Jay Odenbaugh
James F. Miller Professor of Humanities
TTH 11:30AM-12:30PM or by appointment.
“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
Fall 2025 Courses
PHIL 102: Introduction to Philosophy
MWF 10:20AM-11:20AM
Introduction to problems and fields of philosophy through the study of major philosophers’ works and other philosophical texts. Specific content varies with instructor.
Prerequisites: None.
PHIL-244: Intern: Science Communication
Internship or practicum to be arranged with instructor.
Restrictions: Sophomore standing and consent required.
PHIL-310: Metaphysics
TTH 09:40AM - 11:10AM
Personal identity, time, free will, composition, persistence, universals, particulars, possibility, necessity, realism, antirealism.
Prerequisites: PHIL 101. PHIL 250. PHIL 102 or one course in the history of philosophy sequence (PHIL 301 through PHIL 307) recommended.
PHIL-453: Philosophy of Biology
MWF 11:30AM - 12:30PM
This course surveys a variety of philosophical issues in the biological sciences. Here are some examples. We will explore the evidence for evolution; the nature of life (and why do we die?); whether our behavior is the result of “selfish genes”; species and whether they even exist, human nature and whether altruism is possible; and is extinction forever (can we bring back woolly mammoths?).
Prerequisites: PHIL 101. 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