Philosophy Research Student Profiles
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PhD Students
Kasper Christensen
Thesis Title: 'A Natural History of Necessity.' Supervisors: Ed Mares, Max Cresswell and Adriane Rini (Massey)
So far the main focus of my PhD has been on the concept of logical consequence, where I have been asking sneaky questions about the origin (if such there is) of the modal component that we normally understand to be a part of the logical consequence relation.
Before coming to New Zealand I was living in The Netherlands where I obtained my MSc in Logic at the Institute for Logic, Language, and Computation at the University of Amsterdam. Before that I was living in Denmark, which is, by the way, my home country, where I studied at the University of Aarhus to obtain my BA in Philosophy with a minor in Mathematics.
My areas of interest are mainly: Philosophy of Logic, Philosophical Logic, Metaphysics, and Philosophy of Language.
If ever I am not found in my office (it happens!), you can probably find me at home, relaxing with my flatmates, or somewhere exploring the awesomeness of the city of Wellington.
Chiara Ferrario
Thesis Title: 'Evolutionary significance of imitation and social learning in hominid lineage'. Supervisors: Richard Joyce and Kim Sterelny
Anton Killin
Thesis Title: 'Understanding Music: Ontology and Causation'. Supervisors: Stuart Brock and Kim Sterelny
The main research area of my PhD lies at the intersection of music, metaphysics, and cognition and evolution. In my thesis I investigate ontology of musical works and I develop and motivate a fictionalist framework for ordinary discourse about musical works and musical practices; I also look at evolutionary explanations for the emergence of musical practices and shared systems of representation of music. My research also dabbles in philosophy of language, mind and cognition, aesthetics, ethnomusicology, and philosophical methodology.
Before completing my BA (Hons) in Philosophy at VUW, I completed an MMus in Composition at the New Zealand School of Music; my supervisors were Associate Professor Jack Body and Michael Norris. My MMus thesis is entitled 'Projects in Cross-Cultural Composition' and it is accompanied by a portfolio of new compositions. I continue to be a practicing musician - I am a SOUNZ represented composer, a core member and co-director of SMP Ensemble, and a member of three Wellington-based gamelan ensembles. In 2010 and 2011 I co-convened the 29th and 30th Composers Association of New Zealand Nelson Composers Workshops. I also play in alternative and experimental bands.
Agata Orlowicz
Thesis Title: 'Wittgenstein on Scepticism'. Supervisors: Ed Mares and Cei Maslen
Steven Riley
Thesis Title: 'The Moral Status of Treaties'. Supervisors: Simon Keller and Ramon Das.
My main areas of interest are Political Philosophy and Ethics. I am also interested in Critical Theory, especially the work of the Frankfurt School and their successors. My MA thesis was on ethno-cultural pluralism and fairness requirements in the liberal democratic state.
I have been in New Zealand for a few years having relocated from the UK with my partner, Laura, who is from New Zealand. As there are still lots of places I have yet to visit in New Zealand, I am fortunate to be able to combine my enjoyment of travel to new places with a drastically reduced income. Other than travel and political philosophy I enjoy watching cricket and participating in a range of other bourgeois pursuits.
Shri Kumar Sharma
Thesis Title: 'Causation and Knowledge: A comparative study looking at western and Indian (Nyaya) concepts'. My supervisors are Jay Shaw and Cei Maslen.
Shri also works as a Physics and Chemistry teacher.
Emma Wood
Thesis Title: 'Rethinking moral objectivity'. Supervisors: Richard Joyce and Simon Keller
Recently Submitted PhD Theses
Matt Boyd
Thesis Title: 'As We Build our World We Build our Minds: The Casual Role of Technology in the Development and Evolutions of Human Psychological Traits'. Supervisors: Kim Sterelny and Ben Jeffares.
Matt now works as a Research Fellow at Auckland University's Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. He also has a PhD in the philosophy of developmental psychology entitled 'Culture's Chisel of Agency'.
David Gilbert
Thesis Title: 'A Two-Dimensional Approach to Modal Logics Containing an Actuality Operator'. Supervisors: Ed Mares and Rob Goldblatt (Mathematics)
My primary academic interests lie in the field of logic. I particularly enjoy thinking about, and working with, modal logics. For me, this involves considering philosophical issues (those arising in the area often referred to as the 'metaphysics of modality', for example) as well as mathematical ones. My PhD was concerned with quantification in modal logic.
When I am not in my office, I can most often be found at the beach or playing basketball.
Dan Weijers
Thesis Title: 'Hedonism and Happiness in Theory and Practice'. Supervisors: Nick Agar and Ramon Das.
Current Position: I am currently a postdoctoral research fellow at Victoria University of Wellington and I do some teaching for the Philosophy Programme.
Research interests: Mainly interdisciplinary research on happiness and wellbeing. Also a wide variety of topics in analytic philosophy, notably including: the Experience Machine thought experiment, Wellbeing, Hedonism, Happiness, Normative Ethics, Moral Psychology, Experimental Philosophy, Philosophy of Psychology, Political Philosophy, Public Policy, Applied Ethics, Climate justice, Bioethics, Neuroethics, Philosophy of Economics, Business Ethics, Metaphysics, and Prediction Markets.
Current Academic Roles:
- Founding co-editor of the International Journal of Wellbeing.
