Research
Lieven Decock's research and teaching engage both with fundamental and socially relevant questions in philosophy. He investigates the underlying metaphysical structures of reality and of human knowledge, working in close dialogue with a range of scientific disciplines. Much of his work employs formal logic and mathematical models to analyse philosophical problems. In addition, he addresses philosophical issues related to pressing societal topics such as sustainability and climate change.
Academic background
Decock studied both physics and philosophy at KU Leuven. After graduating, he was affiliated with the astronomy section of the mathematics department at the same university. In 1999, he earned his PhD in philosophy from the Higher Institute of Philosophy. From 2000 to 2002, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Leuven. He subsequently held a position as university lecturer in philosophy at Tilburg University. In 2004, he joined the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam as a university lecturer.
Career at VU Amsterdam
In 2004, Lieven Decock was appointed university lecturer in the Theoretical Philosophy section at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. In 2013, he was promoted to senior lecturer (universitair hoofddocent) and simultaneously assumed the role of Director of Education within the Faculty of Philosophy. Shortly before the faculty merger of 2014, he held the same position in the Faculty of Humanities. In September 2014, following the merger, he became Director of Education of the newly formed faculty during a period marked by major financial challenges and a large-scale reorganisation within the university.
As Director of Education, he collaborated closely with Dean Michel ter Hark on the development of English-taught tracks. This innovation introduced new energy into the faculty and enabled the recruitment of talented international academics and students. At the end of this administrative term, Decock chose to refocus on research and teaching. In 2018, he was appointed Chair of the Faculty Examination Board.
Shortly thereafter, he was invited to succeed Martin van Hees as Dean of the John Stuart Mill College, where he took on leadership of the Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) programme. His chair was subsequently renamed to Logic and Philosophy of Cognitive Science. Since January 2022, he has also served as Head of the Philosophy Department, a role he has combined with research and teaching since February 2023.
What do you hope to contribute to the new faculty?
"Philosophy is complementary to all academic disciplines. Philosophers adopt a radically critical approach that challenges disciplinary boundaries in other sciences, and they do not shy away from normative questions. Philosophy rightly plays a central role in the VU’s academic programmes. As Head of Department, I am committed to continuing to highlight the importance of philosophy—both within the new faculty and across the wider VU community."
