Charles Stephen Evans

Professorial Research Fellow
Institute for Ethics & Society
Ph.D. Yale University (Philosophy, 1974)

  • Biography

    C. Stephen Evans is Professor of Philosophy at the Institute for Ethics & Society at the University of Notre Dame Australia. Since 2001 he has also been a Professor of Philosophy and Humanities at Baylor University, and is a Professorial Fellow at the Logos Institute for Exegetical and Analytic Theology at the University of St. Andrews. Evans has published more than 20 books and well over 100 professional articles, and completed his PhD in philosophy at Yale University.

    Evans's major areas of research include the philosophy of Søren Kierkegaard, philosophy of religion, virtue ethics, and meta-ethics. His latest monograph, 'Living Accountably: Accountability as a Virtue' is forthcoming with Oxford University Press, and was supported by a $1,987,000 grant from the Templeton Religion Trust to study “Accountability as a Relational Virtue". His previous books include Kierkegaard and Spirituality: Accountability as the Meaning of Human Existence (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2019), A History of Western Philosophy: From the Pre-Socratics to Post-Modernism (InterVarsity Press Academic, 2018), Why Christian Faith Still Makes Sense: A Response to Contemporary Challenges, (Baker Academic Books, 2015), God and Moral Obligation (Oxford University Press, 2013), Natural Signs and Knowledge of God: A New Look at Theistic Arguments (Oxford University Press, 2010), Kierkegaard: An Introduction (Cambridge University Press, 2009), Kierkegaard on Faith and the Self: Collected Essays (Baylor University Press, 2006), Kierkegaard’s Ethic of Love: Divine Commands and Moral Requirements (Oxford University Press, 2004), Faith Beyond Reason (Edinburgh University Press, 1998), The Historical Christ and the Jesus of Faith: The Incarnational Narrative as History (Oxford University Press, 1996), among others.

    He has received major awards from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Templeton Religion Trust, and previously served as president of the Society of Christian Philosophers and the Kierkegaard Society of North America. More information can be found at his personal page.

  • Teaching areas

    • Philosophy of Religion
    • Metaethics
    • Virtue Ethics
    • History of Modern Philosophy
    • Kierkegaard Studies.

  • Research expertise and supervision

    • Philosophy of Religion
    • Philosophical Theology
    • Kierkegaard Studies
    • Metaethics
    • Virtue Ethics

  • Books

    • Living Accountably: Accountability as a Virtue. Under contract with Oxford University
      Press, scheduled for publication in 2022.
    • Kierkegaard and Spirituality: Accountability as the Meaning of Human Existence (Grand
      Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2019)
    • A History of Western Philosophy: From the Pre-Socratics to Post-Modernism (Downers
      Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press Academic, 2018)
    • Why Christian Faith Still Makes Sense: A Response to Contemporary Challenges, (Grand
      Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic Books, 2015)
    • God and Moral Obligation (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013)
    • Natural Signs and Knowledge of God: A New Look at Theistic Arguments (Oxford:
      Oxford University Press, 2010)
    • Kierkegaard: An Introduction (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009)
    • Kierkegaard on Faith and the Self: Collected Essays (Waco, Texas: Baylor University
      Press, 2006)
    • Kierkegaard’s Ethic of Love: Divine Commands and Moral Requirements (Oxford: Oxford
      University Press, 2004)
    • Pocket Dictionary of Philosophy of Religion and Apologetics (Downers Grove, Illinois:
      InterVarsity Press, 2002)
    • Faith Beyond Reason (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1998)
    • The Historical Christ and the Jesus of Faith: The Incarnational Narrative as History
      (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996)
    • Why Believe: Reason and Mystery as Pointers to God (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans,1996)
    • Passionate Reason: Making Sense of Kierkegaard's Philosophical Fragments (Indiana
      University Press, 1992)
    • Kierkegaard's Fragments and Postscript: The Religious Philosophy of Johannes Climacus
      (Humanities Press, 1983
      Subjectivity and Religious Belief: An Historical, Critical Study (Eerdmans, 1978)
    • Philosophy of Religion: Thinking About Faith (InterVarsity Press, 1985)
    • Søren Kierkegaard's Christian Psychology, (Zondervan, 1990)
    • Wisdom and Humanness in Psychology, (Baker Books, 1989)
    • Preserving the Person: A Look at the Human Sciences (InterVarsity Press, 1977; Baker
      Reprint, 1982)
    • Existentialism: The Philosophy of Despair and the Quest for Hope (Zondervan, 1984)

