Matthew Jones grew up in a rural area with an active curiosity that left him interested in the wider world. This eventually led him to choose to study philosophy and receive his B.A. in philosophy from East Stroudsburg University at age 32. As of August 2023, he will be a second-year philosophy Ph.D. Student at the University of Buffalo in Buffalo, New York, U.S.A.
What excites you about philosophy?
Philosophy is exciting because it allows for the most serious form of “fun” I’ve ever experienced. I find philosophy to require a peculiar and enjoyable sort of problem-solving, which invites the serious consideration of truly outlandish and challenging theories which are then immediately scrutinized and criticized in the most severe-yet-well-intentioned way I have encountered. This is exciting because it allows for the creation of truly incredible theories that push the boundaries of the known and acceptable while also conforming to the constraints of the “world in which we all live.”
For example, theories like David Lewis’s theory of concrete possible worlds, or Hannah Arendt’s theory of mobs and masses, I find striking, because each invites us to consider a fairly odd explanation that never-the-less accounts for/is constrained by the uniqueness of us. When such restraint is shown by philosophers it affects their theories in a particular way; they are not merely “matter of fact” (serious) in the way that my blood-pressure reading is, nor are they merely “creative” (playful) in the way that high-fantasy novels like those of R. A. Salvatore are. Rather, such theories are both. Though I think this might be captured in some other disciplines as well, some philosophies take it to the extreme. So much so, that it takes an incredible amount of energy and patience to engage with them properly, hence why a great many people find their philosophically inclined loved ones to be exhausting, yet wonderful.
In the end, I think cannot say that all those who engage with philosophy will find it to be the same. Yet, for those that do, it’s a massive idea playground.
What topic do you think is under explored in philosophy?
Metaphilosophy. I believe that metaphilosophy is the next boundary that should be pushed on with the full effort of a large segment of philosophers. The philosophers I have read and met are very intense people, who (in my opinion) honestly try to carefully assess the intricacies of whatever domain most interests them. However, I haven’t (yet) read a lot of serious examinations of what philosophers are doing when they tackle any and every question humankind can create. This may simply be a limitation of experience; I am only one year out from graduating from my undergraduate studies and five years into my introduction to the formal study of philosophy. Yet, for anyone who is a professional philosopher and is reading this, when was the last time you really asked yourself what you are doing; not why, not for what aim or outcome, but specifically what. And if it is recently, and you are of the specific status in your life to do so, have you published anything on the topic?
Doubtless, many philosophers have done so but in this case, I believe that “many” is insufficient. Philpapers.org currently has 10,411 papers under the top-level category of metaphilosophy. For comparison, it lists 109,284 under philosophy of mind and 170,903 under social and political philosophy. Even the somewhat obscure “philosophy of science, misc.” category has 12,335 entries. I recognize that the methodology of their classification may be brought into question, and further that some may say they do metaphilosophy within other works that are dedicated to other topics. My response would simply be that more people should explicitly engage with metaphilosophy. I would be fascinated and undoubtedly pleasantly surprised by what would come from the enormous talent of philosophers being brought against themselves.
What is your favorite sound in the world?
I would say my favorite sound in the world is a particular type of song (like “Fugue in G Minor”) played on the pipe organ. I consider the pipe organ the greatest instrument I’ve ever heard (honorable mention to the koto and piano) because the sound can be both heard and felt. I suppose if someone were ever able to coordinate jet engines into some type of musical composition and were able to make it so I could listen without blowing my eardrums out, I’d probably have a new favorite, but until then the organ remains at the top.
And since I’m using honorable mentions, I must give a shot out to the sound of human voices singing a cappella in massive double choirs. A wonderful example is “When David Heard” by Polyphony, conducted by Stephen Layton.
What’s your most treasured memory?
A time I was taught to be both curious and kind. I was six or seven years old on vacation with my family in Virginia Beach, Virginia. My mother and I were walking down the beach and we saw a group of people all sort of standing in a semi-circle around something. I was curious, so we both walked up to them and saw that they were all gawking at a horseshoe crab that had been stranded, upside down, just beyond the edge of the waves. It was trying desperately to turn over, legs moving restlessly, but couldn’t make it.
My mother stepped out of the group and told me to come with her. We walked over to the horseshoe crab, and my mother told me to take a closer look. The shell, the legs, the incredibly long tail; I was fascinated. She pointed out some parts she knew, we guessed at parts we didn’t know, and just generally examined such a unique, curious creature. After a minute or so she told me to pick it up, carefully and put it down right-side up facing the ocean, which I did. As it crawled off into the waves I heard some disappointed sounds behind me and I realized that we had been stared at the whole time by the small crowd of people. They all drifted off as soon as the horseshoe crab was out of sight, and my mother and I went back to our walk down the beach.
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.
Alexis LaBar has a Master’s degree in Philosophy from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Before attending West Chester, she graduated from Moravian University with a Bachelor’s in Philosophy, a minor in Global Religions, and an Ethics certificate. She is the recipient of the 2022 Claghorn Award in Philosophy, awarded by West Chester University, and the 2021 Douglas Anderson Prize in Philosophy, awarded by Moravian University. She is the Editor of the Teaching Beat and Work/Life Balance Beat.
