Dr. Antonio Calcagno named Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
September 5, 2023
The Royal Society of Canada (RSC) has named Dr. Antonio Calcagno, Professor of Philosophy at King’s, among Canada’s top scholars. Dr. Calcagno has received the honour of being elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in the Academy of the Arts and Humanities.
The Royal Society of Canada was founded in 1882 and is the senior national body of distinguished Canadian scholars and scientists. Fellows are nominated and selected by their peers for outstanding academic contributions to the humanities, natural and social sciences. King’s has one other elected Fellow, Dr. Paul Werstine, Professor of English. King’s also has elected members of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists, which recognizes emerging academics by the Royal Society of Canada. These include Dr. Robert Ventresca, Dr. Rachel Birnbaum and Dr. Calcagno (2015).
“This is truly an outstanding achievement for Dr. Calcagno. Recognized globally for years as an important philosopher of social and political philosophy, Antonio is receiving from the Royal Society of Canada well-deserved recognition for his contribution to the academy. We are so very proud to call him our own,” says Dr. David Malloy, King’s President.
Dr. Calcagno will receive the recognition on November 16, 2023, at the Royal Society of Canada Celebration of Excellence & Engagement in Waterloo, Ontario. "This award is meaningful because it helps recognize the importance of a broad, pluralist approach to philosophy. More research work needs to be carried out to expand our understanding of the rich and diverse figures and traditions that constitute human thinking and the life of the mind. My own work in phenomenology, history of philosophy, and social and political thought is very much dedicated to this ideal," says Dr. Calcagno.
At King’s, Dr. Calcagno specializes in social and political theory as both a researcher and instructor. His work in early phenomenology focuses both on canonical thinkers and on the archival and interpretive recovery of women philosophers who set the foundation for the phenomenological movement. His extensive body of scholarship has brought to the foreground the contributions of figures marginalized by racism, sexism, and prejudice, including Edith Stein and Gerda Walther. As well, Dr. Calcagno has been a key figure in introducing contemporary Italian philosophy to wider audiences. His connections to Italy have benefited King’s students. In 2017, he helped to establish an experiential learning program at the Rondine Centre in Italy for King’s Social Justice and Peace Studies students as part of their course studies and he has been an instructor for the King’s course there.
“I can’t think of a more worthy choice for this distinguished honour, whom I’m honoured to call a colleague and a friend. Antonio is warmly regarded by peers and students alike for his humane and compassionate approach to teaching and learning, and for his ability to transcend disciplinary boundaries in communicating the deep insights of his work to advance our understanding of, and appreciation for, the human condition,” says Dr. Robert Ventresca, Vice President and Academic Dean (Interim).
Being named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada adds to Dr. Calcagno’s long list of academic recognitions. Dr. Calcagno is the author of five books, editor of seventeen books and has published over 100 articles. Along with Dr. Silvia Benso, he is also the translator of the forthcoming work of the philosopher Elena Pulcini. The winner of various major SSHRC grants, he is the co-founder of the North American Society for Early Phenomenology and the Society for Italian Philosophy. In 2018, he received the King’s University College Hugh Mellon Excellence in Research Award, named in honour of the late Dr. Hugh Mellon, an Associate Professor of Political Science at King’s University College.
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