  • Journal Articles and Proceedings

    • “Living Accountably: Accountability as a Virtue,” with Brandon Rickabaugh, forthcoming in International Philosophical Quarterly.
    • “Accountability as a Key Virtue in Mental Health and Human Flourishing,” with John R. Peteet (first author) and Charlotte Van Oyen Witvliet, forthcoming in Philosophy, Psychiatry, and Psychology.
    • “Does Darwall’s Morality of Accountability Require Moral Realism? (And Would It Be Strengthened by Adding God to the Story?)” Religions 12, 87 (March 2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12030187
    • “Accountability and the Fear of the Lord,” in Studies in Christian Ethics (August, 2021; 34,3; pp. 1-8). https://doi.org/10.1177/09539468211009756
    • “Worldviews, Moral Seemings, and Moral Epistemology,” The Review of Metaphysics 73:4, June 2020, pp. 255-276.
    • “The Revolt Against Accountability to God: A Global Hermeneutical Perspective on Contemporary Moral Philosophy,” Philosophia Christi 21, 2 (2019), pp. 289-308
    • “A Kenotic Theologian’s Response to Andrew Loke’s ‘Cryptic Model’ of the Incarnation,” Philosophia Christi 21, 1 (2019), pp. 33-38
    • “Moral Arguments for God’s Existence,” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-arguments-god/). First published June 12, 2014; substantive revision June 29, 2018
    • “How Reformation Christians Can Be Catholic (Small ‘c’) Christians,” Philosophia Christi (19, 2; 2017), pp. 415-427.
    • “Kierkegaard’s Relation to Catholic Theology and the Broader Christian World,” Toronto Journal of Theology, (32, 1), Spring 2016, pp. 45-50.
    • “What Does It Mean to Be a Bodily Soul?” (with Brandon Rickabaugh), Philosophia Christi, 17, 2 (2015), pp. 315-330.
    • “Objects of Wonder: Craig Keener’s Defense of Miracles,” Books and Culture 19:1, January/February 2013, p. 24.
    • “Kierkegaardova etika lásky,” (“Kierkegaard’s Ethic of Love”) in Kierkegaard as a Philosopher of Love (Kierkegaard Ako Filozof Lásky), Acta Kierkegaardiana Supplement 3 (2012), Kierkegaard Circle, Toronto, and Central European Research Institute of Søren Kierkegaard, Nitra, Slovakia, (translation into Slovakian by Roman Králik), pp. 91-106.
    • “Arthur Holmes: A Life Well Lived,” Books and Culture 18, 1 (Jan/Feb 2012, but appeared in December, 2011)
    • “Doing Psychology as a Christian: A Plea for Wholeness,” Journal of Psychology and Theology (40,1: Spring 2012; pp. 32-36).
    • “Kierkegaard as Christian Psychologist,” co-authored with Mark Tietjen (first author), Journal of Psychology and Christianity (30, 4; 2011), pp. 274-283.
    • “A Response to Owen Anderson,” in Conversations in Religion and Theology (9:2, 2011), pp. 161-163.
    • “Wisdom as Conceptual Understanding: A Christian Platonist Perspective,” in Faith and Philosophy (27, 4; October 2010), pp. 369-381.
    • “Big Al: Philosopher Alvin Plantinga Retires from Notre Dame,” online version of Books and Culture, May 2010
    • “Should Christians Be Physicalists?” in Books and Culture 16, 2 (March/April 2010), pp. 27-29
    • “Kierkegaard and the Limits of Reason: Can There Be a Responsible Fideism?” Revista Portugesa de Filosofia (Volume 64, 2008; pp. 311-325).
    • “Anderson’s Encounter with Kierkegaard,” in Edification: Journal of the Society for Christian Psychology (1:2, 2007; pp. 28-29).
    • “Afterword -- The Bible and the Academy: Some Concluding Thoughts and Possible Future Directions,” in The Bible and the University, ed. David Jeffrey and C. Stephen Evans (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2007), pp. 303-310.
    • “Kierkegaard Among the Biographers,” Books and Culture (13, 4; July/August 2007), pp. 12-13.
    • “Integration and Christian Psychology: Rivals or Friends,” in Edification: The Newsletter of the Society for Christian Psychology, (I, 2: 2005; pp. 3-5)
    • “Is There a Basis for Loving All People?” in The Journal of Psychology and Theology, Spring 2006 (34, 1), pp. 78-90.
    • “Can God Be Hidden and Evident at the Same Time? Some Kierkegaardian Reflections” Faith and Philosophy (23, 3: July 2006), pp. 241-253.
    • “Separable Souls: Dualism, Selfhood, and the Possibility of Life After Death,” in The Christian Scholar’s Review, XXXIV:3 (Spring 2005), pp. 327-340. (Winner of the 16
      Charles J. Miller Christian Scholar’s Review Best Essay Award for Vol. 34.)
    • “The Christian University and the Connectedness of Knowledge,” in The Baptist and Christian Character of Baylor, ed. Donald Schmeltekopf and Dianna Vitanza (Waco: Baylor University, 2004), pp. 21-49
    • “Kierkegaard’s Aesthete and Unamuno’s Niebla,” in Philosophy and Literature (coauthored with Jan Evans), 28, 2 (2004), 342-352.
