Biography

As a scholar, Philip Clayton works at the intersection of philosophy, theology, and science. Although he continues to work on fundamental questions that arise within each of these fields and at their intersections, his more recent focus has turned increasingly to the intersection of climate science, ethics, religion, and social philosophy, or ecotheology. 

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Clayton holds the Ingraham Chair at Claremont School of Theology, where he directs the PhD program in comparative theologies and philosophies; he is also affiliated faculty at Claremont Graduate University. A graduate of Yale University, he has also taught at Williams College and the California State University, as well as holding guest professorships at the University of Munich, the University of Cambridge, and Harvard University. He has published two dozen books and some 350 articles.

Philip is President of the Institute for Ecological Civilization (EcoCiv.org), which works internationally to support multi-sector innovations toward a sustainable society through collaborations between governments, businesses, policy experts, and NGOs. He is also president of the Institute for the Postmodern Development of China, which works with universities and government officials to promote the concept of ecological civilization through conferences, publications, educational projects, and ecovillages. He has previously served as a Dean, Provost, and as the Executive Vice President of a small university. In 2018 he helped to organize the Justice track for the Parliament of the World’s Religions.

Philip enjoys cycling, refereeing competitive soccer, and wilderness camping with family and dog.

““Obviously, we would not exist at all without the stable and nurturing life-systems around us. In fact, in one sense we are not separately existing creatures at all. We are, from the bottom up, beings in community. We are, from our simplest cell to our highest thought, the organic expressions of ecosystems that nourish us and give us life.””
— Philip Clayton and Andrew Schwartz, What Is Ecological Civilization?

Curriculum vitae

My full CV can be found here.

Awards, Fellowships, Lectureships (sample)

2016

  • Biennial meeting, Lyon, France Keynote, The European Society for the Study of Science and Theology (ESSSAT)

2014

  • Visiting Professor, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China; annual lecture tours in China since 2010

  • Teacher of the Year, Claremont School of Theology 

2013

  • The 2013 Gowland Public Lecture, The Science and Religion Forum Annual Meeting, Chester, England

  • The 2013 Annual Landa Lecture, La Sierra University

  • The 2013 Harold Stoner Clark Lectures, California Lutheran University

  • Annual Keynote Speaker, Wesleyan Philosophical Society Annual Meeting          

2012

  • The Charles Townes Lectureship, Furman University

2011

  • The 2011 Goshen Lectures, Goshen College, Goshen, IN

2009 - 2014

  • Steering Committee, “The Impact of Religion, Challenges for Society, Law and Democracy,” 5-year project funded by the Swedish government, Uppsala University

2008 - 2011

  • Co-PI, three-year Ford Foundation Grant, “Rekindling Theological Imagination: Thought for Progressive Action” Transformative

2009 -2010

  • Metanexus Senior Fellow

  • The Olaus Petri Annual Lectures, Sweden

2008 -2009

  • Guest of the Indian government through the Indian Council for Philosophical Research; ICPR Visiting Professor for the academic year

2008

  • The 2008 Annual Hiram Lectures, Hiram College, Hiram, OH

  • Treasurer, The Institute for the Postmodern Development of China

2007

  • The Schaff Lectures, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

2006

  • Templeton Research Lectureship, the University of Frankfurt

  • The 2006 Boyle Lecture, St Mary-le-Bow, London

2001-2002

  • Visiting Fellow, The Center for the Study of World Religions, Harvard University

1999 - 2003

  • Principal Investigator, “Science and the Spiritual Quest”

1999

  • First Annual Templeton Research Prize

1998

  • Templeton Award for Best Book in Religion and Science    

1997

  • CSU-wide Grant, “Ethics and Values in the Information Age”

  • CTNS Science and Religion Course Program Grant

1996

  • University Merit Award, Sonoma State University

1995

  • University Best Professor (Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Education award)

1990 - 1991

  • Senior Fulbright Research Fellow, University of Municn

1985 -1986

  • Charlotte W. Newcombe Fellowship

  • Douglas G. MacIntosh Fellowship, Yale University 

1984 -1985

  • Josephine de Kármán Fellowship for Studies in the Humanities     

1981 - 1983

  • German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Fellowship for research at the University of Munich; extended for a second year