Laura Gurskey is a fourth-year Ph.D. student at the University of Southern California, specializing in metaethics and social & political philosophy. She currently resides just outside of LA, but will be living abroad in Cologne, Germany, next year while starting her dissertation.
What are you working on right now?
I’m currently very interested in questions pertaining to the value of cultural diversity. Most philosophers emphatically embrace the idea that cultural diversity is a good that should be preserved and promoted. I share this intuition, but it remains a bit unclear precisely why this is the case, and how the value of cultural diversity bears on other normative issues. The lack of a sufficiently developed account of this topic becomes particularly evident when attempting to solve certain complex political and social issues, such as how to weigh the preservation of cultural diversity against other competing goods. I think that increasing global cultural homogenization makes this question especially fruitful for theoretical exploration.
What topic do you think is under explored in philosophy?
I think one under-explored area concerns the potential links between metaethics and normative ethics. It seems the analytic tradition treats these two fields as conceptually distinct in such a way as to potentially miss important implications one’s second order moral commitments may have for their first order moral commitments, or vice-versa.
What do you like to do outside work?
Outside of philosophy, I like hiking, taking weekend trips to the beach, snowboarding, and weight lifting. Being situated in Southern California, there is an abundance of outdoor related activities in the region. My favorite nearby spots include Laguna Beach and Big Bear Mountain. I have also been fortunate to have great roommates throughout my time in both college and grad school, so I enjoy spending time with them whenever possible. In addition to my regular activities, I’m currently planning a wedding, which is taking up a large majority of my free time at the moment!
What books are currently on your ‘to read’ list?
Near the top of my ‘to read’ list at the moment is Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov and C. S. Lewis’s The Space Trilogy. There are a number of other classic texts that I would also like to get to eventually, but I find grad school reading generally takes up most of my reading-related capacities. Hopefully now that I have completed the coursework stage of my degree, I will find that I have a bit more free time for non-required reading.
What is your favorite holiday and why?
I would have to say that Christmas is my favorite holiday. Besides the religious significance, it is my favorite holiday because it is the one consistent time each year where my family gathers together. We’re currently spread out across the world, so it is rare to have everyone in one place. We generally gather in Michigan, where there is a great winter ambiance, and this is a nice change from seasonless Southern California.
Where is your favorite place you have ever traveled and why?
I would probably say Tuscany, Italy. One of my fellow cohort members at USC is from that area, and was kind enough to provide me with a personalized tour of Florence, Pisa, Siena, and Chianti. The combination of the food, culture, architecture, and weather makes it stand out in my mind as one of my favorite destinations. Within the United States, I would say Big Sky, Montana. That region of the United States has unparalleled natural beauty and is far less populated than some other, similar destinations.
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.
