Edward Halper works on the classical problems of metaphysics: what is, what does it mean to be, are all things one or many, what is the nature of mathematical entities, is there a first principle of all things? Much of his published work is on Aristotle, but he has also published quite a bit on Plato and on Hegel, along with papers on Spinoza, Nietzsche, Maimonides, and Jewish philosophy. 

Over the past few years, he has gotten interested in the ontological status of the entities treated in ethics and political philosophy: virtue, happiness, the state, friendships, families, and so forth.  One ongoing project concerns the nature of families and other relationships.  Halper loves philosophy intensely, and he appreciates the opportunity to teach it and to talk about it.  Indeed, he sometimes wonders why he gets paid for doing what he does--some of his students may, perhaps, wonder as well.

Whenever possible, he tries to teach courses he has never taught before, and he almost never teaches a course the same way twice.  He enjoys finding philosophical ideas in aspects of popular culture and, accordingly, regularly teaches a freshman seminar on film and philosophy.