Dallas Havens is a Ph.D. student at Rice University, whose research primarily focuses on moral and political philosophy, but also has interests in epistemology. His current work explores issues involving blame and blameworthiness within the domains of morality, justice, and rationality.
What excites you about philosophy?
Many things. The tools that philosophy provides us with to investigate difficult issues are unparalleled; being part of a greater intellectual community that thinks through things carefully; the freedom to explore strange and weird ideas in a clear, rigorous, and principled way. What excites me most about philosophy right now is a trend within the field of making philosophy more accessible to non-academics. One example is Geoff Pynn’s creation of Wi-Phi, an online collaborative resource that teaches people how to do philosophy through short topical videos. There is also a greater sentiment I have observed amongst philosophers in recent years, a kind of genuine effort to meet the world where it’s at rather than doing philosophy from the armchair. This shift in attitude and effort is great news for the future of philosophy; it introduces young students to the field in engaging ways and challenges the view of some people who think philosophy is a waste of time.
What are you working on right now?
I’m working on a couple of projects right now which both relate in some way to ordinary blameworthiness. By ‘ordinary blameworthiness’ I just mean the kind of blameworthiness that is common to everyday life when someone does something wrong. A driver unnecessarily cutting you off, a neighbor destroying your property, or a coworker spreading false rumors about you are just a few examples. One of my projects explores the kind of norm violations that are captured by ordinary blameworthiness; it is also partly a search for some kind of common thread (if there is one) that can be found in norm violations across the domains of morality, justice, epistemology, and possibly others. I am also working on a more ambitious project (which may turn into my dissertation) that seeks to explain why wrongdoers may sometimes be blameworthy when they have not engaged in moral deliberation and, more specifically when they are not motivated to engage in moral deliberation. Working on this project has also led me to further research moral motivation and determine where I stand regarding different views of agency and intentional action. I may write a separate paper hashing out those details in the coming years.
On a more personal note, I am constantly working on my home garden which mostly involves weeding and endless watering in the Houston heat. I am also working on the more complicated task of cat-proofing my house for the two kittens that my girlfriend Sarah and I rescued earlier this year.
What is your favorite sound in the world?
The sound of silence in the desert or after freshly fallen snow would be my favorite sound in the world, but since that is primarily the absence of sound, I’m not sure that counts. So, my favorite sound in the world is rain (which also happens to be my favorite smell). I don’t mean the kind of rain that pelts my car while driving on the interstate, which makes the road hard to see and spikes my cortisol levels. It’s more a kind of gentle and steady rain that makes small tapping noises on windows and tin roofs.
What do you like to do outside work?
I think a life outside of philosophy, and more generally a life outside of work is crucial to my mental health and success as a philosopher. With that said, I pretty much enjoy anything that gets me into a completely different headspace than what I experience doing philosophy. So, I love doing most anything outdoors or things that keep my body active like hiking, climbing, or yoga. I also periodically (roughly every 5 years) take lengthy road trips which help me recharge—this summer my girlfriend and I went on a month-long road trip, camping, and hiking in a handful of National Parks. These trips also remind me how much I enjoy beds, AC, Wi-Fi, and cooking in a full-sized kitchen; they also convince me that I would never enjoy life on the road permanently.
At home, I enjoy cooking, painting, and gardening when I have the time and resources. Creating any tangible object with my own two hands gets me out of my head so I can take a proper break from philosophy and come back to my work recharged with fresh eyes and perspective.
What time of day are you most productive and creative?
I used to do my most productive reading and writing between the hours of 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., but that window of time has gradually gotten earlier over the years. Right now, it’s something like in the morning after breakfast until around 2 p.m. I have also found myself having very productive conversations at any hour of the day or night with a coffee or a cocktail in my hands. My creativity varies throughout the day, but it seems to increase as the day gets later as well as during meals with others.
What’s your poison? (Favorite drink.)
My favorite drink was an old-fashioned when I lived in the Midwest; there was nothing better than warming up next to a fire in cold weather with some whiskey. Since moving to Houston, however, my favorite has changed to a modern, lighter cocktail with bourbon, a Paper Plane, which is a spin-off of an older gin cocktail, The Last Word (also very tasty).
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.
