Professor of Philosophy, University of Stellenbosch
Philosophy of Language, Philosophy of Religion, Philosophy of Culture,
Metaphysics
Willem Lodewikus van der Merwe was born on 20 October 1957.
After matriculation from the Hoërskool Dr. Malan Meyerton, Gauteng in 1975 he
studied at the University of Stellenbosch (BA 1978, BA Honours in Philosophy
1980, B.Th. 1982, MA in Philosophy 1983, Licentiate in Theology 1984, all cum
laude, and D.Phil. (Philosophy) 1990)
He established a number of accords for student exchange programmes and academic
cooperation between the department of Philosophy of the University of
Stellenbosch and a number of departments of Philosophy in the Netherlands and
Belgium.
After his studies Willie van der Merwe did duty as a chaplain (rank:
Lieutenant) in the SADF (in 1985 and in 1986) and received the Pro Patria medal
for
service on the Namibian border.
He started lecturing at Stellenbosch University
in 1987 and did research for his doctorate in Utrecht during 1989. He was
promoted senior lecturer in 1992. From June 1995 to June 1996 was Senior
Research Fellow and Visiting Professor at the Institute of Philosophy of the
Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. He was promoted professor of Philosophy
at Stellenbosch University in 1998 and served as chair of the department of
Philosophy from 2000 to 2003.
Willie van der Merwe is married to Lettie Conradie van der Merwe (née Visser).
They have a son and a daughter and live in Stellenbosch.
Academic activities:
1992-1995: Secretary of the Philosophical Society of Southern Africa / Wysgerige
Vereniging van Suider-Afrika
1997: Guest editor of the South African Journal of Philosophy for a special
issue on
"Identity, Difference and Community" (SAJP, 1997: 16/3)
1998-: Editorial cooperator of "Fragmente", a journal for Philosophy and
Cultural Critique.
1999-: Member of the advisory board of the Vienna-based journal Polylog, a
journal for Intercultural Philosophy
Books:
1990: Metafoor: 'n Filosofiese Perspektief, Bloemfontein, VCHO (Wetenskaplike
studiereeks 11), 205 pp.
Book contributions:
1994: Die taalwending in die twintigste eeuse filosofie en die vraag na 'n
'eeuwendingsgestemdheid', in Wysgerige perspektiewe op die 20ste eeu, (red.) DFM Strauss, Tekskor, Bloemfontein, 1994: 89-114.
1995: Language and literature in a postmodern culture, in Life in a Postmodern Culture, (ed. Rossouw, G.J.), HSRC Publishers, Pretoria, 1995: 173-199.
1995: Taal in Ons postmoderne wêreld, (red.) Rossouw GJ, RGN Uitgewers,
Pretoria, 1995: 53-58.
1998: African Philosophy and the contextualisation of philosophy in a
multicultural society in The promise of Multiculturalism: Education and Autonomy in the 21st Century, ed. Katsiaficas, G. and Kiros, T., Routledge, New York / London, 1998:
195-210.
"Wittgenstein's legacy and the challenge to psychology" (co-authored with
P.P.Voestermans) in Ludwig Wittgenstein. Critical Assessments of Leading Philosophers (second series) ed. Stuart
Shanker and David Kilfoyle, Routledge: London and New York, 2002:162 – 182.
"The Contextuality of Philosophy: From African Philosophy to Multiculturalism"
in Perspectives in African Philosophy, ed. Claude Sumner and Samuel Wolde
Yohannes, Addis Ababa University Press: Addis Ababa, 2002: 282 – 295.
Compilation:
Johan Degenaar: Tweede refleksie, African Sun Media, 2008
www.StellenboschWriters.com © Rosemarie Breuer