ABOUT MEHi, my name is Shawn Simpson. I'm a Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh. Before that, I was a Lecturer in Philosophy at Mississippi State University. I received my PhD (2021), MPhil, and MA in Philosophy from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. I received my BA (with a certificate in history and philosophy of science) from Arizona State University. I was born in Mesa, Arizona and raised in sunny and beautiful Tempe, AZ. Most of my research focuses on communication - its evolution and its many forms - on art, and on ethics, especially environmental ethics and the nature of evil. I'm also interested in certain issues in the philosophy of biology, philosophy mind, social & political philosophy, and philosophy of logic. The history of philosophy (especially Pragmatism) and meta-philosophy are also keen interests of mine. Lately, I've been learning more Indigenous and non-Western philosophy. At present, I'm working on projects on art, group agency, logic, and evil. My first book - Art as Communication - is in press with Lexington Books (an imprint of Rowman & Littlefield) and is set to be available this October. Outside of teaching, I spend most of my time creating art and exploring the outdoors. Once upon a time, I was a wilderness ranger (non-law enforcement) and EMT for the US Forest Service and the National Park Service. You can sometimes find me walking around art museums or exploring wherever it is I'm currently living. Here is a link to an interview that I did for the American Philosophical Association. Instagram: @shawnmichaelsimpson Pronouns: he/him/his |
Pittsburgh, PA. April 2024. |
Top photo taken in Bishop, California, where I worked for a summer as an apprentice horse and mule packer for the US Forest Service.