Hello, I'm George, welcome to my blog. Here I discuss my time as a PhD student within the Philosophy department, my academic research, and give tips on how to get the most out of postgrad study during your time in Sheffield.
Currently, I am about to submit my thesis! My research focuses on how epistemic humility (broadly, humility about what we know) can promote friendship between people of different social identities. Essentially, differences between people - such as their race, gender, or social class - can create obstacles to valuable features of close friendship. This is especially the case when one of the friends is marginalised in a way that the other friend isn't. This can make it more likely that the friend who is not marginalised in the relevant way will be ignorant about how this affects the other person. They may also have (explcit or implicit) biases or stereotypes regarding the social group that the friend is a member of. Such attitudes can undermine their ability to understand their marginalised friend. My thesis argues that epistemic humility can help such a person overcome these problems, support their friend, and allow the friendship to flourish. My PhD research therefore encompasses the philosophy of friendship, epistemic virtue and vice, and feminist philosophy.
If any of this interests you, I plan to publish some accessible posts about it here on this blog!
Outside of my life as a philosopher, I enjoy playing jazz on the guitar, eating in Sheffield's many fine vegan establishments, and watching Mad Men with my cat Pikachu. I also take great pride in tending to my many houseplants - both those in my flat, and those I have gifted to the Philosophy department so they don't kill my cat (the plants, not the Philosophy department).
If you have any questions about my own research or about postgrad study here at The University of Sheffield, feel free to email me at gasurtees1@sheffield.ac.uk