Dr David Leech

My research weaves together strands from the history of English-language philosophy of religion – in particular, the role of affective knowing (the ‘heart’) in Cambridge Platonism –  the psychology and religion interface, and contemporary philosophy of religion. More broadly, I am interested in Christian Platonism, the religion/psychology interface, religious experience, atheism/agnosticism, and critiques of philosophical naturalism. My current research on the religious heart focusses on affective religious knowing as a sui generis kind of religious cognition. I am currently Secretary of the British Society for the Philosophy of Religion.

Teaching information

My teaching, which builds on my research interests, addresses philosophical questions arising from the Abrahamic traditions of Christianity, Islam and Judaism, as well as non-theistic traditions such as Buddhism, and atheistic/agnostic positions.

Research Supervision

I welcome enquiries from students wishing to pursue research in the areas of affective religious knowing (the 'heart'), philosophy of religion and the history of philosophy of religion, the religion/psychology interface, philosophical atheism/agnosticism, Christian Platonism, and critiques of philosophical naturalism.