Research
Rik Peels is a Professor in the Faculty of Religion & Theology and the Faculty of Humanities. His main research topic is the ethics of belief. He has developed a theory of responsible belief, studied ignorance, criticized scientism and developed a common sense alternative, explored the ethics of religious belief, and delved into the epistemic responsibilities of universities. He is currently leading an ERC Starting Grant named "Extreme Beliefs: The Epistemology and Ethics of Fundamentalism" (2020-2025), and with Jeroen de Ridder and René van Woudenberg, he is leading a TWCF funded project on Progress in the University (2020-2023).
Teaching
Rik Peels teaches epistemology, ethics, meta-ethics, philosophy of science, philosophy of religion, and argumentation theory.
Grants
- Extreme Beliefs: The Epistemology and Ethics of Fundamentalism
ERC Starting Grant, 2020-2025
- Epistemic Progress in the University
(with René van Woudenberg and Jeroen de Ridder)
Templeton World Charity Foundation, 2020-2023
- The Epistemic Responsibility of the University
(with Jeroen de Ridder and René van Woudenberg)
Templeton World Charity Foundation, 2016–2019 - Developing an Alternative for Scientism
(within the larger project Science Beyond Scientism)
Templeton World Charity Foundation, 2012–2016
Ancillary activities
- Amsterdam Young Academy | Amsterdam | Member | 2018 - present
- Amsterdam Young Academy | Amsterdam | president | 2019 - 2020
Education
- Ph.D. in Philosophy, Utrecht University, 2012
- Grad student in Philosophy and research associate, Merton College, Oxford (UK), 2011
- M.A. in Philosophy cum laude, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 2008
- M.A. in Theology cum laude Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam 2006
- Visiting Graduate Student Philosophy, University of Notre Dame (IN, USA), 2004-2005
