Phoenix Wang

Hi I’m Phoenix Wang! I'm a senior student from Thurgood Marshall College, majoring in Philosophy and Clinical Psychology. My pronouns are she/her/hers.

Which UR Programs and research conferences have you been a part of?

I participated in TRELS Winter 2020 and Fall 2020.

What are you researching (area of research) and include any labs, if applicable?

As a student who has a double major in Philosophy and Psychology, my research mainly focuses on utilizing philosophical methods for dealing with pressing issues in social and political spheres. I aim to explore important questions brought by philosophy and examine them through the lens of social science (the manner in which people behave and influence the world around us). In winter 2020, I conducted a TRELS research project on feminist philosophy in light of applied ethics (mentored by Prof. Clinton Tolley). In the summer of 2020, I worked with Prof. Monte Johnson and dived into a more in-depth inquiry on political theories of the ideal state in Greek philosophy. I’m currently working on my TRELS Fall research project, which is mentored and supervised by Prof. David Brink. The topic I’m going to elaborate on is the moral responsibility of criminal psychopaths.

Why and how did you decide to get involved in undergraduate research?

As an Asian woman who grew up in an area where people think little of philosophy or pursue a higher degree in philosophy, I could barely find an opportunity to do independent research while receiving some funding or scholarship. There are tons of opportunities for STEM-major students at UC San Diego, but sometimes research in Arts and Humanities is underrepresented. AEP is a pioneer to change the climate in Arts and Humanities. AEP offers many opportunities to encourage undergraduate students to do some interdisciplinary research and make many underrepresented research areas more accessible to underrepresented students. I’m so grateful that TRELS and URS could provide me those precious opportunities, and many thanks to my professors in the Department of Philosophy who are willing to supervise my research projects and whet my philosophical appetites.

What are your future plans/goals?

I plan to graduate from UC San Diego with Honors in Philosophy. I will write my honors thesis in the upcoming winter quarter under Prof. Jonathan Cohen’s direction. Of course, my future goal is to go to graduate school to earn a Ph.D. in philosophy or some philosophy-psychology joint programs. I hope to pursue a career in academia as a professional philosopher, teaching philosophy and raising public awareness of some underrepresented but pressing social or philosophical issues. I don’t think I could become a philosopher and a scientist at the same time, but my dream is to become a philosopher who knows and practices some science. That’s also why I cherish the research experience in TRELS and URS, as they encourage students to get involved in interdisciplinary research in whatever topics they are passionate about.