News
Jan van der Stoep appointed endowed professor Christian Philosophy
The executive board of Wageningen University & Research has consented to the appointment of Dr ir. Jan van der Stoep as endowed professor of Christian Philosophy. The Stichting voor Christelijke Filosofie (Foundation for Christian Philosophy) will fund this professorship. Van de Stoep succeeds Prof.dr ir. Henk Jochemsen, who retired in 2018.
Van der Stoep has been connected to Wageningen since his studies.
I studied Biology in Wageningen but became increasingly interested in sustainable development issues. Through the courses of Egbert Schuurman, who was an endowed professor Reformative Philosophy in Wageningen at the time, I came into contact with the Christian philosophy. His lectures were a major stimulus for me to begin studying philosophy.
Ethics of food and agriculture
In Wageningen, prof. Van der Stoep will focus on ethics in food and agriculture. “There are many ethical and philosophical aspects to our relationship with food. Consider, for example, how the treatment of animals is addressed in different religions. Furthermore, food is relevant to international relations. How do we share food fairly on a global scale? And, should we focus on locally produced food or not? These are issues I want to address while teaching in Wageningen.”
Professor Van der Stoep’s endowed chair is embedded in the Philosophy chair group led by prof. Marcel Verweij. Van der Stoep will also partake in the Wageningen Platform for Faith-based Philosophy. This platform aims to facilitate a dialogue between different faiths, by such means as a collective course. This course will also offer room for non-western movements such as African and Confucian philosophy.
In addition to his position as professor, Jan van der Stoep will continue to teach at the Christelijke Hogeschool Ede, where he manages the lectorate Passion and Professionality and the lectorate Journalism and Communication.
Jan van der Stoep’s career
Dr ir. Jan van der Stoep (Barendrecht, 1968) studied biology at Wageningen University & Research and philosophy at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. In 2005 he obtained his PhD based on his thesis ‘Pierre Bourdieu and the political philosophy of multiculturalism.’
(Kok, Kampen). He has published on topics such as philosophy of technology, normative professionalism, media and religion, corporate identity and journalism. In addition to his professional work, he is chairman of the ChristenUnie’s Scientific Institute and A Rocha Nederland, a Christian nature conservation movement.