I’m an assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy at Koç University in Istanbul. Before moving to Istanbul in the autumn of 2024, I taught philosophy and the humanities at a number of institutions in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

I’m interested in how we find and make meaning in our lives, and especially in those moments where our self-image gets punctured in revealing ways. That’s led me to think about existential anxiety, human animality, and play, among other things. I draw inspiration from a wide range of philosophers, and I have a particular interest in Wittgenstein and Heidegger.

Philosophy is an academic discipline but it’s also an essential part of a life lived thoughtfully and deliberately. I try to make philosophy accessible to a broader public in a number of ways. In particular, I run online courses for the public and contribute writing to non-specialist publications. You can read about both of these ventures on this site.

Philosophy begins in wonder, according to both Socrates and Aristotle. I was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, and I still wonder at the magical forests, mountains, and waterways of the Pacific Northwest. The wider world inspires wonder as well and I love exploring new places.