Rich Eva, PhD
Department of Philosophy
Spring 2024 Winner
Rich Eva’s teaching philosophy is grounded in the belief that every student deserves a flourishing life, achieved through the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty. He emphasizes the cultivation of virtues, which are character excellences that promote flourishing. His teaching focuses on three main goals: Intellectual Humility, Wonder, and Integrity.
Rich encourages students to set aside self-concerned questions and openly question their own views while charitably assessing others’ perspectives. Students are encouraged to dissect complex texts, defend contrary viewpoints, and explore the nuances of different theories. He highlights diverse voices, including marginalized perspectives, to foster a comprehensive understanding. By modeling passionate engagement with philosophical questions, Rich aims to inspire a sense of wonder in his students. He creates space for students to explore ideas and change their minds, showing interest in their views and lives to make even the quietest students feel seen.
Rich believes that students should not only articulate philosophical perspectives but also live them out. He incorporates prompts that require external engagement, such as initiating political conversations or designing personal disciplines for interacting with digital devices. Overall, Rich’s classroom is an inclusive space where students gain logical skills and philosophical knowledge while cultivating virtues that incline them to seek and attain what is true, good, and beautiful.
What Students Say
Mr. Rich Eva is an excellent instructor because he cultivates rapport within the class and between himself and the students which is essential to learning effectively in a philosophy class. Before diving into very controversial topics, Mr. Rich made it very clear that we were to be polite and civil towards one another. There was never a moment in class where I felt judged by either my fellow peers or my instructor. This was largely due to the fact that Mr. Rich had created a healthy class environment.