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About the Author

I am an anti-professional philosopher and professional downshifter.

I work for Ohio State University as an administrative associate for the Center for Ethics and Human Values (formerly Associate Director).

I once completed a PhD thesis in philosophy of language because I thought it would be a fun thing to do. It was! However, as soon as I defended, I burned the paper copy of my thesis in a fire pit behind my supervisor’s house, and I have abstained from seeking a career as a philosopher ever since. After a gap far too long, I finally returned to doing some philosophy-like writing on a recreational basis, thinking mainly about the foundations of ecological ethics and implications for conservation and wilderness preservation (see this page).

At present, my “extra-curricular” writing is at a lull, having had my fill with anything even tangential to activism and advocacy (including nature conservation). My main latent interests are, in fact, palaeoecology and evolutionary biology. Wherever I go next with my independent research and writing (if any) is a saga to be continued. In any case, I intend to keep my day job.

I have been car-free for a long time, and I have often gone out of my way to reside (temporarily) in car-free/car-lite places. I find it stressful to drive and to be around automotive traffic. I also do not have children, and I find it stressful to be around them too. However, I have a plush heron and ammonite.

Go Bucks!

Since this is a website hosted by Ohio State, I want to say two things up front, in the spirit of clarifying that I am an inveterate contrarian:

1. I think football is a dumb sport. If I am ever compelled to think about it at all, I will almost invariably wish my best to the underdog team, even if it means rooting against Ohio State. In fact, I will generally root against Ohio State because the football party riot culture at this institution is completely ridiculous.

2. I’m not a “Buckeye”. I’m on the payroll; it doesn’t mean that school spirit is part of my identity. Thus, whenever admin sends out something referring to “Buckeyes”, I enjoy mentally substituting the phrase “toxic nuts” (e.g. “I cannot wait for throngs of toxic nuts to return in the fall with excitement and enthusiasm,” “Toxic nuts consider the environment before printing,” etc.).

“Go Bucks!”