When Philosophy Prof. Steve Gimbel walks into a classroom, he begins by asking his students, “Any questions—auto mechanics to quantum mechanics?” This thought-provoking prompt allows students’ minds to open in meaningful ways as they seek to understand the world around them and their place in it.
“I take my teaching philosophy from my time seeing the Grateful Dead play live,” said Gimbel. “There is a structure, but it is always open to improvisation. Let the class go; let the minds who are present steer it as it wants to go. I may have taught a number of these courses many, many times, but the key to finding insight is not to throttle them, forcing them in a particular direction, but nurture them and allow the collective mind to take it where it goes.”
A former lacrosse player at University of Maryland Baltimore County and native of Baltimore, Gimbel received both his master’s and Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University. His research explores a blend of science, philosophy, and humor with published works including “Einstein’s Jewish Science: Phyiscs at the Intersection of Politics and Religion” (2012) and “Isn’t that Clever: A Philosophy of Honor and Comedy” (2017).
Gimbel is a respected faculty scholar who often contributes his expertise to a host of journals and publications, including recent articles in the Baltimore Sun and Psychology Today. He was the recipient of the Luther W. and Bernice L. Thompson Distinguished Teaching Award at Gettysburg College in 2005 and was recently named the William Bittinger Chair of Philosophy.
Teaching at Gettysburg has given Gimbel the academic freedom to explore a range of educational opportunities and collaborate with colleagues across 23 different academic departments. His most recent book, “The Chai-Light Zone: Rod Serling, Secular Jew,” which was co-written with David DeAngelo ’23 and Jewish Studies Chair Stephen Stern, looks at the Twilight Zone created by Serling through a secular Jewish lens.
“The beauty of working at Gettysburg College is that I have colleagues who are willing to come out and play and students with the chops to be on the team,” noted Gimbel. “That sort of embrace of interdisciplinarity is the mark of Gettysburg's commitment to the liberal arts.”
By Corey Jewart
Posted: 01/20/25