Rhys Borchert
rhysborchert [at] arizona [dot] edu
I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Arizona. I have a wide variety of philosophical interests, including epistemology, decision theory, metaphysics, action theory, philosophy of physics, normativity, well-being, animal ethics, and moral responsibility. My dissertation focuses on foundational issues in epistemology.
Before coming to the University of Arizona, I received a BPhil in philosophy from Oxford University. My BPhil thesis was on the metaphysics of the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. Before that, I received a B.S. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Papers
"In Praise of Animals" (with Aliya Dewey), conditionally accepted at Biology & Philosophy
Winner of the Philosophy of Animal Minds and Behavior Association Essay Prize for Emerging Scholars
Synopsis: A reasons-responsive account of moral responsibility implies that non-human animals can be praiseworthy. This implication should be accepted.
"Knowledge from Blindspots" (with Timothy Kearl and Juan Comesaña), forthcoming in Rodrigo Borges and Ian Schnee (eds.), Illuminating Errors: New Essays on Knowledge from Non-Knowledge, Routledge.
Synopsis: You can know P even if P was inferred from a blindspot proposition.
"The Perils of Rejecting the Parity Argument" (with Yili Zhou), forthcoming in Philosophy
Synopsis: A parity between epistemic and moral normativity is a challenge for moral error theorists. They have responded to this challenge in three different ways. All three have problems.
Works-in-Progress [drafts available upon request]
A paper on the intersection of unspecific evidence and decision theory
A paper on the connection between reliable success and intentional action
A paper on a possible combination of CDT and EDT
A paper arguing in favor of Fine's fragmentalism via conceptual puzzles in contemporary physics
Teaching
I love teaching philosophy. I emphasize curiosity, reflection, and open-mindedness. I have experience teaching ethics, well-being, philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, epistemology, logic & critical thinking, and metaphysics.
Here are the classes I have taught at the University of Arizona:
In-Person Instructor
Spring 2022: Who Am I? People & Our Place In The Universe
Fall 2018: Science & Inquiry
Online Instructor
Fall 2022: Consciousness and Cognition
Summer 2022: Contemporary Moral Problems
Fall 2021: Contemporary Moral Problems
Summer 2021 [June-July]: Philosophy of Happiness
Summer 2021 [July-August]: Philosophy of Happiness
Summer 2020: Contemporary Moral Problems
Summer 2019: Philosophy of Happiness
Summer 2018: Philosophy of Happiness
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Spring 2021: Logic & Critical Thinking
Fall 2020: Mind, Matter, and God
Spring 2020: Mind, Matter, and God
Fall 2019: Personal Morality
Spring 2019: Personal Morality
Fall 2017: Science & Inquiry