Jay Odenbaugh
James F. Miller Professor of Humanities
MW 12:30pm-1:15pm; TTH 11:30am-1pm
Or by appointment on Zoom
“Philosophy in its best moments is about instilling intellectual accountability. As William James noted, ‘Many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.’”
My research is in the philosophy of science (especially ecology and conservation biology) and environmental philosophy. Most recently, I have been writing on the conflict between the northern spotted owl and the barred owl in the Pacific Northwest. As one example, I recently co-authored a Guest Essay in the NYTimes in which we discuss our concerns about the proposal to save northern spotted owls by killing barred owls. You can also hear me discuss the topic on OPB’s Think Out Loud, the CBC’s Daybreak with Chris Walker, KUOW’s Soundside, and WBUR’s On Point.
Specialty
Philosophy of biology, environmental philosophy, philosophy of psychologyAcademic Credentials
PhD University of Calgary, Canada, Philosophy
MA Southern Illinois University, Illinois, Philosophy
BA Belmont University, Tennessee, Philosophy/Biology
Teaching
Spring 2025 Courses
PHIL 215: Philosophy and the Environment
MWF 10:30am-11:20am
Investigation of philosophical questions about our relationship to the environment. Topics include the value of individual organisms, species, ecosystems; the concepts of wildness and wilderness; aesthetics of natural environments; and the relationship between ecological science and environmental policy.
Prerequisites: None.
PHIL 311: Epistemology
TTH 9:40am-11:10am
Naturalistic, evolutionary, and social epistemology; moral epistemology; religious epistemology; theories of truth, of explanation, of experience and perception; relationships between theory and observation.
Prerequisites: PHIL 101. PHIL 250. PHIL 102 or one course in the history of philosophy sequence (PHIL 301 through PHIL 307) recommended. Sophomore standing required.
PHIL 452: Philosophical Studies: Pragmatism
MWF 11:30am-12:30pm
Advanced study of topics covered in 300-level themes in philosophy courses, in areas other than value theory. May be repeated with change of topic.
Prerequisites: PHIL 101. PHIL 250. One 300-level philosophy course. Sophomore standing required.
Research
Odenbaugh, J. (2023). Philosophy and ethics of de-extinction. Cambridge Prisms: Extinction, 1, e7.
Odenbaugh, J. (2022). Owl vs owl: Examining an environmental moral tragedy. Philosophia, 50(5), 2303-2317.
Odenbaugh, J. (2020). Biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and the environmentalist agenda. Biology & Philosophy, 35, 1-11.
Odenbaugh, J. (2023). An even better ape? Comments on a better ape. Biology & Philosophy, 38(4), 27.
Odenbaugh, J. (2022). What Should Species Be?: Taxonomic Inflation and the Ethics of Splitting and Lumping. In Species Problems and Beyond (pp. 91-104). CRC Press.
Odenbaugh, J. (2021). Models, models, models: a deflationary view. Synthese, 198(Suppl 21), 1-16