Damian Fisher is a Ph.D student in the philosophy department at the University of Kansas. His primary research interests are: philosophy of mind and metaphysics, and 19th-20th century European philosophy (esp. Nietzsche and phenomenology). He received his B.A in Philosophy and English from the University of Missouri—Kansas City in 2018.
What excites you about philosophy?
Problems related to consciousness and self-consciousness I find fascinating, especially when they intersect with emotions and indexicals like ‘I,’ ‘you,’ and ‘we.’ In part because it’s a hard problem, but also because it’s the most common thing to so many entities yet investigating its structure and its phenomenal content is confusingly difficult and highlights various complexities about our day to day lives.
What are you working on right now?
Though I’m still completing coursework, I’ve been working on the paradox of emotional responses to fiction: how it is we can have emotions about Harry Potter since Harry Potter is nonexistent and how we can refer to said object. There is a huge amount of literature on this problem and at frequent points certain arguments deny the empirical existence of the object to resolve the paradox, but then mention the metaphysical essence or existence of the object. My account draws on Alexius Meinong’s ontology and certain (contentious) rules of ‘I’-uses to argue the paradox of fiction is about the emotional properties of an object rather than the nonexistence of the object. This, I think, is linked to the fittingness or unfittingness of our emotions about such objects. One version of my argument is in ASAGE’s 2021 Fall/Winter Issue.
What topic do you think is under explored in philosophy?
One topic that I think is under explored in philosophy is philosophical anthropology and anthropologically informed philosophy generally. Specifically, what philosophy may learn from anthropological research and how said research may improve our thinking or change our approach to certain philosophical issues. For example, the fittingness or unfittingness and instrumental value of emotions vary widely depending on social organization. This point, however, seems to be underappreciated in some of our normative assumptions and theories. I believe some are currently working towards better integrating this and I’m excited to see how, if at all, this work might help with issues in social and political philosophy, ethics and moral psychology, and the philosophy of mind.
What is your favorite sound in the world?
Anything written by Ten Grand, Pygmy Lush, or Jason Molina are my favorite sounds.
What do you like to do outside work?
Beyond catching up with family and friends, outside of work I enjoy music, whether playing instruments, listening to music, or (now) attending live music events. Similarly, I enjoy reading and writing fiction and poetry. I’ve been in various musical projects through the years and tend to try and combine as many creative approaches in those contexts as I can. Outside of that context, I enjoy creative writing. Both for keeping a general writing habit and for thinking through certain philosophical ideas. I’ve been lucky to publish some of these in small publishing houses.
What books are currently on your ‘to read’ list?
My summer reading list so far is:
Elizabeth Schechter’s “Self-Consciousness and ‘Split’ Brains: The Minds’ I”
David Graeber and David Wengrow’s “The Dawn of Everything”
Leonard Cohen’s “Let Us Compare Mythologies”
Ludwig Wittgenstein’s “Zettel”
What would your childhood self say if someone told you that you would grow up to be a philosopher?
I didn’t know what philosophers were until high school, so I think my elementary school self would be fairly surprised that I didn’t stick to the various paths I had initially thought of pursuing. Some highlights from my elementary school career aspirations: blacksmith, Egyptologist—fluent in Old Egyptian, a doctor, a paintless dent repair person, or a science fiction author or poet. An eclectic mix of career paths, maybe in another world I’m doing one of these.
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.
