communism, edited by Silvia Mazzini. Continuum Press, 2013.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Radical Hopes: Apocalyptic Longings in Nineteenth Century Philosophy.” In The Apocalyptic Complex – Origins, Histories, Permanence, edited by Nadia Al-Bagdadi, Matthias Riedl, and David Marno. CEU Press, 2012.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Martin Heidegger.” In The Cambridge Dictionary of Political Thought. Cambridge University Press, 2012.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Dostoevsky and Nietzsche: Murder, Madness, and Suicide. Nihilism and the Doctrine of the Eternal Recurrence.” In Nietzsche and Dostoevsky, edited by Jeffrey Metzger. Continuum Press, 2012.
  - Gillespie, M. A., and Keegan Calanan. “Toward Noon: Nietzsche’s Genealogy of Morals.” In A Companion to Friedrich Nietzsche, edited by Paul Bishop. Camden House, 2012.
  - Gillespie, M. “Nihilism in the nineteenth century: From absolute subjectivit y to superhumanity.” In The Edinburgh Critical History of Nineteenth-Century Philosophy, 278–93, 2011.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “The Tragedy of the Goods and the Pursuit of Happiness.” In In Search of Goodness, edited by Ruth W. Grant. University of Chicago Press, 2011.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Nihilism.” In , Edinburgh Critical History of Philosophy. : Edinburgh University Press, 2011.
  - Gillespie, M. A., and K. F. Callanan. “On the genealogy of morals.” In A Companion to Friedrich Nietzsche: Life and Works, 255–78, 2010.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Hegel.” In The International Encyclopedia of Political Science, edited by George Kurian et al, 2009.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Toward a New Aristocracy: Nietzsche Contra Plato on the Role a Warrior Elite.” In Nietzsche, Nihilism and the Philosophy of the Future, edited by J. Metzger. London & New York: Continuum, 2009.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Afterword.” In Homo Politicus, Homo Economicus, 2008.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Players and Spectators: Sports and Ethical Training in the American University.” In Debating Moral Education, edited by Elizabeth Kiss and Peter Euben. Duke University Press, 2008.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Nietzsche.” In The International Encyclopedia of Political Science, edited by George Kurian et al. CQ Press, 2008.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Plato and Nietzsche on Warriors.” In Nietzche’s Nihilistic Anti-Egalitarianism, edited by Jeffrey Metzger. Continuum, 2008.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Sovereign Selves and Sovereign States: Political Theory for a New Millenium.” In Freedom and the Human PErson, edited by Richard Velkley. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University Press, 2007.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Distorting Mirrors: Reflecting on Europe and America,.” In Europe and America in Translation, edited by Britta Waldschmidt-Nelson, Markus Hunemorder, and Meike Zwingenberger. Winter Verlag, 2006.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “The Search for Immediacy and the Problem of the Political in Existentialism and Phenomenology,.” In The Blackwell Companion to Phenomenology, edited by Hubert Dreyfus and Mark Wrathall. Oxford: Blackwell, 2006.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Where Did All the Evils Go.” In Moral Judgment and the Problem of Evil, edited by Ruth Grant. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2006.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Forward.” In The Mask of Enlightenment: Nietzsche’s Zarathustra (Stanley Rosen). New Haven: Yale University Press, 2005.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Nietzsche, Friedrich.” In The Encyclopedia of Protestantism, edited by Hans Hillerbrand. New York: Routledge, 2003.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “American Public Philosophy After the Cold War.” In Public Philosophy and Political Science: Crisis and Reflection. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2002.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Liberal Education and the Idea of the West.” In The West and the Liberal Arts, edited by Ralph Hancock. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 1999.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Descartes and the Question of Toleration.” In Early Modern Skepticism and the Origins of Toleration, edited by Alan Levine. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 1999.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Political Parties and the American Founding.” In American Political Parties and Constitutional Politics, edited by Peter Shramm and Bradford Wilson, 17–43. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 1993.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “George Grant and the Tradition of Political Philosophy.” In By Loving Our Own: George Grant and the Legacy of the Lament for a Nation. Ottawa: Carleton University Press, 1990.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Masschusetts: Creating Consensus.” In Ratifying the Constitution, edited by Michael Allen Gillespie and Michael Lienesch. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1989.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Death and Desire: War and Bourgoisification in the Thought of Hegel.” In Understanding the Political Spirit, edited by Catherine Zuckert. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1988.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Nietzsche’s Musical Politics.” In Nietzsche’s New Seas, edited by Michael Allen Gillespie and Tracy B. Strong. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1988.
