Lucia is a third-year Ph.D. candidate in philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. Prior to Notre Dame, she studied philosophy at the City University of New York. Her primary research interests are (but are not limited to) in epistemology broadly construed.
What are you currently working on?
Currently, I am working on a project on the intersection between epistemology and social ontology. The project relates to the problem of fictionalism about social entities. I consider what sort of attitudes and beliefs we have when we talk about social objects like institutions or marriages, but also gender, race, or disability. There has been some substantial philosophical work done regarding the similar problem about the existence of numbers (and, for example, on mathematical fictionalism or conventionalism) but not that much has been written on the nature of social objects. I wonder whether we should be anti-realist about objects such as social constructions, or whether we should take them to be true. For example, it so not clear whether expressions such as S is married to P, or S is a woman, can be true outside or only within a context of fictional discourse. I argue that we should be realists about these objects and that our beliefs about social objects can be true or false.
I also work on the project about norms of rationality, especially when it comes to cases when evidentialist norms are possibly in conflict with other principles of rationality, such as with the enkratic principle that tells us that we are rationally required to intend to do x we believe that we ought to do x.
What excites you about philosophy?
I think that what excites me about philosophy is that philosophy is the place where people figure out what can be rationally known about all sorts of matters, whether it is aspects of culture, formal reasoning, and about many other aspects of our life. What also excites me is the thrill of problem-solving – and one never runs out of problems in philosophy! I find it deeply rewarding to gain a new understanding of something and often realize errors in my own thinking. The world around us is complicated, and it is not that easy to figure out what is right or what is wrong, or what is true or false. Philosophy is that place to make at least some conceptual progress when it comes to these questions. Also, what excites me is the teaching aspect of philosophy. I enjoy discussions with students, and I learn something new from each one of them. I find this mutual contribution to each other’s philosophical development deeply satisfying.
What are your reading now?
I am currently re-reading a book called On Beauty by Zadie Smith. The story touches on issues surrounding academia, love, politics, adolescence, and race. It is a brilliant portrayal of family and academic life. I would highly recommend it to everyone. I am also reading Adam Bede, which I believe is George Eliot’s first novel. It’s a story about the love story between four characters and a depiction of a human microcosm in rural England in the 19th century.
What time of day are you most productive and creative?
I am a night owl and I usually work late at night, with a strong cup of tea or coffee.
What topic do you think is under explored in philosophy?
Philosophy of education. This field still seems to be on the outskirts of contemporary philosophy. There are many relevant questions that pedagogy does not consider, such as what should be the aims of education, how is technology changing our critical thinking, what are political aims of education and I think philosophers should say more about it. Especially when it comes to the philosophy of higher education, the questions about the costs of upward mobility, influence on the development of our personal identities, and the role of universities in social justice, I think, deserve more attention from philosophers.
What is your favorite quote?
This quote from Flowers of Algernon by Daniel Keyes stuck with me:
Intelligence is one of the greatest human gifts. But all too often a search for knowledge drives out the search for love. This is something else I’ve discovered for myself very recently. I present it to you as a hypothesis: Intelligence without the ability to give and receive affection leads to mental and moral breakdown, to neurosis, and possibly even psychosis. And I say that the mind absorbed in and involved in itself as a self-centered end, to the exclusion of human relationships, can only lead to violence and pain.
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.
