The Elm Institute is a center of philosophical inquiry. Our work addresses fundamental questions about the nature of reality and about the nature of the good life.

The Institute collaborates with Yale faculty, schools, and programs to promote sustained philosophical inquiry and to foster habits of reflection that students will continue long after their formal studies are complete. 

The Elm Institute’s name honors the rich history of our home, the City of New Haven, which acquired the nickname “the Elm City” after it became the site of the first public tree planting program in the United States. Through projects like these citizens sought to beautify the city and make a lasting contribution to the quality of civic life. Our name reminds us of their efforts and encourages us to pursue our philosophical inquiries with both a sense of history and an eye toward the common good.