Later Wittgenstein
Contemporary analytic philosophy, with sustained attention to meaning, rule-following, and forms of life in Wittgenstein's later work.
Academic
Chair Professor of Philosophy
Head of the Department of Philosophy, 2016–2018. Research in later Wittgenstein, environmental ethics, and political theory.
Research interests
Philosophy in dialogue with public life
Charitha Herath's academic interests are grounded in contemporary analytical philosophy, with research focused on later Wittgenstein's philosophy and environmental ethics. His doctoral thesis, A Philosophical Analysis on the Concept of Conservation in the field of Environmental Ethics — The Case of Environmental Impact Assessments in Sri Lanka, was completed at the University of Kelaniya.
Academic record
Chair ProfessorshipProfessor of Philosophy, University of Peradeniya (from 21 June 2019)
Head of DepartmentDepartment of Philosophy, University of Peradeniya, 2016–2018
Joined facultyDepartment of Philosophy, University of Peradeniya, 1995
UndergraduateBA Philosophy with a minor in Psychology, University of Peradeniya, 1990–1994
PostgraduateSocial and Political Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
Master's DiplomaSichuan Union University, Chengdu, China, 1998
DoctorateEnvironmental Philosophy, University of Kelaniya
Fields of work
Three lines of inquiry
Environmental ethics
Doctoral research on the concept of conservation, examining Environmental Impact Assessments in Sri Lanka as a philosophical problem.
Political theory
Cultural psychology, social and political thought, democratic governance, and national security studies.
A life among books
In the stacks, gathering the texts that shape questions of meaning, ethics, and governance.