- Member of the editorial review board for the International Journal of Technoethics.
- Peer-reviewer for Ethical Theory and Moral Practice and Philosophical Frontiers.
- Official collaborator in the International Wellbeing Study (Philosophy cohort).
PhD Topic: My PhD thesis examines various topics at the intersection of happiness and philosophy. Most chapters are interdisciplinary, drawing on insights from psychology, economics and other disciplines. A chapter outline follows:
Section 1:
- Chapter 1: Hedonism: An Encyclopaedic Overview
- Chapter 2: The Experience Machine Objection to Hedonism
- Chapter 3: The Case for Status Quo Bias in Experience Machine Scenarios
- Chapter 4: We can Test the Experience Machine
- Chapter 5: Reducing Status Quo Bias and Other Confounding Factors from Experience Machine Scenarios
Section 2:
- Chapter 6: Theories of the Meaning of Life: Optimistic Naturalism and Infinite Happiness
- Chapter 7: Happiness and Climate Change: How Should the Responsibilities of Adaptation and Mitigation be Shared?
- Postscript for Policymakers: The Science of Happiness for Policymakers
More Information: Much more information, including my publications, teaching experience, and wellbeing links page can be found on my personal (regularly updated) website.
Master of Arts Students
Terence Davidson
Thesis Title: 'Should Oscar Pistorius be allowed to compete at the Olympic Games?'. Supervisor: Nick Agar
South African 400m runner Oscar Pistorius is the first double-below-the-knee amputee to compete in an athletics event at the Olympics. Pistorius runs on a pair of J-shaped carbon fibre blades, and holds multiple Paralympic world records. My thesis examines issues of unfair advantage, positive discrimination, and how we define sports. My argument is that his eligibility to compete hinges on whether or not what he does can be considered running, and whether he upsets the balance of excellences on display in 400m running.
I'm currently writing my Masters Thesis after doing all my undergrad at Vic. My areas of interests are the philosophy of sport and the ethics of human enhancement. I write a sports ethics blog.
Jenny Gosnell
Supervisor: Richard Joyce
Katie Hamilton
Thesis Title: 'Experimental Philosophy and the Philosophy of Language'. Supervisors: Stuart Brock and Marc Wilson (Psychology)
Mai-Tal Kennedy
Thesis Title: 'Copyright and the functions of Art'. Supervisor: Sondra Bacharach
Udayan Mukherjee
Thesis Title: 'The Evolution of Normative Reasons'. Supervisor: Richard Joyce
Recently Submitted MA Theses
Robin Aldridge Sutton
Thesis Title: 'Experimental Philosophy on the Compatibility of Free Will and Determinism'. Supervisor: Ken Perszyk
Robin is now an English teacher in a language academy in Daegu, South Korea.
Liina Bårdsen
Thesis Title: 'A Theory of Human Flourishing for Company Decision-making'. Supervisor: Simon Keller
“An MA by thesis is a wonderful opportunity to bring together study, work and life experiences in one reflective piece of work.”
After completing a BA(Hons) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford, Liina worked in management consultancy, business strategy and international education. These jobs caused her to wonder about the subdued role of ethical considerations in economic decision-making. When an opportunity emerged to examine this topic academically at Victoria, Liina decided it was time to step out of the world of work for a period and bring together the first eight years of her career.
In her MA in Philosophy Liina has developed a suggestion, rooted in virtue ethics, for what human well-being could consist of. She further argues why and how well-being could become a worthy goal for business organisations. Case studies with innovative Wellington-based companies have been an exciting addition to her theoretical work.
A native of Finland, Liina sees New Zealand, Wellington and Victoria as an ideal study environment. The great outdoors, a vibrant city and a lively, open-minded yet rigorous university community stimulate new thoughts.
Joseph Bradley
Thesis Title: 'Aquinas and the Trinity'. Supervisor: Ken Perszyk
Daniel Burkett
Thesis Title: 'Time-travellers shouldn't believe in presentism'. Supervisor: Simon Keller
Martin Gray
Thesis Title: 'Cave Art and the Evolution of the Human Mind'. Supervisors: Kim Sterelny and Nick Agar
Michael Hemmingsen
Thesis Title: 'Post-Modern Cosmopolitanism and Discourse Ethics'. Supervisors: Jay Shaw and Kate Schick
Ewan Kingston
Thesis Title: 'The Just Allocation of Climate Change Burdens'. Supervisor: Ramon Das
Gareth Leniston-Lee
Thesis Title: 'On the Compatibility of Determinism and Future Contingency'. Supervisor: Max Cresswell
Justin Ngai
Thesis Title: 'Abstract Objects in the Casual Order'. Supervisor: Stuart Brock
Kim Shaw-Williams
Thesis Title: 'The relevance of track-way reading (TWR) to the evolution of human cognition culture and language'. Supervisors: Kim Sterelny and Ben Jeffares
Kim is now a PhD Candidate at ANU.
Brendan Vize
Thesis Title: 'Do androids dream of electric shocks? The possibility of rights for machines'. Supervisor: Nick Agar
Brendan is now a PhD Candidate at Monash University.
Piripi Whaanga
Thesis Title: 'Maori values give Aotearoan flavour to bicultural harmony'. Supervisor Jay Shaw