W L van der Merwe

12 Du Toistreet
Stellenbosch 7600
South Africa

Tel: 8082056(o)  8864475(h)

Author of Philosophical Publications

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 awards and bursaries:

1976-1978: Academic merit awards, US
1980: Harry Crossley Bursary for Master students, US
Merit awards for best student, US in 1981 and 1982
1983: Abe Bailey Bursary for best Master student of the faculty, US (not taken because of Military service )
1989, 1995: Human Sciences Research Council Awards for research abroad
1995-1996: Senior Research Fellowship, Institute of Philosophy, Catholic University of Leuven
1997: Rector's award for excellence in teaching, US
1998: Vice-chancellor's award for excellence in teaching
1989:Harry Crossley Bursary for doctoral studies, US
Beurs van die "Stichting Studiefonds voor Zuid Afrikaanse Studenten" for doctoral research at the Rijksuniversiteit van Utrecht, Nederland
RGN Bursary for studies and research abroad
1990-94: Merit awards, US
1995: SWO award for post-doctoral research abroad
Harry Crossley Bursary for research abroad, US
Toekenning uit die Fonds vir Oorsese Studieverlof, US
1995-96: Senior Navorsingsgenootskap van die Hoger Instituut voor Wijsbegeerte (HIW), Katholieke Universiteit van Leuven (KULeuven), België
1999-2000: Navorsingsprogramtoekenning, US
2000: Besoekende navorsingsgenootskap (4 maande), KULeuven, België

Membership of academic societies:
Philosophical Society of Southern Africa
Österreichische Ludwig Wittgenstein Gesellschaft
American Academy of Religion
Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy (SPEP)
International Society of Phenomenology and the Human Sciences
Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns

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

Publications:
Published on Wittgenstein, Husserl, Ricoeur, Levinas en Taylor
Six chapters in books
Poems in university and literary magazines

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


Text supplied by Willie van der Merwe, January 2002

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