Matthew Brewer is a PhD candidate at Boston University, and his primary research interests are in the philosophy of the geosciences, including geoscientific methodology, explanation, measurement, and theory pursuit. He also teaches ethics and ancient philosophy.
What excites you about philosophy?
Being a philosopher is so exciting because I get to think seriously about so many different and interesting things. We get to ask the “deep” questions about life and the world around us. I am a philosopher of science, so I spend a lot of my time thinking about how scientists learn about our world. This includes using my training in philosophy to understand and clarify episodes from both the history of science and current scientific practice. The achievements of science can be pretty mind-blowing, so this part of my work is never boring.
But, as a philosopher, I don’t just think about science. I have also taught my own ancient Greek philosophy and intro to ethics courses at Boston University, where I am a grad student. It’s so fun and rewarding to read classic works with students. My very first exposure to philosophy was an undergraduate course in ancient philosophy during the fall of my freshman year at Fordham University, and I have had a penchant for the ancients ever since. It is because I am a philosopher that my day might consist of reading classic works in one hour and cutting-edge science in the next. In what other discipline could I do that?
What topic do you think is under-explored in philosophy?
One thing that motivates my own work is that compared to other disciplines, the geosciences (or earth sciences) have been relatively under-explored for much of the history of philosophy of science. This has changed quite recently, though, and a wave of new scholarship has established the philosophy of the geosciences as a distinct subfield, unified by common epistemic and ethical challenges. In my dissertation, I focus on issues arising from the theory of plate tectonics as it features in disciplines like geology, geomorphology, and geophysics. The theory has a complex history, and even today, there are many unanswered questions for scientists (for instance, when did plate tectonics begin on Earth?). I feel really fortunate to be a part of this rapidly evolving subfield. It’s very exciting!
For a nice overview of the philosophy of the geosciences, see this article by Miguel Ohnesorge and Aja Watkins. I am also a member of the Philosophy of the Geosciences Research Group at BU, directed by my advisor, Alisa Bokulich.
What are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
Right now, I am in two reading groups with some fellow grad students: one is dedicated to readings in the philosophy of sport, and the other is dedicated to Hegel’s works. In the latter group, we are currently reading Hegel’s Elements of the Philosophy of Right. I would recommend both sets of readings (feel free to contact me for a list of sports readings), but only read Hegel if you are up for a challenge! Personally, I find Hegel quite difficult to interpret, but that’s why I love reading him with a group of other grad students. I learn so much by talking through his work with others who are passionate about it, and I’m fortunate to have some really brilliant colleagues at BU. So, even if Hegel doesn’t interest you, I’d highly recommend gathering a group of other philosophers together to read something. I can guarantee you’ll learn so much, even if it’s in a casual setting. It’s too easy to get caught up in our own work and forget that philosophy is best when it is collaborative!
What would your childhood self say if someone told you that you would grow up to be a philosopher?
First, I would probably ask, “What’s a philosopher?” After a good explanation, I would probably think that it’s pretty cool! I wouldn’t be surprised by the fact that I’m a teacher, as I enjoyed school as a kid (this made me very popular, of course). The fact that philosophers get paid to think about the “deep” questions in our lives would definitely excite me. As a kid, I loved watching documentaries on the Science Channel (I even went through a phase of wanting to be a physicist), so I would be stoked by the fact that I would someday be a professional philosopher of science. I would be surprised that I am a philosopher of the geosciences, though, as Earth Science was my least favorite science class in school. The labs in Chemistry were more fun (I liked making messes). Of course, my young self would have to come to terms with the fact that philosophy will not allow me to buy my own island, but I think I’d get over that.
Where is your favorite place you have ever traveled and why?
I would have to say Italy, for two reasons: the art and the food. Aside from philosophy, I also developed an interest in the history of art during my undergrad studies at Fordham. Italy has such a rich history and so many museums full of classic works of art to admire (for instance, the Capitoline Museums, the Vatican Museums, Palazzo Massimo, the Galleria Borghese, and the Doria Pamphilj Gallery, just to name a few in Rome). I didn’t just see the classics while I was there, though, as I was also fortunate enough to visit the Venice Biennale art festival, which features amazing works of contemporary art. I also really like pasta, pizza, and gelato, so, needless to say, I had a blast in Italy.
What technology do you wish the human race could discover/create/invent right now?
Although I am unsure whether such a thing is even possible, faster-than-light travel. Discovering it would require a revolution in physics as we know it, but it would allow us to do so many cool things. While it would be no excuse to squander our current home, we could potentially inhabit other planets. We could also finally answer the question: are we alone in the universe? I’ve always been very skeptical about popular UFO tales, but I’ve also always been fascinated by the real possibility of life beyond our planet. With our current technology, contact with aliens is likely impossible even if they exist, due to the vast distance that separates us. With fast-than-light travel, however, distance would no longer be an issue. If aliens do exist, and we were to somehow discover a means of visiting them, I would hope that we are similar enough lifeforms so that we could recognize each other!
This section of the APA Blog is designed to get to know our fellow philosophers a little better. We’re including profiles of APA members that spotlight what captures their interest not only inside the office, but also outside of it. We’d love for you to be a part of it, so please contact us via the interview nomination form to nominate yourself or a friend.
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