Joe Phelan

Joe Phelan

Areas of Expertise

  • Medieval and Early Modern Philosophy
  • Metaphysics
  • Epistemology

Education

  • B.A. in Philosophy, University of Chicago, 2023
  • M.A. in Humanities, University of Chicago, 2024

How to pronounce my name:  

Joseph Phelan

My primary focus is on the history of philosophy, mainly the early-modern period. I am consistently drawn to its accounts (particularly Descartes’) of substance, God, epistemic certainty, and the relation of our ideas to the world. I seek to understand these accounts both in themselves and in their connection to the ancient and medieval theories that preceded them. I am also interested in questions of metaphysical grounding and explanation, especially the truth and/or utility of the rationalist principle of sufficient reason. 

When I am not doing philosophy, I enjoy taking pictures of my cat, going to the gym, and playing the bass trombone.