Where are you from?
I am from New York City, but I was raised in Portland, Oregon.
What drew you to philosophy, mathematics, and computer science as your fields of study?
For all my life, I’ve been inquisitive and involved in a constant search for answers and meaning. As I’ve grown older, I have accumulated a set of questions that either (a) have no answer, (b) have answers that aren’t sufficient, or (c) are frequently overlooked in most fields. These are questions like: “Why does anything exist rather than nothing?”, “Is there a moral order to the universe?”, or “In a world of facts, how can one derive values?”. In my personal, pre-philosophy student life, I explored these various topics by reading writers and philosophers like Fyodor Dostoevsky, Plato, and Aldous Huxley.
During all this, though, I was a declared computer science student. Eventually, my personal studies and questions overtook enough of my computer science life to where I really had no choice but to fully commit myself to studying philosophy.
However, the real turning point was when I attended a talk by philosophers Dr. Cornel West and Dr. Robert George hosted here at Oregon State. I came into the talk already considering a way into philosophy, and I walked out more sure than ever about my future.
As for my study of mathematics, I simply find that considering a problem in philosophy class uses the same skills as solving a problem or doing a proof in math class. Both philosophy and mathematics enrich each other greatly and, as we see from history, many of the most famous philosophers were also mathematicians (Descartes and Leibniz, to name a couple).
What has been your experience as a student of both the College of Liberal Arts and the Honors College?
My experience in the College of Liberal Arts and the Honors College has been positive. I am very grateful to both; the College of Liberal Arts gave me a place to study something I love and the Honors College gives me an outlet to take those studies to the next level in the form of a thesis.
I have had amazing conversations and experiences with liberal arts faculty in both non-honors and honors course sections. As opposed to my computer science classes, my honors seminars and liberal arts classes allow me and my peers to get the most out of our education through discussion and holistic study. The faculty here has provided me with many opportunities that I would not have otherwise had in computer science.
Have you started your honors thesis? If yes, what’s the topic and/or focus of your research? If not, are you considering any ideas so far?
I have started my thesis. I am researching with Dr. Clough, a professor in the philosophy department with whom I’ve taken the majority of my philosophy classes. Nailing down a topic was difficult, and my ideas and scope have changed dramatically throughout my decision making process. However, with the help of Dr. Clough, I have decided to write a thesis on David Hume and his impact on moral subjectivism.
What have been some of your favorite classes taken?
I’ve enjoyed the History of Western Philosophy (PHL 301), epistemology course (PHL 251), and the Contemporary Moral Theories Course (PHL 542). I also loved the Philosophies of China (PHL 371) course and, as silly as this sounds, Vector Calculus (MTH 254).
What are you hoping to do after you graduate?
I plan on applying to graduate school and then pursuing a Ph.D. with the intention of becoming a philosophy professor.
How do you feel that your experience in CLA and HC is setting you up for success?
I am grateful for the opportunity to research, write, and publish a thesis, all before going to graduate school. Having this experience will greatly help me write future theses and hopefully stand as a sign of competence and drive to graduate school admissions personnel.