Rachel Keith is a graduate student at University of Southern California focusing on ethics and social philosophy. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her dog, riding horses, and playing The Sims.
What are you working on right now?
I have three projects I’m working on. First, I have a paper where I argue that consent comes in degrees. We should be considering how much someone consents, and whether that is enough to meet whatever the relevant threshold is for a given purpose. Second, I am working on a project exploring the harms of metaphorical uses of mental illness terms (think “She’s so bipolar!”). Lastly, I’m just now starting to think about the nature of the self. I think that the answer to “who you are” is just the set of true facts that you take to be constitutive of who you are. In this way, I’m presenting a metaphysics of the self based on values, as opposed to psychological or physical continuity.
Who is your favorite philosopher and why?
Rae Langton. Beyond the fact that she is brilliant, her writing style is so engaging and compelling. “Duty and Desolation” is easily my favorite piece of philosophy and I recommend it to everyone.
Who do you think is the most underrated philosopher?
This is probably not what you had in mind, but I think we often forget the philosophical contributions that can be found in the works of non-philosophers. For example, John Green’s “Turtles All the Way Down” is a young adult book, but it has an excellent examination of what it means to be a “self” when who you are is so influenced by the people around you and the circumstances you find yourself in. The main character in Green’s book perfectly captures the existential fear that comes with having a mental illness that is hard to differentiate from your own thoughts and I hope to be able to incorporate it into a syllabus one day!
What is your least favorite type of fruit and why?
I guess I have to say raspberries. I’m actually allergic! I’ve only ever met one other person who is allergic to raspberries, so I guess it’s fairly uncommon.
What’s your favorite quote?
“Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you’ve got a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of, babies—God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.” – Kurt Vonnegut
What’s your top tip or advice for APA members reading this?
While philosophy should absolutely influence the way you live your life, it should not be your whole life. Remember to make time for other things that are important to you.
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.
