- I was born and raised in Toronto (pronounced ‘tuh-RONN-oh’ by natives).
- My academic journey began at the University of Toronto, where I earned a BA with a double major in Philosophy and East Asian Studies.
- I then honed my language skills at the National Taiwan Normal University Mandarin Training Center 臺灣師範大學國語教學中心, taking courses in both modern and literary Chinese.
- I then returned to the University of Toronto and completed an M.A. thesis in early Chinese intellectual history within the Department of East Asian Studies, focusing on the Hanfeizi 韓非子.
- Finally, I moved to Duke University, where I pursued a Ph.D. in the Department of Philosophy. Recently, I was honored to be invited back to speak during Duke’s centennial celebrations.
- My research focuses on metaethics, agency, and moral psychology. In essence, I explore the nature and status of social and moral norms, as well as the factors that shape our normative cognition and behavior. To inform my work, I draw from various disciplines, including anthropology, history, evolutionary biology, and cognitive science. (You can read about my major research projects here.)
- Many of my research endeavors are inspired by claims or arguments found in texts from the philosophical traditions of classical China, most centrally my views about selfhood, agency, and the nature of morality. Recently, I've begun exploring philosophers in the Korean tradition, starting with those involved in the renowned Four-Seven Debate of the 16th to 18th centuries.
- Outside CUNY, I co-chair the Columbia Society for Comparative Philosophy alongside Allison Aitken and Jonathan Gold. We organize monthly meetings during the academic year featuring invited speakers and discussants, exploring various Asian philosophical traditions in dialogue with contemporary philosophy. I also serve as a Project Advisor for Philosophy4BetterMinds. This initiative investigates how training and practice in Buddhist, Confucian, Christian, and analytic philosophy might enhance key epistemic virtues like intellectual humility, wisdom, curiosity, and reflectiveness.
- I have rarely had occasion to use it professionally, but if you’re curious about my Chinese name you can read more at the link below: Shā Qĭshàn 沙啟善
- Oh, I'm a recovering NBA zealot. Relapse is an ever-present risk.
My Google Scholar Page:
