Jasmine Tremblay D’Ettorre is a Ph.D. student in the University of Toronto’s Department of Philosophy. She is interested in moral and political philosophy, with a focus on topics at the intersections of environmental ethics, social justice, aesthetics, and feminist epistemology.
What excites you about philosophy?
Philosophy has always felt like a creative endeavor. To me, philosophy is best described as a craft, and I often envisage my own philosophical work as a metaphorical patchwork-quilting project. I find that good philosophy requires many things that a quilting activity does: stitching and repurposing old materials into something new (but familiar), that are fragmented (but unified), and creatively expressive. It also requires skill cultivation that is reflexive, concentrated, and spontaneous! Undertaking this activity, and recognizing it in others’ work, excites me most about philosophy.
What are you working on right now?
I recently finished my MA at the University of Toronto, and I am primarily taking some time to rest before school picks back up in the fall. Otherwise, I have been brainstorming ideas related to my prospective dissertation. I’m interested in how non-ideal theories of justice (particularly in the feasibility literature) can foster relational qualities for collective acts of justice, like the mitigation of climate change dangers. I’ve also been researching topics in feminist epistemology and aesthetics; particularly concerning how the aesthetics and material-social relations of spaces can perpetuate or prevent structural and interpersonal harms related to epistemic injustice.
Which books have changed your life? In what ways?
Three books come to mind: The Sovereignty of Good by Iris Murdoch, Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, and The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. I read The Sovereignty of Good in my first year of undergraduate. It was the first book I read in an academic context that got me really excited about philosophy. In particular, Murdoch’s notes on ‘unselfing,’ aesthetic appreciation, and the cultivation of moral attention profoundly resonated with me. Her work is something that I have consistently re-visited ever since. Cat’s Cradle is one of my favorite books and changed my perspective on the craft of writing in many ways. Vonnegut’s ability to blend satire and earnestness into political critique has been a great influence on my own work and fostered a great appreciation for humor in both prose and academic literature. The Phantom Tollbooth was my favorite book as a child! It was a book that helped to cultivate my philosophical sensibilities from a young age. In many ways, the book itself is a magical excursion into the realm of philosophy! I recently finished a project on the utopian function of fairy tales—specifically Novalis’ Heinrich Von Ofterdignen—where I consider the genre as a site for mythopoetic thought and illustrative imaginations for human possibility. In retrospect, I see many similarities between The Phantom Tollbooth and Heinrich Von Ofterdingen on these topics. The former is certainly next on my re-read list!
What would your childhood self say if someone told you that you would grow up to be a philosopher?
In many ways, I don’t think I would be surprised! Literature has always felt like an anchor in my life, and I wanted to be a writer from a young age. I’m happy to say that I was raised by parents who encouraged me to cultivate a love and curiosity for learning and creative expression. My father was an avid collector of books, and some of my fondest childhood memories consisted of exploring our home library: picking out philosophy, poetry, science fiction, and fantasy books for him to read to me (before I could read them myself). I remember being told that every book was an opportunity for a new adventure, even if you didn’t quite understand it the first time around. I try to take that advice into my work now.
Where is your favorite place you have ever traveled and why?
My favorite place I have ever traveled to—and lived in—is Sackville, New Brunswick. I had always lived in large cities. When I moved to Sackville, I quickly gained a new appreciation for nature, quiet contemplation, and the endearing qualities of small-community living. I spent my undergraduate years in Sackville, which is a small town of approximately 5,000 people on the border of Nova Scotia. During the school year, I spent most days studying at the bakery, which is managed by my good friend and old roommate. I always thought of it as my second living room. The town is beautiful in the summer, and I spent many days biking down to the lake—with a few stops to pet the animals at nearby farms—for kayaking and swimming with my friends. Fun fact: the central area of the town only has one set of streetlights, which Torontonians never believe when I tell them!
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.
