Elisabeth H
- Research Program Mentor
MA at Brandeis University
Expertise
Ethics, Epistemology, Aesthetics, Philosophy of Mind, History (American Civics, Government, Political Theory), Communications, Writing for Broadcast, Journalism, Video Art, Video Production, Creative Writing
Bio
I have a Master's degree in philosophy and a bachelor's in philosophy and government. My primary philosophical interests are in metaethics, philosophy of action, epistemology, and moral responsibility. I like considering questions about why we have reasons to act, how we are influenced to hold different beliefs and reasons, and in what ways we are responsible for our actions if we do not have perfect knowledge of all of our beliefs and reasons (ex. cases of brainwashing, implicit bias, and cultural beliefs). I am also interested in a variety of ethics-adjacent topics like the intersection of art and morality, sympathy, moral correction/adapting values, and how we identify other people's reasons. When I'm not studying philosophy, I love going on hikes and long walks or reading fantasy, science fiction, and memoirs. I like to relax by watching house renovation and restoration videos while crocheting. Cooking is one of my favorite creative outlets and I love trying new recipes, especially when I use ingredients that I've grown! I hope to be a dog owner someday, but in the meantime, I love playing with my family's 4 dogs.Project ideas
Monuments, Morality, and Memory: Exploring the Intersections of Ethics and Aesthetics
This project explores how monuments (or other kinds of public art) preserve important historical events and considers the ethical implications of that preservation. First, we’ll explore how a physical object like a carved stone represents historical moments and moral values. We’ll ask questions about where ‘the ethical’ is located in a physical object and in what ways the ‘meaning’ of a physical object can change over time. We’ll explore who determines the ‘meaning’ of an art piece and its interpretation. How much should we weigh the artist’s intention, the values held by the community at the time of the monument’s creation, or the community in which the monument exists at present when considering what virtues or meaning a monument represents? Finally, we will explore what to do about monuments that might be unethical or no longer representative of the values a community currently hold, whether that be moving the monument, destroying the monument, erecting a plaque, or leaving it alone.
Doing vs. Allowing Harm and the Right to Bear Arms
This project evaluates the philosophical distinction between doing and allowing harm regarding gun ownership in the United States. We’ll consider how examples in the doing vs. allowing harm philosophical canon might apply to this question, and whether the outcomes of those hypothetical cases are reasonable. We will also explore whether the doing vs. allowing distinction is better applied to individual people, or large institutions (such as the U.S. Government). Finally we’ll explore what other outcomes and initiatives could help to bring clarity to the gun rights debate.
Ethics and Animal Rights
This project will dive into the philosophical literature on ethics in animal rights and protection. We will read philosophers like Peter Singer, Tom Regan, and Mary Midgley who argue in favor of animal rights (though for different reasons). We will also explore philosophers who argue against animal rights, such as R.G. Frey. The material for this project can be adapted to lean more theoretical, or look at specific questions about ethical implications of biology and the ability to feel pain, likeness to human beings, or another topic of interest in the animal rights literature.
