by Sabrina D. MisirHiralall
Lynne Tirrell is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Connecticut, whose research centers on language and power. She has held tenured appointments at the University of North Carolina Chapel-Hill, the University of Massachusetts in Boston, and visiting positions at Wellesley College (2004-2005) and the University of Pittsburgh (2018).
What is your favorite thing that you’ve written?
That project deepened my grasp of why it matters so much what we say to and about each other, and how language shapes social ontology. I’m grateful that it took me to Rwanda, which has been an ongoing journey of discovery for over a decade. Also, it drew on my earlier work on derogatory terms, and kicked off my new work on toxic speech. So it’s truly central to my work.
What are you working on right now?
I’m working on a book on Toxic Speech, that develops an epidemiological approach to toxic speech in its many forms. I analyze the modes of transmission, variations in susceptibility across populations, varieties of damages, and so on. This is taking me into social epidemiology, which is fascinating. I will also have to look at related issues in law. I’ve written about derogatory terms since the 1990s, but this is a new direction. I’ve never felt comfortable with thinking of these speech practices as “hate speech” because so often they aren’t born of hate, but of fear, and fear is much more contagious than hate. Often derogating practices begin quite casually, amongst members of the dominating group, and then sometimes turn into something utterly horrific, as we saw in Rwanda and as many worry we are seeing emerge in the USA and across Europe.
What’s your favorite quote?
There are many, but I come back time and again to this line from Simone de Beauvoir: “It is in the knowledge of the genuine conditions of our life that we must draw our strength to live and our reason for acting” (Ethics of Ambiguity, 1948, p.9). This claim guides me, through good times and especially through troubles. Facing the conditions of life can be very difficult, even overwhelming, especially when dealing with injustice and cruelty. Denial might work for a little while, it might even be necessary in some cases, but, ultimately, we need to face the truth about reality if we want to make a difference. And we all should aim to make a difference. It’s interesting to me that this quote is a social and political cousin of the logical and epistemic approach to discursive practices developed by my teacher, Bob Brandom, whose magnum opus is entitled Making It Explicit. The Beauvoir quote also has a Stoic slant, which I like.
What excites you about philosophy?
Once upon a time, maybe in medieval times, they said philosophy was “queen of the sciences.” Somewhere along the way, we became so focused on our own discipline (topics only a philosopher can love) that many of us lost track of the value of broader conversations. I’ve always loved philosophy for itself, but I also think it’s crucial to remember that there are many ways to be a good (even great) philosopher. So, I’m excited about the many ways I see philosophers engaged in the wider world, talking about issues of social importance, talking with the public, and talking with people working other disciplines. We have a lot to offer and we learn a great deal from these exchanges. This is true within the profession, across our many sub-disciplines, as well. It is exciting to see enriching conversations that break down walls and develop positive change.
What’s your top tip or advice for APA members reading this?
Write, rewrite, and publish. Write even when you think your work isn’t getting uptake. (That’s so hard to do.) Speak to a future audience, even if you write about the past. When I was young, one of my colleagues, a historian, who was much later in her career, told me that her department didn’t appreciate her work and gave her a hard time. She actually had her office over with us in philosophy, to escape them. Still, she just kept going, and she did her work, and the next generation of scholars came to deeply appreciate what she did. Now the university has an award named in her honor and she is a named chair. In general I don’t much care about such things, but in her case these show the esteem in which she is now held. She’s a model of perseverance and creativity. So, I am offering her advice to you, because it meant a lot to me. Writing helps us to be clearer in our own thinking, and publishing allows access to people beyond your own circle.
What’s your favorite sound in the world?
The laughter of a delighted child.
What are your top 3 films of all time? Why? To whom would you recommend them?
Too many, so these are just what springs to mind. But right now, these:
Abby Disney’s documentary, The Armor of Light (2015) has stuck with me. There are many themes within it about the power of speech, guns and violence in the USA, and much more. It features a fascinating partnership between a prominent right-wing evangelical minister, Rob Schenck, and a mom campaigning against gun violence, Lucy McBath, who is now in Congress! Schenck starts off the film denying that his speech, at anti-abortion rallies, had the power to kill but changes his tune. Abby Disney does a great job telling the story of their campaign. The film won an Emmy for “Outstanding Social Issue Documentary.”
A timely classic: Preston Sturges’s Sullivan’s Travels (1941) is another keeper. It’s got a great script, great cast, and important set of messages. Plus, it’s fun.
Finally, I wish everyone would watch The Lives of Others (2006), a German film about Stasi surveillance and so much more. It’s timely, important, and great cinema.
This section of the APA Blog is designed to get to know our fellow philosophers a little better. We’re including profiles of APA members that spotlight what captures their interest not only inside the office, but also outside of it. We’d love for you to be a part of it, so please contact us via the interview nomination form here to nominate yourself or a friend.
Dr. Sabrina D. MisirHiralall is an editor at the Blog of the APA who currently teaches philosophy, religion, and education courses solely online for Montclair State University, Three Rivers Community College, and St. John’s University.
