Michelle Maiese

Assistant Professor of Philosophy
B.A., Northwestern University; M.A., Ph.D., University of Colorado

My research focuses on issues in philosophy of mind, philosophy of action, and the emotions. In particular, I am interested in the relationship between mind, brain, and body and how it is that conscious states play a distinctive role in causing our intentional bodily movements. My dissertation discusses how predominant accounts of the mind fail to provide us with an adequate account of mental causation and looks to insights from action theory to explain how desire, emotion, and the will causally produce action. Some of my current work explores connections between philosophy of mind and action and moral theory, self-control, addiction, and moral responsibility. Other areas of interest include criminal justice, conflict resolution, political philosophy, and feminist philosophy. One of the reasons I love teaching is that it allows me to do interdisciplinary work and dabble in a wide range of subjects. The courses that I teach at Emmanuel include "Theories of Human Nature," "War, Terrorism, and Morality," and "Problems of Philosophy."