My name is Stephanie Sheintul. I am a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) of Philosophy at The University of Adelaide. I was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Boston University during academic year 2022-2023 and I earned my Ph.D in Philosophy at The University of Wisconsin, Madison in 2022. I received my M.A. in Philosophy at The University of Wisconsin, Madison in 2018 and my B.A. in Philosophy and Philosophy, Politics, and Law (PPL) at The State University of New York, Binghamton in 2015. 

My research interests are in ethics, applied epistemology, and social/political philosophy, especially where these intersect. My current research interests concern the ethics of paternalism, autonomy-based injustice, and doxastic disrespect. In my dissertation, I defend an overlooked way in which paternalism is sometimes morally objectionable. I argue that whenever the paternalist’s belief about the soundness of the recipient’s judgment or the strength of the recipient’s will is disrespectful, paternalism is pro tanto wrong. I am currently working on a project that builds on my dissertation research by further specifying both what it is for a belief to be disrespectful and the nature of the wrong involved in interfering with another on the basis of a disrespectful belief about their agency. I argue that our beliefs are disrespectful when they undervalue a morally significant aspect of our personhood, e.g., our autonomy, character, dignity, etc. They do this when they falsely deflate, i.e., incorrectly underestimate, the morally significant aspect at hand. Interfering with another on this basis constitutes a special sort of autonomy-based injustice, what I call an agential injustice. Some of my other research interests concern the attitudes of trust and distrust, moral encroachment and the interaction between epistemic and moral norms, fairness, coercion and the law, extremism, and sexual promises. 

Outside of philosophy, I enjoy engaging in outdoor activities, esp. running and hiking. I also enjoy weight lifting and HIIT training. A fun fact: I have summited Mt. Elbert, the high point of Colorado, at 14,439' of elevation. I highly recommend doing so if you enjoy hiking!