CV
CATHERINE M. M. SMITH
Department of Philosophy 715 North Avenue New Rochelle, NY 10801 cmsmith at iona dot edu AOS: Kant, Ethics
AOC: Applied Ethics (especially Business Ethics), Early Modern Philosophy, Feminist Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion EMPLOYMENT Clinical Lecturer, Iona College (Current) Visiting Assistant Professor, Iona College (2017-2020) EDUCATION Ph.D. Philosophy, Cornell University (2017) M.A. Philosophy, Cornell University (2015) B.A. Philosophy, Religious Studies (minor), University of Wisconsin-Madison (2011) Dissertation: Self-Respecting Animals: Three Papers on Kant’s View of Human Nature and Morality Committee: Michelle Kosch (chair), Andrew Chignell, Julia Markovits, Derk Pereboom I argue that Kant believes the root of immorality is our tendency to treat our sensible desires as laws for ourselves and to assess ourselves on the basis of how happy we are. This tendency leads some into arrogance, but others into self-degradation. My reading contrasts with contemporary ones on which Kant believes our main obstacle to acting rightly is our tendency to put ourselves before others, out of the belief that we are superior to them. I offer a re-reading of what Kant calls “self-conceit” and of his views on human happiness in service of my interpretation. I also argue that this theory of immorality clarifies that Kant’s demand to respect ourselves calls for a rejection not of our flawed sensibility, but of the self-hatred behind our wish for a morally perfect one. RESEARCH Manuscript: Self-Respecting Animals (in progress) Papers: “On Self-Conceit in Kant and the Limits of Arrogance-Centered Theories of Immorality,” Journal of Philosophical Research, 2021; 46: 1-25. “Happiness, Competition, and Not Necessarily Arrogance in Kant” Kant-Studien, 2021; 112(3): 400-425. Presentations: Fall 2022 Invited Talk for Iona College Community “Finding the Sacred in Each Other: An Experience with Collegium 2021” Summer 2021 Kant’s Fundamental Assumptions Asynchronous Workshop Comments on Andrews Reath, “Moral Obligation is Categorical” Spring 2021 Princeton University, Invited Talk “Kantian Self-Respect as Being Careful with Yourself” Spring 2020 Central APA, Colloquium Session Comments on Nataliya Palatnik, “Kantian Freedom at a Distance” Spring 2019 Pacific APA, Colloquium Session “Against Disembodiment and for Disharmony in the Kantian Self” Fall 2018 Eastern APA, Symposium Session Comments on Tanner Hammond, “Moral Feeling and Moral Self-Awareness” Spring 2018 Iona College Philosophy Department Mini-Conference “Self-Respect in Non-Ideal Circumstances” Fall 2017 Midwest Study Group of the North American Kant Society “The Self-Respecting Animal” Spring 2017 First Annual Teaching as Research Conference, Cornell University “Staying-Power in Business Ethics Education” Spring 2017 Iona College, Invited Talk “Kantian Self-Respect, Arrogance, and Accepting Humanity” Spring 2017 Stanford University, Invited Talk “Kantian Self-Respect, Arrogance, and Accepting Humanity” Fall 2016 Second Annual Boston University Graduate Conference in Philosophy “On Courage and Respect in Kant’s Theory of Morality” Spring 2016 Third Biennial Meeting of the North American Kant Society Comments on Daniel Craig, “The Constancy of Human Animality in Kant’s Moscati Review” Spring 2016 Central APA, Colloquium Presentation “A Common Root for Arrogance and Self-degradation: Self-Conceit in Kant” Fall 2015 Midwest Study Group of the North American Kant Society “Must ‘Self-Conceit’ Be Self-Conceited?: Making More of Kant’s Notion of Immorality” Spring 2015 Pacific APA, Colloquium Presentation “Comparativity and Superiority in Kant’s Theory of Human Nature” LANGUAGES English, German (reading), Spanish (reading) TEACHING EXPERIENCE Fall 2021 COL 150 Columba Cornerstone: Justice, Iona College PHL 218 Markets and Morals, Iona College PHL 219 Ethics and Entrepreneurial Leadership, Iona College PHL 362 Respect and Self-Respect Spring 2021 COL 150 Columba Cornerstone: Justice, Iona College PHL 360 Ethics and Business, Iona College PHL 218 Markets and Morals, Iona College PHL 219 Ethics and Entrepreneurial Leadership, Iona College Fall 2020 PHL 360 Ethics and Business, Iona College PHL 218 Markets and Morals, Iona College (two sections) PHL 219 Ethics and Entrepreneurial Leadership, Iona College Spring 2020 PHL 210 Introduction to Moral Philosophy, Iona College PHL 219 Ethics and Entrepreneurial Leadership, Iona College (two sections) PHL 218 Markets and Morals, Iona College Fall 2019 COL 150 Columba Cornerstone: Justice, Iona College PHL 218 Markets and Morals, Iona College (three sections) Business and CSR, La Rochelle MBA student exchange program at Iona College PHL 420 Advisement for Senior Thesis Spring 2019 PHL 360 Ethics and Business, Iona College PHL 218 Markets and Morals, Iona College (two sections) PHL 219 Ethics and Entrepreneurial Leadership, Iona College Fall 2018 PHL 218 Markets and Morals, Iona College (three sections) PHL 360 Ethics and Business, Iona College Spring 2018 PHL 216 Freedom and Morality, Iona College PHL 218 Markets and Morals, Iona College (three sections) Fall 2017 PHL 216 Freedom and Morality, Iona College (four sections) Previous Years Cornell University (First-Year Writing Seminars, writing-intensive): Business Ethics Speaking for God—Philosophy of Prophecy and Scripture Auburn Correctional Facilities (through the Cornell Prison Education Program): Writing Workshop Introduction to Philosophy PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Summer 2021 Attendee at Collegium Summer Colloquy on Faith and Intellectual Life Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 Anti-Racism Training with Dr. Christiana Awosan at Iona College Fall 2018 Class taken: Religious Feminisms: An Introduction, with Dr. Suzanne Schneider, Brooklyn Institute for Social Research Spring 2018 Attendee at United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Annual Conference, as part of course development (Ethics and Entrepreneurial Leadership) for the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship at Iona College 2016-2017 Graduate Research and Teaching Fellow, Cornell Center for Teaching Excellence SERVICE Current Anti-Racism Teaching and Learning Circle, Iona College 2017-Current Catholic Intellectual Tradition Committee Member, Iona College 2013-2017 Co-President of Minorities and Philosophy Cornell Chapter (www.mapforthegap.com) 2015-2016 Organizer of the Dissertation Working Group 2013-2015 Graduate Student Coordinator for Prospective Student Visits Referee European Journal of Philosophy, Kantian Review, Manuscripto, Pacific Philosophical Quarterly, Southern Journal of Philosophy |
(A view out of my former window in Ithaca.)