R. Kathleen Harbin
Curriculum Vitae
Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Ashoka University, 2021 to present
Assistant Professor, SUNY College at Brockport, 2014 to 2021
Visiting Lecturer, University of Richmond, 2013 to 2014
Education
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, August 2013, Ph.D. in Philosophy
University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, May 2005, B.A. in Philosophy
Area of Specialization
Ancient Philosophy
Areas of Competence
Aesthetics and the History of Aesthetics
Social and Political Philosophy
Applied Ethics
Research
My interests lie at the intersection between practical and theoretical cognitive activity. I seek to understand how intellect and thought are connected to practical or goal-directed activity. Aristotle contends that human beings are capable of cultivating a moral awareness and disposition to virtue. My research explores how intellectual capacities enable us to recognize individual, unique practical phenomena or situations as instances of values that are constitutive of this disposition (e.g. how we recognize a specific situation as one in which generosity is required, or as one in which reconciliation, rather than justice, is the primary concern). Thus my research focuses primarily on the intellectual underpinnings of Aristotle’s moral psychology.
Publications
“The Practical Syllogism and Practical Cognition in Aristotle”, Archiv für Geschichte der Philosophie 104 (4), December 2022.
“The Lawless Demand of Judgements of Taste: Response to Dunn”, Dialogue: Canadian Philosophical Review, Revue Canadienne de philosophie, 2020.
“Universality without Normativity: Interpreting the Demand of Kantian Judgments of Taste”, Dialogue: Canadian Philosophical Review, Revue Canadienne de philosophie, 2020.
“Practical Nous: A Moderate Account,” Proceedings of the World Congress “Aristotle 2400 Years”, Ed. Demetra Sfendoni-Menzou, Thessaloniki: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Press, 2019.
“The Non-Normative ‘Demand’ of Judgments of Taste”, Natur und Freiheit: Akten des Kant-Kongresses, Ed. Waibel, Ruffing, and Wagner, Berlin: DeGruyter, 2018.
Book Reviews
“The Utility of Contemplation in Aristotle (Review: Aristotle on the Uses of Contemplation, M.D. Walker, Cambridge University Press)”, The Classical Review, Cambridge University Press, Vol. 69, No. 2, October 2019.
Presentations
Peer Reviewed Conferences
"Aristotle's Account of Akrasia: Ignorance, Excessive Desire, or Something Else?" Pacific Meeting of the American Philosophical Association, April 2022
Commentary on Carlo Davia’s “Ancient Greek Hermeneutics,” Pacific Meeting of the American Philosophical Association, April 2021
“Akrasia and Practical Capacities in Aristotle,” 43rd Annual Ancient Philosophy Workshop, March 2020
“The Puzzle of Nous in the Nicomachean Ethics,” Central Meeting of the American Philosophical Association, February 2020
“Practical Nous: A Moderate Account,” World Congress: Aristotle, 2400 Years, May 2016
“The Non-Normative ‘Demand’ of Judgments of Taste,” Quinquennial 12th International Kant Congress, September 2015
“Universals, Particulars, and the Practical Syllogism in Aristotle’s Ethics”, Pacific Meeting of the American Philosophical Association, April 2015
“Universals and Particulars in Aristotle’s Ethics”, Annual Meeting of the Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy, October 2013
“Metaphysics Θ 6 1048b18-35: A New Take on the Energeia-Kinesis Distinction”, Pacific Meeting of the American Philosophical Association, April 2012
“Universality Without Normativity: Interpreting the “Demand” of Kantian Judgments of Taste”, Eastern Meeting of the American Society for Aesthetics, April 2009
Invited Talks
“How Practical Wisdom Unifies Aristotle’s Ethical Theory”, Rochester Institute of Technology, January 2015
“Phronesis’s Debt to Nous: Why Practical Wisdom Requires Intellect”, King’s College at the University of Western Ontario, February 2014
“Phronesis’s Debt to Nous: Why Practical Wisdom Requires Intellect”, Boston University, January 2014
“Moral Perception in Aristotle”, Louisiana State University, February 2013
“Moral Perception in Aristotle”, University of Maryland Baltimore County, January 2013
“Moral Perception in Aristotle”, University of Arkansas, January 2013
Fellowships & Awards
Center for Teaching and Learning Graduate Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania, 2011-2012 (Declined)
Dean’s Summer Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania, Summer 2011
Communication Within the Curriculum (CWiC) Critical Speaking Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania, 2010-2011
Bloomfield Moore Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania, 2009-2010
Benjamin Franklin Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania, 2005-2010
Bacon Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania, Summer 2008
Teaching
Upper Level
Aristotle and Contemporary Virtue Ethics, Ashoka University
Aesthetic Experience, Ashoka University
Bioethics, Ashoka University
Political Authority, Ashoka University
Global Justice, Ashoka University
War and Violence, Ashoka University
Aristotle, SUNY Brockport
Political Philosophy, SUNY Brockport
Medical Ethics, SUNY Brockport
Ancient Philosophy, SUNY Brockport
Experiencing Beauty and Art, University of Richmond
Lower Level
Mind and Behaviour, Ashoka University
Introduction to Ethics, SUNY Brockport
Contemporary Moral Issues, University of Richmond
Introduction to Philosophy, University of Richmond and SUNY Brockport and Ashoka University
Ancient Philosophy, University of Pennsylvania and Ashoka University
War and Morality (CWiC Critical Speaking Course), University of Pennsylvania
The Social Contract, University of Pennsylvania
Theses and Independent Studies
“Evoking the Sublime Through Dance”, MA Thesis, SUNY Brockport
Global Justice, Independent Study
Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Independent Study
“The Ethical Consideration of Abortion”, Honors Thesis
Professional Affiliations
American Philosophical Association
Languages
Attic Greek (Reading knowledge)