Kelly Maeshiro
Field of Study: Theology (Ethics); Philosophy
Advisor: Professor Gary Dorrien
Contact Info: [email protected]
Education:
B.A., Harvard University
M.A., Union Theological Seminary
M.Phil., Philosophy of Religion, Union Theological Seminary
Research Focus:
Kelly’s work falls into two broad categories: speculative and practical. In his speculative work within the broad framework of philosophy of religion, Kelly focuses on the intersection of religion, science, and philosophy, particularly on cosmological and metaphysical questions concerning the world-picture of modern science, analyzing the philosophical and theological implications of modern science, particularly classical mechanics, Darwinian theory, relativistic physics, quantum mechanics, cognitive science, and complexity theory. His practical work focuses on social ethics from a democratic socialist perspective informed by both classical and Marxist schools of social theory and political economy, with a special interest in capitalism as a form of religion.
Research Interests:
Philosophy, science, and religion: science and religion, history of science and religion, philosophy of science. Philosophy: philosophy of religion, metaphysics, epistemology, classical idealism, Neoplatonism, modern philosophy, German idealism, Marxism, with foci in Aristotle, Kant, Hegel, and Marx. Theology: patristic theology, medieval theology, modern theology, Panentheism, Transcendentalism, liberation theology, comparative religion, with foci in Origen, Pseudo-Dionysius, Aquinas, Emerson, and Parker. Political economy: classical political economy, Marxist political economy, modern economic theory, foreign policy, socialist theory, with foci in Smith, Marx, and Chomsky. Other interests include music, art, architecture, literature, and mathematics.
Background & Activities:
Prior to his work in academia, Kelly has worked in various capacities in education, law, and religion, as a member of the Hawaii State Board of Education, a commissioner on the Hawaii State Performance Standards Review Panel, a legal research assistant for the Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, and as theology editor for the Harvard Ichthus.