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Philosophy

Research

In concert with our commitment to pluralism and openness to interdisciplinary perspectives, our faculty excels in both teaching and research, cultivating a supportive and engaged culture.

The Department of Philosophy creates and publishes articles, journals, books, websites, digital archives, and multimedia essays, and our students and faculty present at conferences around the world. Our department holds special strengths in pragmatism, feminism, decolonialism, and environmental ethics. 

Research Across Disciplines

Our faculty members explore philosophical issues and ideas through independent and original research. The wide-ranging interests span academic fields, historical eras, and languages. Interdisciplinary work is at the core of our Philosophy department, and our faculty often investigate questions across multiple fields.

Traditions and Fields of Focus

Interdisciplinary Opportunities

Explore Our Research

Immerse yourself in fascinating reads from our faculty, investigating topics from living with animals to becoming our data.

Recent Publications

Join Our Discussions

Our Community Philosophy Institutes and workshops facilitate public forums for discussion and debate on a wide range of issues challenging communities in Oregon and beyond. We tackle subjects from data ethics to homelessness.

Institutes and Workshops

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News

a pile of rocks in the forest with a sign that quotes Thoreau
Rebind: A UO alum’s invention for literary understanding
PHILOSOPHY — Sure, when alum John Kaag’s mother forced him to take philosophy lessons from his Latin teacher in high school, he might not have imagined he'd pursue a career in philosophy. But he definitely didn't imagine he'd co-found an AI-driven website that allows you to read classic books alongside literary experts, including "Walden" by Henry David Thoreau.
robot finger and human finger touching a lightbulb
Five key takeaways from “AI and the Humanities” panel
PHILOSOPHY, ENGLISH — During “AI and the Humanities,” a panel discussion featuring professors from the University of Oregon explored the impact of AI. The panel was sponsored by the Oregon Humanities Center as part of the center’s 40th anniversary events on the topic of “Humanities Matter(s).” From their in-depth discussion, came five key takeaways about AI.
ai art of a pigeon at a desk
Pigeons vs. AI: Should We Ever Replace Doctors with Pigeons?
PHILOSOPHY - Pigeons and AI share something in common: They can’t care about patients. In Ramón Alvarado’s latest paper published in the American Journal of Bioethics, he and co-author Nicolae Morar, a bioethicist and environmental philosopher at the UO, underscore that health care isn’t just about finding results. It's about actually caring for patients. That’s a level of engagement from providers not easily replicated by a machine.