Professor Dr. Jan Westerhoff

Biography

Originally trained as a philosopher and orientalist, Jan Westerhoff's research focuses on the philosophical aspects of religious traditions from ancient India. His work concentrates on Buddhist thought, especially Madhyamaka, and involves the study of preserved Sanskrit and Tibetan sources. Westerhoff has a lively interest in Classical Indian philosophy, particularly Nyāya. His research in Buddhist philosophy covers both theoretical areas such as metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophy of language, as well as normative aspects, including ethics. He also serves as an editor for the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, specifically the Indo-Tibetan section, and contributes to the book series by Oxford University Press titled “Buddhist Philosophy Philosophers.”

Research Interests