Alessandra Buccella finished her PhD at the University of Pittsburgh in April 2020 and is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor at Wesleyan University. Her main research focus is the philosophy of perception, and her broader interests encompass 20th century phenomenology, philosophy of science, feminist philosophy, and philosophy of sport.
What excites you about philosophy?
The fact that it allows you to think in a structured and intellectually challenging way about anything that interests you. Reading or writing a good piece of philosophy, especially about an “unusual” topic, is an incredibly fulfilling experience.
What are you working on right now?
I have been working with my former PhD advisor Mazviita Chirimuuta on a book chapter in which we discuss the similarities between the visual quality of gloss and the auditory quality of timbre. I also have quite a few projects lined up, including a paper on the epistemology of basketball officiating and possibly a book project on perception, agency, and playfulness. At the moment, though, I am mostly working on job applications and teaching my classes here at Wesleyan.
What is your favorite sound in the world?
Not surprisingly for those who know me, the swish sound of a basketball going into the net.
What three things are on your bucket list that you’ve not yet accomplished?
1) Skiing in Vermont or Colorado, 2) Teaching a philosophy course entirely based on basketball, 3) Having a conversation with a sports or music celebrity.
What is your favorite book of all time? Why? To whom would you recommend it?
“The Idiot” by Fyodor Dostoevsky. I just love the combination of irony and tragedy with which the whole story is narrated, and the main character has fascinated me since I was a teenager. I have often struggled with balancing my natural tendency to be generous and kind and the need to not be taken advantage of: that book taught me a lot about being a ‘good’ person in a ‘not-so-good’ world. I would recommend it to everyone who likes to think about what makes a person ‘good’ and why.
What are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
I am currently reading The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin. It’s a classic, it’s beautifully written, and incredibly relevant today.
What would your childhood self say if someone told you that you would grow up to be a philosopher?
They would not be surprised, although maybe a bit disappointed for not ending up a professional basketball player.
What’s your most treasured memory?
Any moment spent with my maternal grandmother. We had a very special bond. She passed away last January and I think about her every day.
Who is your favorite philosopher and why?
Ruth Millikan. She is a philosophical giant who doesn’t get nearly as much credit as she deserves. Her groundbreaking ideas and her rigorous way of articulating them are a huge part of why I got interested in philosophy of perception and stuck to it. I had the privilege to meet her once, and now that I live in Connecticut, I certainly hope to get another opportunity, COVID permitting.
What cause or charity do you care about most?
It is hard to pick only one, especially in these times. Since the 2016 election, I have tried to donate money, time, and mental energy to a variety of causes: from women and LGBTQ+ rights to racial equality, from the abolition of cash bail to climate change. However, if I had to choose the causes that I feel most strongly about here and now, they would be universal healthcare and police/criminal justice reform.
What’s your top tip or advice for APA members reading this?
More than a tip or advice, this is a call to action. Academia and academic philosophy are going to face unprecedented challenges in the coming months and years. Just like there have been demands of systemic change in other areas of society, I would love to see philosophers come together and work to change the many problematic aspects of our profession. For instance, I think it’s time for a serious and honest reflection on the limitations of the current peer review and publishing system, on the lack of diversity in many philosophy departments, and on the often poor working conditions of graduate students in not-top-ranked schools.
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.
