CV at VU University Amsterdam
Professor in Philosophy at Stellenbosch University, until 2008
Professor in Philosophy of Religion, Faculties of Theology and Philosophy, VU University Amsterdam
Willem Lodewikus van der Merwe was born on 20 October 1957.
After matriculation from the Hoërskool Dr. Malan Meyerton, Gauteng in 1975 he studied literature, philosophy and theology at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. He received his PhD from the University of Stellenbosch (1990) on a dissertation for which he did research in Utrecht, the Netherlands, under supervision of the Dutch philosopher C.A. van Peursen.
He started lecturing at Stellenbosch University in 1987 and did research for his doctorate in Utrecht during 1989. He was promoted senior lecturer in 1992. From June 1995 to June 1996 he was Senior
Research Fellow and Visiting Professor at the Institute of Philosophy of the
Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. He was promoted professor of Philosophy
at Stellenbosch University in 1998.
In August 2008 Willie van der Merwe accepted a chair in the Philosophy of Religion at the VU University Amsterdam (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam). He serves as Head of the Department of Philosophy of Religion and Comparative Study of Religions, VU University Amsterdam and Director of ACCORD (Amsterdam Centre for Study of Cultural and Religious Diversity)
He is married to Lettie Conradie van der Merwe (née Visser) and they have a son and a daughter.
Academic activities:
1992-1995: Secretary of the Philosophical Society of Southern Africa / Wysgerige
Vereniging van Suider-Afrika
1997: Guest editor of the South African Journal of Philosophy for a special issue on
"Identity, Difference and Community" (SAJP, 1997: 16/3)
1998-: Editorial cooperator of Fragmente, a journal for Philosophy and
Cultural Critique.
1999-: Member of the advisory board of the Vienna-based journal Polylog, a journal for Intercultural Philosophy
2008-: Member of the editorial board for Philosophy of Religion, Nederlands Theologische Tijdschrift
Coordinator of the masterprogramme in Contextual and Cross-cultural Theology, VU University Amsterdam
Editor responsible for Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion, Nederlands Theologische Tijdschrift
2010: Member of editorial board for the series, Currents of Encounter, Rodopi, Amsterdam/New York
2009: Member of the committee of the theology faculties of the VU University and the Protestant Theological University responsible to design a new \0x201Cjoint\0x201D Bachelor degree in theology.
Member of editorial board for the series, Currents of Encounter, Rodopi, Amsterdam/New York
Books:
1990: Metafoor: 'n Filosofiese Perspektief, Bloemfontein, VCHO (Wetenskaplike
studiereeks 11), 205 pp.
Compilation: Johan Degenaar: Tweede refleksie, African Sun Media, 2008
Tussen Jeruzalem en Athene. Het christelijke geloof in de hedendaagse cultuur, Vrije Universiteit: Amsterdam, 2010, pp.36 (Inaugurele rede / Inaugural lecture).(Eng: Between Jerusalem and Athens. Christian faith in contemporary culture)
Book contributions:
1994: Die taalwending in die twintigste eeuse filosofie en die vraag na 'n
'eeuwendingsgestemdheid', in Wysgerige perspektiewe op die 20ste eeu, (red.) DFM Strauss, Tekskor, Bloemfontein, 1994: 89-114.
1995: Language and literature in a postmodern culture, in Life in a Postmodern Culture, (ed. Rossouw, G.J.), HSRC Publishers, Pretoria, 1995: 173-199.
1995: Taal in Ons postmoderne wêreld, (red.) Rossouw GJ, RGN Uitgewers,
Pretoria, 1995: 53-58.
1998: African Philosophy and the contextualisation of philosophy in a
multicultural society in The promise of Multiculturalism: Education and Autonomy in the 21st Century, ed. Katsiaficas, G. and Kiros, T., Routledge, New York / London, 1998:
195-210.
"Wittgenstein's legacy and the challenge to psychology" (co-authored with
P.P.Voestermans) in Ludwig Wittgenstein. Critical Assessments of Leading Philosophers (second series) ed. Stuart
Shanker and David Kilfoyle, Routledge: London and New York, 2002:162 - 182.
"The Contextuality of Philosophy: From African Philosophy to Multiculturalism"
in Perspectives in African Philosophy, ed. Claude Sumner and Samuel Wolde
Yohannes, Addis Ababa University Press: Addis Ababa, 2002: 282 - 295.
Christan Philosophy, Ethnocentrism, Contemporary Philosophy, Hegel, Kant and neo-Kantian Philosophy, Patriotism, Plato and Neo-platonism. Philosophy (definition and disciplines), Political Ethics, Poststructuralism, Renaissance, Structuralism, Traditionalism and Western Philosophy, Christelike Kernensiklopedie, Lux Verbi: Wellington, 2008
www.StellenboschWriters.com © Rosemarie Breuer
Books