    • “Plato Was Right All Along,” a review article focusing on Robert Adams, Finite and Infinite Goods, in Books and Culture (7,1; July/August 2001)
    • "Can We Be Good Without God? Kierkegaard and the Foundations of Morality," published electronically in online version of Books and Culture, July 7, 2000.
    • "Interview with Eugene Rivers: The View From the Street," with Gail Heffner, in Books and Culture (May/June 2000).
    • “The History of History,” in Books and Culture (May/June 1999).
    • "Kierkegaard on Religious Authority: The Problem of the Criterion," in Faith and Philosophy (17,1; January 2000, pp. 48-67)
    • "Authority and Transcendence in Works of Love," in The Kierkegaard Studies Yearbook 1998 (Berlin and New York: Walter de Gruyter, 1998), pp. 23-39
    • “Do Robots Have Free Will?” in Books and Culture (4,4; July/August 1998)
    • "Trusting the Resurrection Story," in The Banner, March 24, 1997, pp. 12-15."Can the New Jesus Save Us?" Books and Culture (I,2; November/December 1995), pp. 36-8
    • "Existentialist Theology," in the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy (London and New York: Routledge, 1998).
    • "Human Persons as Substantial Achievers," Philosophia Reformata 58 (1993), pp. 100-112
    • "The Incarnational Narrative as Myth and History," The Christian Scholars Review (23; 4: June, 1994), pp. 387-407
    • "Evidentialist and Non-Evidentialist Accounts of Historical Religious Knowledge," International Journal for Philosophy of Religion (35: pp. 153-182, 1994)
    • "Developing Wisdom in Christian Psychologists," Journal of Psychology and Theology (20, 2: 1992), pp. 110-118
    • "A Response to Creel's Review," in Behavior and Philosophy (19, 1: 1991), pp.113-114, an invited response to a review of my book Wisdom and Humanness in Psychology.
    • "The Mystery of Persons and Belief in God," Truth: A Journal of Modern Thought (IV, Fall: 1990), pp. 51-58.
    • "The Relevance of Historical Evidence for Christian Faith: A Critique of a Kierkegaardian View," Faith and Philosophy (7, 4: 1990), pp. 470-485.
    • "Is Kierkegaard an Irrationalist? Reason, Paradox and Faith," Religious Studies (25, 3; 1989), pp. 347-362
    • "The Epistemological Significance of Transformative Religious Experience," Faith and Philosophy (8, 2: 1991), pp. 180-192
    • "Does Kierkegaard Think Beliefs Can Be Directly Willed," The International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, (26, pp. 173-284, 1989)
    • "Albert Ellis's Conception of Rationality: How Reasonable is R.E.T.?" Review of Existential Psychology and Psychiatry (XIX, 2 and 3), pp. 129-134, with a response by Albert Ellis and a rejoinder to Ellis
    • "Kierkegaard and Plantinga on Belief in God: Subjectivity as the Ground of Properly Basic Beliefs," Faith and Philosophy (V, 1), pp. 25-39, 1988
    • "Kierkegaard's View of Humor: Must Christians Always Be Solemn," Faith and Philosophy (IV, 2), pp. 176-186, 1987
    • "Unity and Multiplicity in Hypnosis, Commisurotomy, and Multiple Personality Disorder," The Journal of Mind and Behavior (V, 4), pp. 423-431, 1984. Co-authored with David Benner
    • "Must Psychoanalysis Embrace Determinism? Or Can a Psychoanalyst Be a Libertarian?" Psychoanalysis and Contemporary Thought (VII, 3), pp. 339-365, 1984
    • "Behaviorism as Existentialism: Ryle and Merleau-Ponty on the Mind," Journal of the British Society for Phenomenology (XIV, 1, pp. 65-77)
    • "Separable Souls: A Defense of Minimal Dualism," Southern Journal of Philosophy (XIX, 3, pp. 313-331)
    • "Reductionism as Absentmindedness: Existentialism and Phenomenology as Strategies for Defending Personhood," Man and World (XIV, pp. 175-188)
    • "Kierkegaard on Subjective Truth: Is God an Ethical Fiction?" International Journal for Philosophy of Religion (VII, 1), pp. 288-299
    • "Kierkegaard's Attack on Apologetics," Christian Scholar's Review (X, 4), pp. 322-332
    • "Redeemed Man: The Vision Which Gave Rise to Marxism," Christian Scholar's Review (XIII, 2, pp. 141-150)
    • "The Concept of the Self as the Key to Integration," Journal of Psychology and Christianity (III, 2, pp. 4-11)
    • "Christian Perspectives on the Sciences of Man," Christian Scholar's Review (VI, 2 and 3, pp. 97-113)
    • "Verstehen as Requiring Value-Commitment: A Response to Perkins," Christian Scholar's Review (XVI, 2), pp. 163-168
    • "The Blessings of Mental Anguish," Christianity Today, January 17, 1986, pp. 26-29
    • "Kierkegaard: A Misunderstood Reformer," Christianity Today, September 21, 1984, pp. 26-29

