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. Brian Hanley is a Philosophy graduate student at the University of Calgary, in Alberta, Canada. He specializes in Philosophy of Science where he assesses causal reasoning in science and engineering, specifically how engineers distinguish among and select important causal factors in order to solve complex problems.
What inspired you to pursue a graduate degree in philosophy?
My decision to pursue my graduate education had fairly simple inspirations. I loved being a philosophy student, and I wanted to be a philosophy professor. I admired my favorite philosophy professor’s knowledge, ability to explain concepts, and to lead a class. I wanted to learn to do that too. After undergrad, I worked for a year deciding what to do next. That first fall I felt something was missing. I knew I wanted to be a student again, and felt I had more to learn about philosophy. So, a year later I moved from Massachusetts to Calgary, a city I had never been to, with just a visa and a suitcase. It was a great decision.
Which branch of philosophy do you study?
I study Philosophy of Science.
What interests you most about this branch?
Two aspects of the philosophy of science seem most worth mentioning. The first is how diverse philosophical issues can intersect in interesting ways in philosophy of science. My work draws on philosophers of causation, philosophers of law, philosophers of biology, analytic metaphysicians, scientists and systems engineers, as well as the history of philosophy. This diversity keeps me curious and engaged, and gives me a sense that I have space to think through philosophical problems in creative ways. The second interesting aspect is that questions about philosophical methodology often come to forefront of discussion. My favorite examples are Reichenbach’s “three tasks of epistemology,” James Woodward’s discussion of approaches to causation in his Philosophy of Science President Address, and the work of Longino, Waters, and Kellert on “the pluralist stance.” Reminders to reflect on how philosophical analysis can and should be done are philosophically interesting and push me to be a better philosopher.
Who is your favorite philosopher and why?
I thought of this question in terms of which philosopher, other than my supervisor, has had the most influence on me. A few philosophers came to mind, but one stood out. Bill Wimsatt has profoundly shaped my understanding of philosophy, how I view knowledge, science, and the world. I got to know Bill and his work as a graduate student researcher on the From Biological Practice to Scientific Metaphysics project. I admire many things about the way Bill does philosophy. He has exceptional creative vision, a willingness and ability to rethink and reformulate philosophical problems, and a curiosity that leads him to draw insights from wide-ranging sources (from biology, to the evolution of engine designs, to old Sears catalogs). Bill is as sincerely earnest, enthusiastic, and kind as anyone I have met in philosophy or anywhere.
What do you plan to do with your degree once you graduate?
When I complete my dissertation I plan to apply for academic jobs.
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.
