alexandra plakias
alexandra plakias
About me
About me
I am Associate Professor of Philosophy at Hamilton College, where I've taught since 2014. Before that, I did my MA at UC Santa Cruz (Banana Slugs!), my PhD at the University of Michigan, and a postdoc at the Northern Institute of Philosophy as part of Crispin Wright's Relativism and Rational Tolerance project. I grew up in New York City. When I'm not working, I'm usually wondering what's for dinner.
I am Associate Professor of Philosophy at Hamilton College, where I've taught since 2014. Before that, I did my MA at UC Santa Cruz (Banana Slugs!), my PhD at the University of Michigan, and a postdoc at the Northern Institute of Philosophy as part of Crispin Wright's Relativism and Rational Tolerance project. I grew up in New York City. When I'm not working, I'm usually wondering what's for dinner.
My Research
My Research
I work in a few different areas: moral psychology, metaethics, philosophy of food, and more recently, issues in social epistemology. I'm interested in the places where philosophy intersects with the more mundane parts of our everyday lives: awkward interactions, or figuring out what to eat.
Currently, I'm thinking a lot about the role of technology in the food industry, and how that intersects with issues in the epistemology of food. I'm also continuing to work on the norms around publishing work you don't believe.
You can find some of my academic papers here. My writing has also appeared in The Washington Post (non-paywalled version here) and Aeon, and my work has been featured on NPR, The Gray Area, & the Overthink podcast.
My Books:
My Books:
Awkwardness investigates the psychology and social implications of a familiar phenomenon. It discusses everything from the nature of awkwardness and how it's different from embarrassment and shame, to the ways awkwardness is used to leverage power and silence others. The Times Literary Supplement calls it "warmly and well-written." Available now from Amazon or OUP.
Awkwardness investigates the psychology and social implications of a familiar phenomenon. It discusses everything from the nature of awkwardness and how it's different from embarrassment and shame, to the ways awkwardness is used to leverage power and silence others. The Times Literary Supplement calls it "warmly and well-written." Available now from Amazon or OUP.