Graduate Student News & Accomplishments, Summer 2020

 Several UGA Department of Philosophy graduate students have defended theses and dissertations, as well as achieved important awards and recognitions in recent weeks. Congratulations to these hard-working students and best of luck to those moving on to pursue further educational opportunities and careers in philosophy.

Nathan Vacher successfully defended his doctoral dissertation, Significance and the Indefinite in Hans Blumenberg's 'Work on Myth.' In his work, Vacher traces Blumenberg’s account of the way myth responds to an indefiniteness in the encounter with the world. Vacher’s plans are to pursue teaching positions and stay as close as possible to a university environment.  

Chris Byron successfully defended his doctoral dissertation, A New Reading of Marx’s Theory of Exploitation: Assessment and Defense. “This dissertation is an attempt to bring to light what Marx really thought about several pressing issues: justice, exploitation, religion and worship, class domination, what makes Modern society fundamentally different from other societies, and finally what freedom outside of capitalism could look like,” explains Byron. Byron has accepted a visiting instructor position in Philosophy at Barry University in Miami Shores, FL for the 2020-21 academic year. 

Beatriz Sanchez Tajadura successfully defended her masters thesis, Anfibia. Short Stories, exploring a non-traditional approach to doing Philosophy. “I've always been interested in the crossing of philosophy and literature,” explains Tajadura, who self-published a novel on Plato's philosophy at the age of 17 as well as Sexy Philosophy (2019), a collection of short stories each based on a different philosopher. Tajadura will be returning to her native Spain to pursue further studies in philosophy.

Marcus Hines, PhD student, has been awarded a Summer Doctoral Research Assistantship for 2020.

James Filler, PhD student, is recipient of the 2020 Dean's Award.

Devin Horn successfully defended his MA thesis, "Diogenic Cynic Economics." He will continuing his studies in the UGA Department of Philosophy as a PhD student in the Fall.

Erich Christiansen successfully defended his doctoral dissertation, "No Way to Tell From Here: The Ontology and Epistemology of the Enemy" on June 16, 2020. His Major Professor was Chris Cuomo.