A. Todd Franklin
Eugene M. Tobin Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Africana Studies
Todd Franklin's research focuses on the existential, social, and political implications of various critical and transformative discourses aimed at cultivating individual and collective self-realization. He teaches courses on existentialism, Nietzsche, and critical cultural studies. He is a past recipient of the Class of 1963 Excellence in Teaching Award.
The author of several scholarly works on the social and political import of various forms of existential enlightenment, Franklin is also the co-editor of a volume titled Critical Affinities: Reflections on the Convergence between Nietzsche and African American Thought. He holds a doctorate from Stanford University.
Recent Courses Taught
Critical Thinking
Introduction to Existentialism
Race Matters
Race, Gender, and Culture
The Black Self
Seminar on Nietzsche
Research Interests
Existentialism
Critical race theory
Social and political philosophy
Nineteenth century continental philosophy
Moral philosophy and ethics
Non-Western philosophical thought
Distinctions
Emerson Faculty/Student Collaboration Grant, 1999, 2008, and 2014
Levitt Faculty/Student Collaboration Grant, 2011
Teagle Foundation Liberal Education Grant, 2005
Hewlett Foundation Pluralism and Unity Grant, 2002
Hamilton College Class of 1963 Award for Teaching Excellence, 2000
Selected Publications
- “Emmett Till’s Body,” in Black and Male: Critical Voices from Behind the Racial Veil, George Yancy editor, Philosophy of Race Series, Lexington Books, forthcoming.
- “A Letter to My Kinfolk on the One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Emancipation” in Race and Pedagogy: Scholars of Color Reflect on Exploring Race in Predominantly White Classrooms, Maria del Guadalupe Davidson and George Yancy eds., Routledge, 2014.
- “Philosophical Dialogue between Africa and the Americas,” Leonard Harris, A. Todd Franklin, et al., UNESCO, 2011.
- “Schoolin’: Critical Consciousness, Black Consciousness and the Pedagogies of Transformation,” in The International Journal of Learning, Volume 17, Issue 8, pp.493-502, 2010.
- Critical Affinities: Reflections on the Convergence between Nietzsche and African American Thought, A. Todd Franklin and Jacqueline Scott, eds., SUNY Press, 2006.
- A Review of Black Bodies, White Gazes, George Yancy, in The APA Newsletter on Feminism and Philosophy, Volume 10, Issue 2, pp.20-22, 2011.
- “Unlikely Allies: Nietzsche, Locke, and Counter-Hegemonic Transformation of Consciousness,” in Philosophic Values and World Citizenship: Locke to Obama and Beyond, Jacoby Carter and Leonard Harris eds., Lexington Books, 2010.
- "Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in College Completion and Achievement: What Works and Why," David R. Harris, A. Todd Franklin, et al., Teagle Foundation, 2006.
- Critical Affinities: Reflections on the Convergence between Nietzsche and African American Thought, A. Todd Franklin and Jacqueline Scott, eds., SUNY Press, 2006.
- “Kindred Spirits: Nietzsche and Locke as Philosophical Proponents of Axiological Liberation,” in Critical Affinities: Reflections on the Convergence between Nietzsche and African American Thought, A. Todd Franklin and Jacqueline Scott, eds., SUNY Press, 2006.
- "A Review of Philosophers on Race: Critical Essays," Julie K. Ward and Tommy L. Lott eds., in Journal of Chinese Philosophy, Vol. 31, Number 1, pp.140-142, 2004.
- "The New Enlightenment: Critical Reflections on the Political Significance of Race," in The Blackwell Guide to Social and Political Philosophy, Robert Simon ed., Blackwell, 2002.
- “The Political Implications of Nietzsche’s Aristocratic Radicalism,” The Southern Journal of Philosophy Vol. XXXVII, Suppl. pp.143-150, 1999.
College Service
- Mellon Project—curriculum and advising leader, 2009-13
- Chair of the Philosophy Department, 2008-12
- Committee on Academic Policy, member, 2008-11
- Advising Taskforce, member, 2008-09
- Opportunity Programs Advisory Committee, chair, 2007-present
- Strategic Planning Executive Committee, faculty representative, 2007-09
- Hamilton Posse #4 mentor, 2004-08
- Levitt Council, member, 2007-08
- Faculty Appeals Board, member, 2007
- Special assistant to the dean of faculty, 2004-06
- Presidential Search Committee, faculty representative, 2003
- Committee on Admission and Financial Aid, member, 2002-06
- Honor Court, member, 2002-06
- Africana Studies Program Committee, member, 2001-08
- The Brothers Organization, faculty advisor, 2001-Present
- The Community Relations Board, member, 2000-01
- The College Appeals Board, member, 1999-2002
- Mellon Liberal Arts Assessment Research Group, member, 1999-2000
- Middle States Steering Committee, member, 1998-2000
- President’s Coalition on Alcohol and Other Drugs, member, 1998-99
- The Black and Latin Student Union, faculty advisor, 1997-2010
- Hamilton HEOP Summer Program, faculty member, 1997-Present
Professional Affiliations
- American Philosophical Association
- Alain Locke Society
- Caribbean Studies Association
- International Association for Philosophy and Literature
- International Nietzsche Society
- North American Nietzsche Society
- Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy
- Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy
- Society for the Study of Africana Philosophy
Appointed to the Faculty
1997Educational Background
Ph.D., Stanford University
B.A., University of Chicago
