This series of Student Reflections is based on interviews conducted by Elyse Purcell and Sarah Horne during the APA’s 2019 Central Division Meeting in Denver, Colorado. Savannah Pearlman received her B.A. in Philosophy from Brandeis University in 2012, her M.A. in Philosophy from Tufts University in 2016, and is currently a Philosophy PhD student at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Her research highlights the intersection of epistemology, the philosophy of language, and epistemic injustice. Savannah is also a part of the APA Graduate Student Council.
What inspired you to pursue a graduate degree in philosophy?
I loved philosophy in college. When it came time to graduate, my advisor told me about how tough of a career path philosophy can be. As a result, I initially followed my other passion. I worked in graduate admissions at Emerson College managing tour guides and processing applications. After that, I joined Enrollment Services at Harvard Extension and Summer School, where I assisted students with academic advising. Despite my love for that work, I missed the intellectual stimulation of philosophical argument. I searched in vain for a philosophy class that I could take outside the hours of 9-5. When I failed to find one, I knew it was time to apply to grad school. The prospect of studying philosophy full-time was an exciting alternative to the daily grind of office life.
Which branch of philosophy do you study?
I am interested in the intersection of epistemology, ethics, political philosophy and philosophy of language. In general, I advocate for the epistemic equality of marginalized knowers in the face of systemic racism, classism, sexism, and the intersections of other axes of oppression. At the Central APA in December I presented an epistemic injustice critique of Austin’s ordinary language epistemology. My latest project, which I will be presenting on at the Pacific APA with my co-author Elizabeth Williams, is an argument for deferring to the moral testimony of individuals about their experience of harms they have suffered due to their identities as a member of marginalized group(s). I care deeply about uncovering and mitigating harmful power imbalances in philosophy broadly construed, and in epistemology more specifically.
What interests you most about this branch?
I enjoy this work the most because 1) it is very interdisciplinary and 2) it is intimately connected with practical life. To the first point, my interests overlap with law, sociology, politics, education, critical race theory, women’s and gender studies, queer theory, and disability studies. The result is many robust resources to draw from as we determine which problems might benefit from philosophical treatment. To the second point, I appreciate that this area of philosophy is not exclusively theoretical—rather, there are very real everyday harms that I believe philosophy has the tools to mitigate.
Who is your favorite philosopher and why?
I’m afraid I don’t quite have a favorite philosopher. There are just too many. I am inspired in many ways by José Medina, Kristie Dotson, and Miranda Fricker, to name a few.
What do you plan to do with your degree once you graduate? If you are choosing to do something outside of a faculty position, please explain what it is and why.
In an ideal world (where such a job were available), I would love to teach at a small liberal arts college. At IU, I’ve recently completed a Certificate in College Pedagogy, with a focus on curriculum design and inclusive pedagogy. I would love the opportunity to apply what I’ve learned in small, discussion-based courses. I particularly like teaching intro level courses, where I get to see students excited about philosophical problems for the first time. While I don’t look forward to the job market, I do look forward to making my mark in the field.
This section of the APA Blog is designed to share student reflections on APA meetings. We’d love for you to be a part of it. If you’re a student and would like to submit a reflection, contact Dr. Sabrina D. MisirHiralall at sabrinamisirhiralall@apaonline.org.
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.
