Michael Puett

Michael Puett has transformed understanding of early Chinese thought through innovative interdisciplinary approaches spanning history, anthropology, and philosophy. After earning his PhD from the University of Chicago's Department of Anthropology in 1994, he built an extraordinary career at Harvard University, where he serves as Walter C. Klein Professor of Chinese History and Anthropology. His groundbreaking research explores relationships between religion, ritual, and philosophy in early China, demonstrated in influential works like "The Ambivalence of Creation" and "To Become a God". His General Education course "Classical Chinese Ethical and Political Theory" has become one of Harvard's most popular undergraduate courses, while his teaching excellence has earned him multiple awards including the Harvard College Professorship and Joseph R. Levenson Memorial Teaching Prize. Through his leadership roles including Chair of the Committee on the Study of Religion and Program Director of Social Anthropology, he continues to advance interdisciplinary scholarship while making Chinese philosophical traditions accessible to contemporary audiences. His achievements include election to the Royal Swedish Academy of Science and numerous visiting appointments at institutions worldwide.