299: Elizabeth S. Anderson | Philosophy, Ethics, Private Government And Viewpoints

Professor Elizabeth S. Anderson joins us on episode 299 of the show, as we make our way to the 300s. She is an American philosopher, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor and John Dewey Distinguished University Professor of Philosophy and Women’s Studies at the University of Michigan and specializes in topics including political philosophy and ethics.

Anderson received a B.A. with high honors in philosophy with a minor in economics from Swarthmore College in 1981. In 1987 Anderson completed a Ph.D. in Philosophy at Harvard University. She was a visiting instructor of philosophy at Swarthmore College 1985–86 and took up a position at the University of Michigan in 1987. She was Associate Professor of Philosophy and Women’s Studies 1993–1999 and was promoted to professor in 1999.

In 1994, she was named Arthur F. Thurnau Professor to recognize her dedication to undergraduate education with a demonstrable impact on the intellectual development and lives of her students. In 2005 she was named John Rawls Collegiate Professor of Philosophy and Women’s Studies, and in 2013 the John Dewey Distinguished University Professor of Philosophy and Women’s Studies.

We discussed philosophical points, some topics from her book Private Government, and some from her upcoming book as well. You can check out her material on Wikipedia, her faculty page, or look at Private Government on Amazon.