Research
My current research centers around two distinct projects.
Part of my research focuses on the writings of understudied early modern feminist philosophers. Figures like Mary Astell, Margaret Cavendish, and Lucrezia Marinella have much to tell us about a variety of topics such as friendship, beauty, self-care, and the importance of being engaged in philosophical reflection for deep political and personal means. Engaging in this research involves the important interpretive work of uncovering insights from overlooked philosophers. I am also interested in showing how the work of Astell, Cavendish, and Marinella can be repurposed for contemporary means. For example, I use Marinella’s work on beauty to speak to the importance of dress and presentation for queer community members and Astell’s work to talk about female friendship.
The other thread of my research involves a variety of projects in political and legal philosophy. My writing in this area is focused on how systems and structures influence collective action problems like our response to climate change. On this note, my recent work on Rawlsian environmental justice builds in concern for the rest of nature into Justice as Fairness. I am also working on a project which examines duties owed to migrant children in detention. I am highly interested in topics at the intersection of law and philosophy. My dissertation on wrongful discrimination engages with relevant case histories to test the success of my general theory.