Most of my research is driven by an interest in understanding the nature of the self, whose various facets emerge from different philosophical discusisons, and exploring its ethical significance. As it stands, my works lie in the intersection of moral psychology, metaethics, epistemology relating to introspection and self-knowledge, and 20th Century European Philosophy.

 

Broadly, I am interested in answering two families of questions:

​

Regarding the self: What are we talking about when speaking of the self? Can we conceptually differentiate between the self, a person, and a person's identity that persists through time? What is the relation between the self and the capacity of self-consciousness? Does the self really exist, or is it merely a self-image or conception created by someone, plausibly through the construction of a narrative? How do we form a practically significant kind of self-understanding through discerning facts about us, what we love, value, or care about, and how we are recognized by others?

​​

Regarding the self and ethics: Can an agent's self confer a normative reason for action, if so, how? Under what conditions can an action be attributed to an agent as her own? How to draw the boundary of an agent's self and thereby the boundary of her responsibility (not necessarily moral responsibility understood in terms of reactive attitudes)? To what extent does the process of self-consititution shaped by social norms, and if the influence is prevalent, what is the possibility of challenging the pre-existing norms? ​How to make sense of authenticity as an ethical ideal and resolve the potential conflict between authenticity and the demands of morality? 

 

I approach these issues primarily through the lens of phenomenology. Methodologically, my thinking is driven by the usage of a critical, first-person reflection on one's own experiences. I also interpret works in the phenomenological tradition by putting them into a conversation with contemporary theories. My goal is to communicate ideas of these classical texts in digestible terms, clarify misunderstandings, and demonstrate their contemporary relevance.