  • In the Media

    • “AMA” (Ask Me Anything) program sponsored by Canadian Catholics. Youtube interview, recorded May 12, 2021, on a range of issues including accountability as a virtue, the case for moral realism, the strengths of a divine command theory of obligation, and various issues in Kierkegaard.
    • “Give Me An Answer” with Cliffe Knechtle, recorded November 18, 2020. Issues discussed include accountability as a virtue, why Kierkegaard is important, the value and limits of arguments for God’s reality, and why are moral arguments for God powerful.
    • Interview in Wallethub on “Sin” and which US states are most sinful
    • “Accountability as a Virtue,” two podcasts stemming from an interview at St. Andrews University, at the Logos Institute for Analytical and Exegetical Theology, in October 2018. Published as podcasts by the Logos Institute. Podcast #19 published Dec. 12, 2018. Podcast #20 published January 11, 2019. Interview and editing by Jonathan Rutledge and Stephanie Nordby.
    • Interview with Robert Lawrence Kuhn for the television program “Closer to Truth” in June of 2017 for PBS.
    • “Figure-Ground” Website Interview, conducted by Matthew Rumboldt, posted April 5, 2013
    • Television talk show, “Insight,” hosted by Paul Arthur, 11-12 a.m., November 5, 2012, on the Miracle Network, a nationwide Canadian television network. Topic of show: “How to Respond to the New Atheism.”
    • Radio interview with Aaron Ironside on “the new atheism” for the program, “Balanced Breakfast,” hosted by Aaron Ironside, Radio Rhema, Auckland, New Zealand, September 2, 2011.
    • Interview on Kierkegaard for “Talk of God,” radio show on KGO 810 of San Francisco, hosted by Brent Walters, August 14, 2011. Re-broadcast October 12, 2012.
    • Guest on “Odyssey,” a syndicated NPR program originating from WBEZ in Chicago, hosted by Gretchen Helfrich, December 16, 2002. The program dealt with the subject “Religious Faith and History.”
    • Appearance on “The Dick Staub Show,” a syndicated national radio program originating with the Salem Radio Network, debating Bishop John Shelby Spong on the historicity of the New Testament, September 16, 1996