  - Gillespie, M. A., and Michael Lienesch. “Religion and the Resurgence of Conservatism.” In The Resurgence of Conservatism in Anglo-American Democracies, edited by Barry Cooper, William Mishler, and Allan Kornberg. Durham: Duke University Press, 1988.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Martin Heidegger.” In The History of Political Philosophy, edited by Leo Strauss and Joseph Cropsey. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1987.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Beyond Secularism: The Inevitable Entanglement of Religion and Political Life.” Boston University, n.d.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Hermeneutic Communism.” edited by S. Mazzini. New York: Continuum Press, n.d.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Nietzsche's Final Teaching.” University of Chicago Press, n.d.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Socinianism and the Political Theology of Liberalism.” In Oxford Handbook of Political Theology, edited by M. Kessler and S. Casey. Oxford: Oxford University Press, n.d.
- Other Articles
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Too Many Wins for North Carolina to Reject Medicaid Expansion.” Raleigh News and Observer, February 19, 2013., 2013.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Just One of Those We Lost.” Raleigh News and Observer, September 11, 2011.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Budget Pain Must Fall on All.” Raleigh News and Observer, Op Ed, 2011.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Winners All in NCAA Basketball Championship Game.” The Herald Sun, 2010.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “A Place to Learn and Reflect: Course to Explore Ideals of Ethical Life.” Greensboro News Record, 2009.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “On Gold Medals and Team Sports.” The Durham Herald Sun, 2008.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Column Was Malicious Nonsense.” Durham Herald Sun, 2006.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Raise the Cigarette Tax.” Durham Herald Sun, 2002.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “County Failing to Control Vicious Packs of Dogs.” Durham Herald Sun, 2001.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Scholarly Issues Guided Lomparis Decision.” Durham Herald Sun, 1994.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Do Subsidies Keep Health Plan Afloat?.” Duke Dialogue, 1994.
- Digital Publications
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Degradation.” The Chronicle of Higher Education, January 14, 2014.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “The Anti-Trinitarian Origins of Liberalism,” 2014.
  - Gillespie, M. A. “Science and the Humanities,” 2010.
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  - Gillespie, M. A. “Response to Robert Pippin,” 2010.
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  - Gillespie, M. A. ““Backgammon Anyone?” A response to Alexander Rosenberg’s “The Disenchanted Naturalist’s Guide to Reality,” 2009.
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  - Gillepsie, M. A. “Teaching Human Rights.” National Humanities Center, n.d.
Teaching & Mentoring
Recent Courses
- FOCUS 195FS: Special Topics in Focus 2019
- HOUSECS 59: House Course 2019
- PHIL 123FS: Freedom and Responsibility 2019
- POLSCI 175FS: Freedom and Responsibility 2019
- POLSCI 890-1: Political Theory 2019
- POLSCI 683S: Theology and Political Philosophy 2018
- PHIL 573S: Heidegger 2017
- POLSCI 581S: Heidegger 2017
- POLSCI 789: Workshop in Normative Political Theory and Political Philosophy II 2017
Scholarly, Clinical, & Service Activities
Presentations & Appearances
Service to the Profession

Some information on this profile has been compiled automatically from Duke databases and external sources. (Our About page explains how this works.) If you see a problem with the information, please write to Scholars@Duke and let us know. We will reply promptly.

Education, Training, & Certifications

Duke Appointment History

In the News

Awards & Honors

Subject Headings

Global Scholarship

Expertise

Selected Grants

Selected Publications

Books

Academic Articles

Book Sections

Other Articles

Digital Publications

Recent Courses

Presentations & Appearances

Service to the Profession