Daniel F
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at Stanford University
Expertise
Philosophy
Bio
I'm a 4th-year PhD student in the Philosophy department at Stanford University. I've always been interested in traditional philosophical questions especially about skepticism of various sorts. I've recently become more interested in the myriad forms of cooperation we engage in, as well as norms and practices that structure our communities for collaboration, inquiry, and deliberation. When I'm not thinking about how to make sure I'm not in the Matrix, I really enjoy opera, Chelsea F.C., and traveling with my fiance! I am really excited to mentor at Polygence because I know how important philosophy has been in my own life, and how much I benefitted from mentors in my own life. To hopefully help cultivate and foster the philosophical interests of students in this kind of setting would be a great way of paying forward the incredible intellectual privileges I've enjoyed!Project ideas
Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.
Norms of Cooperation: Politics and Science
Much of American society holds scientific practice and debate as the gold standard for objective and successful cooperation. By contrast, American political life is considered an abject failure: divisive, polarized, and gridlocked. What explains this discrepancy and is it accurate? Are the motivations of scientists or their subject matter what accounts for their comparative success? Are structural features of scientific practice or its norms responsible for this percieved discrepancy? What can the political sphere learn from scientific practice?
Languages I know
HungarianTeaching experience
I have taught students in both classroom settings and 1-1 at a number of different institutions including Stanford University and Brandeis University. My aim as a teacher is to transmit the excitement and enthusiasm I have for philosophy, to convey the interesting and deep puzzles of the subject while also helping foster the analytical skills necessary to make genuine progress in this field (and many others). I am keenly attentive to the development of skills which, while incredibly useful in philosophical inquiry, are of broader utility: critical thinking, analytic writing, conceptual modeling, and creativity among them.Credentials
Education
Johns Hopkins University
BA Bachelor of Arts (2017)
PhilosophyBrandeis University
MA Master of Arts (2019)
PhilosophyStanford University
PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate
Epistemology, Philosophy of Action, Social Philosophy, Practical Reason