Chetan Cetty just completed his Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania and will be teaching at the Penn College of Liberal and Professional Studies in the Spring 2021 semester. His primary research areas are in moral and political philosophy, and Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE).
What excites you about philosophy?
That’s a tough question. If you had asked me this question ten years ago, I would have said the possibility of unearthing the truth about the most fundamental questions that confront us as humans. But I’ve become more pessimistic about finding objective truths since then. These days, I think the most exciting thing about philosophy is its ability to help us make sense of our lives and the world around us. The world is a scary place, and especially in the turbulent times we currently live, it can be hard to get a sense of clarity. Since the onset of the pandemic this past year, many of us have been forced to confront these matters in isolation. Reading and doing philosophy can be very therapeutic during such times. Relatedly, adopting a more contemplative attitude is much needed if we are to negotiate the main political and social problems facing us today. Philosophy requires a calm, dispassionate way of looking at problems, which is precisely what is lacking in contemporary political and social discourse. I think doing more philosophy can be extremely useful for ameliorating our gravest social ills.
What are you working on right now?
I’m currently working on two sets of questions. The first concerns the ethics of work. Elizabeth Anderson has recently argued that workers in most modern workplaces are treated in much the same way as citizens of communist dictatorships. She calls for greater accountability and legal protections for workers to remedy this problem. I ask if libertarians, who have often opposed such worker protections, can consistently do so given their theoretical commitments. I contend that since employers and the current employment law regime prevents workers from being able to make employment contracts on equal terms, libertarians are committed to endorsing the kinds of reforms Anderson proposes. In another project, I investigate the impact of AI on the future of work. One question of interest to me concerns how we ought to address the expected widespread loss of jobs to automation. While something like basic income would help alleviate the loss of income, the importance of productive work to self-respect raises the question as to whether other, non-remunerative approaches should also be instituted to ensure that those left jobless by automation can continue to participate in social cooperation as contributing members.
The second set of questions I’m exploring concerns the practical relevance and feasibility of highly idealistic political theories. I’m currently working on a response to Charles Mills’s objections to Rawls’s “ideal theory.” Mills argues that Rawls’s theory of justice does not apply to contemporary liberal societies such as the United States since, by his own lights, it does not apply to societies which are racist or condone slavery. I attempt to rescue Rawls’s theory from this charge by showing how, despite this country’s structural racism, core liberal ideas, such as that everyone is free and equal, can plausibly be deemed to be very much a part of American public political culture. In another paper, I expand upon work in my dissertation on the feasibility of ideal theory by showing how reform of prevailing political attitudes can enable even seemingly utopian social reform.
What is your favorite film of all time? (Or top 3). Why? To whom would you recommend them?
It’s difficult to pick just one. My three favorites are probably Ikiru, Taxi Driver, and Apocalypse Now. They all explore deeply philosophical themes that have captivated me since I was in my late teens. Ikiru is a meditative study of the point of life and work, especially in modern bureaucracies. Taxi Driver has similar existentialist overtones, but what I love in particular is how it looks at angst and alienation. Apocalypse Now has always fascinated me because of the way it delves into the central topic of the novella it’s based on (Heart of Darkness), that is, human moral corruptibility, by situating it within the context of war rather than the ivory trade (or capitalism more broadly). Interestingly, all three films are based on or inspired by famous novellas (The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Notes from the Underground influenced Ikiru and Taxi Driver respectively). I would thus recommend them to anyone who loved the novellas, or if they are interested in an unflinching examination of the themes covered by the films. Taxi Driver in particular is worth a watch for anyone who enjoyed the recent movie Joker.
What are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
I’m reading a book by Kim Ghattas called Black Wave. The book argues that three major events in the year 1979 led to the radicalization of the Middle East and have shaped its current geopolitical climate. The three events in question are the Iranian Revolution, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the siege of the Holy Mosque in Mecca by Saudi zealots. The book is a captivating read, in part because of the way it is written. It focuses on the lives and events affecting several key individuals, both famous and less well-known, and thus, reads more as a narrative than a purely non-fictional play-by-play of historical events. I would recommend it to anyone interested in geopolitics who wants to gain a better understanding of how a few disparate events ended up radically altering the social and political landscape of a region.
What would your childhood self say if someone told you that you would grow up to be a philosopher?
Good question. I would not know what a “philosopher” was since it’s not a profession or career choice that children hear about, especially not those who come from pretty conventional South Asian households like I did. After learning what a philosopher does, I would probably be surprised and a little skeptical of the idea that society would be willing to pay someone just for expressing deep thoughts! That said, I did have a disposition to ask philosophical questions from a young age, often driving my parents crazy as a result, so learning this would have made me feel more optimistic about my future.
What’s your favorite quote?
“Progress is not an illusion, it happens, but it is slow and invariably disappointing” – George Orwell.
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.