  • Professional Affiliations

    • Executive Committee, Society for Christian Psychology, 2005-current
    • Member, International Scholarly Committee, Kierkegaard Research Centre at the University of Copenhagen, (Denmark) 1994-1998
    • Member, International Advisory Board for the Kierkegaard Research Centre, 2000-2003
    • Executive Committee, Institute for Advanced Christian Studies (IFACS), 1997-2003
    • Executive Committee, Council of Christian Scholarly Societies, 1999-2003
    • Member, American Philosophical Association
    • Member, Kierkegaard Society, U.S.A.; President, 1991
    • Executive Committee, Kierkegaard Society, 1989-1991
    • APA Representative 2002-2004
    • Member, Society of Christian Philosophers
    • President, Society of Christian Philosophers, 1998-2001
    • Executive Committee, Society of Christian Philosophers, 1986-89, 1991-94, 2005-2008; Chair, Nominating Committee, SCP, 1990; Nominating committee member 2005.
    • Member, American Academy of Religion

  • Community Engagement

    I am a member and choir volunteer singer at St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Waco, Texas.

  • Awards

    • Principal Investigator for $1,987,000 grant from the Templeton Religion Trust, awarded for 2018-21 to study “Accountability as a Relational Virtue.” (supervisor of a 9 person interdisciplinary team)
    • Co-winner, 2018 Martin Institute of Christianity and Culture Research Award, given by the Dallas Willard Research Center for the paper, “Neuroscience, Spiritual Formation, and Bodily Souls: A Critique of Christian Physicalism.” Brandon Rickabaugh (first author) was the co-winner.
    • 2018 Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year Award at Baylor University. (Carries with it a $20,000 stipend.)
    • Principal Investigator for $234,000 grant from the Templeton Religion Trust, awarded for 2017-18 to study “Accountability as a Relational Virtue”
    • Finalist, Arlin G. Meyer Prize in nonfiction, for God and Moral Obligation, awarded 2016 by the Lilly Fellows Program in Humanities and the Arts Research Fellowship, Center for Christian Thought, Biola University, spring semester 2014 ($45,000)
    • C. S. Lewis Book Prize, first place award in 2012 for best book for a general audience in the philosophy of religion or philosophical theology, between 2007 and 2012.
    • $15,000 award, given by the University of St. Thomas, and funded by the John Templeton Foundation Named “Outstanding Teacher for the College of Arts and Sciences at Baylor University”
      for the school year 2011-2012 (tenured faculty category).
    • Medal for “Outstanding Contributions to the Development of International Cooperation,” Awarded by the Philosophy Faculty of Constantine the Philosopher University, Nitra, Slovakia, September 23, 2010
    • Charles J. Miller Christian Scholar Review Best Essay Award for Vol. 34 (cash prize for “Separable Souls: Dualism and the Possibility of Life after Death”)
    • N.E.H. Fellowship for College Teachers, 2000-2001
    • Co-winner of "Best Christian Scholarly Book of 1996" Award given by IFACS (Institute for Advanced Christian Studies) - $5,000 prize
    • William Spoelhof Teacher-Scholar, Calvin College, 1994-96. (Inaugural holder of rotating chair.)
    • Pew Evangelical Senior Scholar ($100,000 grant), 1991-1994
    • N.E.H. Fellowship for College Teachers, 1988-89
    • Fellow, N.E.H. Summer Seminars at Purdue University (1980) and Clark College (1985)
    • George C. Marshall Fellowship, 1977-78 (Denmark)
    • Fellow, Center for Faith Development, Emory University (1988-89)
    • Danforth Graduate Fellowship, 1969-74