A Place Where Dialogue and Research Thrive

I specialize in moral philosophy, which deals with values, norms, happiness, and the meaning of life. My particular interest lies in the (meta-philosophical) question of what it means to speak about values and norms as an academic discipline—and whether doing so is even possible. Currently, I am tackling this question by drawing on the ideas of Bernard Williams, a moral philosopher who was active in Britain at the end of the 20th century.

Day to day, I read the latest research papers and philosophical classics while preparing for academic conferences and paper submissions. In graduate seminars, I engage in wide-ranging reading from classical texts to the latest research, deepening my knowledge and philosophical thinking through discussions with faculty and fellow graduate students.

What makes this graduate school special is the opportunity to meet people from diverse backgrounds—and a research environment that allows you to make the most of those encounters. Surrounded by faculty from the Faculty of Letters and the Graduate School of Letters, visiting lecturers from other universities, and fellow graduate students, you can develop your interests from a richer and broader vantage point. In the Ethics specialty of the Department of Philosophy and Ethics, where I am enrolled, faculty and graduate students gather several times each semester for research presentations, with lively discussion of one another's work. There are also numerous research groups and reading circles run primarily by graduate students, offering opportunities not only to share knowledge but also to learn from more advanced students about research methods and the practicalities of academic writing.

In graduate school, I believe it is essential not only to deepen your own interests but also to build up experiences that open you to diverse perspectives. The Graduate School of Letters offers exactly that kind of environment. I hope you will consider it as one of your options.