Research Interests

Ancient Philosophy, Stoicism, Inuit Philosophy, Eastern Philosophy, Continental Philosophy, Existentialism, Philosophy of life/living

Biography

• B.A. Honours (Philosophy), University of Regina
• M.A. (Philosophy), Queen’s University
• M.A. (Classics), Queen’s University

Maximilian’s research follows a theme of holism in the sense of philosophies that take an interest in life as we live it as primary to their projects. This theme is sometimes categorized as philosophy of life or living, or philosophy as a way of life. Maximilian’s interest in this subject began with Greek philosophy and the paradigmatic example of Socrates. While Greek and Roman philosophy, especially Stoicism, remain of significant interest, Maximilian’s research into this area extends also, for example, into Eastern philosophy, Existentialism, and Canadian Indigenous philosophies.

While themes of how to live often fall into the field of ethics, the emphasis of Maximilian’s research is less concerned with correct normative and moral prescriptions and more interested in grappling with life as we come face to face with it, how to understand it and what to do about it. Maximilian’s first MA thesis (Philosophy) explores parallels between 20th century Existentialism and Eastern philosophy. His second MA thesis (Classics) investigates the current popularity of Ancient Stoicism.

Maximilian’s doctoral research continues to explore Stoicism and its value in application, in addition to finding connections with other systems of holistic philosophical thought, especially such as Inuit philosophy, which Maximilian has a special interest in as an Inuit person himself. Aiding his research, Maximilian also works on skill in Greek, Latin, and Inuktitut.

Philosophy MA Thesis

Classics MA Thesis

Publications

“Cylinders and Doctors: Properly Understanding Stoic Compatibilism.” CERES 6 (2024): 12–17.

Biography

My name is Morgan Wark.  

I am a master’s student in philosophy here at Queen’s University. I completed my bachelor’s degree at The University of Toronto. I also spent a year as an affiliate student at University College London in the UK.

My academic interests are in ethics and bioethics. As a graduate student, I intend to research such questions as: what we owe to future generations, and whether it is permissible to take small risks of great harms. My research interests have been influenced by the growing popularity of effective altruism.

I'm Mohsen, a Ph.D. candidate researching the philosophy of education, particularly how language fuels verbal creativity in teacher-student interactions. My dissertation focuses on analyzing verbal creativity through the lens of speech act theory, seeking to understand whether teachers can employ social strategies to enhance students' verbal engagement and learning. My research is driven by a belief in the power of language to shape both individual and collective learning experiences. I'm particularly interested in how we can create more inclusive and equitable classrooms where every student can flourish. This passion for educational justice informs my work, and I aim to explore its complexities through the lenses of political and ethical philosophy. My philosophical heroes include Austin, Searle, and Hegel. I also admire David Bakhurst, Queen's faculty advisor, for his unique teaching style and personality, and Tehran faculty advisor Mrs. Afzal Hosseini, for her years of efforts to develop critical and creative thinking.

When I'm not immersed in academic pursuits, I enjoy exploring the world of literature through novels and storytelling. Connect with me if you're interested in The philosophy of education, Language and learning Verbal creativity Educational justice Speech act theory Social strategies in the classroom.

Education

PhD, BSc (ANU)

BA, DipLang (Adelaide)

Research Interests

Animal politics; animal ethics; political theory; history of political thought

About

Serrin began a Postdoctoral Fellowship in animal ethics in the Philosophy Department at Queen’s University in 2024. Here, she will primarily be working on a couple of research projects: one that explores how we can better recognise and respond to the agency of animals in interpersonal, political, and legal contexts, and another which seeks to acknowledge and reimagine the role of animals within the history of Western political thought. Beyond these topics, she is also interested the role of animal advocates in the public sphere, and when or whether civil – or even uncivil – disobedience on behalf of animals can be justified. Prior to coming to Queen’s, Serrin was a Visiting Researcher at the Cambridge Centre for Animal Rights Law (2024), and a Research Fellow at the Australian National University’s Crawford School of Public Policy (2023-24). She has also volunteered for several years with one of Australia’s first community legal centres dedicated to issues in animal law: the Animal Defenders Office, based in Canberra/Ngunnawal Country. Serrin’s first book, tentatively titled Multispecies Legality: Animals and the Foundation of Legal Inclusion, is under contract with Cambridge University Press. You can find out more about her research here: www.serrinrutledgeprior.com

Personal Website

Select Journal Articles

Addressing the will theory challenge to animal rights. 2024. Political Studies. https://doi.org/10.1177/00323217241253555

Political representation, the environment, and Edmund Burke: A re-reading of the Western canon through the lens of multispecies justice. 2024. European Journal of Political Theory. https://doi.org/10.1177/14748851241236055 (With Edmund Handby)

Vegans and “green-collared criminals”: The depoliticization of animal advocacy in public discourse. 2024. Polity 56(1): 91–117. https://doi.org/10.1086/727840

Criminalising (cubes of) truth: Animal advocacy, civil disobedience, and the politics of sight. 2022. Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy. https://doi.org/10.1080/13698230.2022.2119522

Teaching

PHIL 296 Animals and Society

Research Interests:

Political philosophy, Philosophy of Law, Territorial Justice 

Biography:

• BA (Philosophy) Laval University
• MA (Philosophy) Laval University

Léonard’s work primarily focuses on political questions related to migration and territorial justice. At present, his main research project examines territorial injustices resulting from Canadian border practices, with particular attention to the experiences of asylum seekers. He is a Canada Graduate Scholar. In 2023, he was a visiting graduate student in public policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

Publications (selection from 2024) :

(To be published, Winter 2025) Gentrification et privatisation des services publics à l’ère du numérique. Étude du cas de la stratégie de transformation de Los Angeles en ville intelligente, in. Parizeau, M.-H.). (ed.), Les Villes intelligentes. Perspectives philosophiques croisées, Québec / Paris, Les Presses de l’Université Laval.

(with J. Gosselin-Tapp, F. Côté, & S-E. Mossu) (2024) “Par-delà l’obligation d’exploiter le territoire. Autodétermination des communautés locales et transition énergétique au Québec », Canadian Journal of Political Science, 1-21, DOI : 10.1017/S0008423924000088